What this code means
P0615 may mean the ECM/PCM is seeing a possible malfunction in the starter cut relay diagnosis circuit.
What the vehicle may do
- The vehicle may start normally while the code is stored.
- The concern may be intermittent.
- The vehicle may fail to start if the affected feed or relay-control path is not operating correctly.
Possible fault areas
- Possible poor connections or loose terminals at starter cut relay circuits or the PCM.
- Possible issue in the START DIAG line.
- Possible issue in the IG1 ACG feed side.
- Possible fuse or fuse and relay box circuit concern.
Diagnostic path
Opening and diagnostic frame
On this 2010 to 2016 Honda CR-V with the 2.4 gas engine, P0615 points to the ECM/PCM watching the starter cut relay diagnosis circuit and seeing a malfunction. The vehicle may still start, it may act intermittent, or it may not start, depending on which part of the circuit is affected. Broadly, this can involve relay connections, PCM terminal condition, the START DIAG line, the IG1 ACG feed side, fuses, or the fuse and relay box path. Before getting into pin checks, start with the basic system checks and follow a structured diagnostic approach so you are not chasing a code caused by a connection or setup issue.
Confirm the code is active
First, verify the problem. Turn the vehicle to the ON mode, clear the DTC with the HDS, then try to start the engine. After that, check Pending or Confirmed DTCs with the HDS. If P0615 comes right back, the failure is duplicated and you move on. If P0615 does not return, treat it as an intermittent condition. At that point, the system is OK right now, so check for poor connections or loose terminals at starter cut relay 1, starter cut relay 2, and the PCM. If captured conditions are available, try to reproduce the failure under those same conditions instead of guessing.
Check for companion starter-control code direction
Next, check Pending or Confirmed DTCs again with the HDS. If the companion starter-control codes are present, handle that diagnostic path first. If they are not present, continue with the P0615 circuit checks.
Use engine start result to split the path
Now divide the diagnosis by what the starter system is doing. Turn the vehicle to the ON mode, clear the DTC with the HDS, and try to start the engine. If the engine starts, go after the START DIAG side of the circuit first. If the engine does not start, move to the IG1 ACG feed side checks.
Engine starts: check fuse A11 and the START DIAG wire
If the engine starts, turn the vehicle to OFF, LOCK mode, and check fuse No. A11, rated at 7.5 A, in the under-hood fuse and relay box. If that fuse is not OK, replace the No. A11 7.5 A fuse, and check for a short to ground on that fuse circuit if needed. If the fuse is OK, continue with the START DIAG wire check. Keep the vehicle in OFF, LOCK mode. Remove starter cut relay 1 from the under-hood fuse and relay box. Jump the SCS line with the HDS and wait more than 1 minute. Then disconnect PCM connector A, the 51P connector. Check continuity between starter cut relay 1 4P socket No. 2 and PCM connector A, 51P, terminal No. 47. For this check, the vehicle is in OFF, LOCK mode, starter cut relay 1 is disconnected, and PCM connector A, 51P, is disconnected. If you have continuity, the START DIAG wire is OK. At that point, update the PCM if it does not have the latest software, or substitute a known-good PCM, then recheck. If P0615 goes away after the update, troubleshooting is complete. If P0615 goes away with the known-good PCM installed, replace the original PCM. If there is no continuity, repair the open in the START DIAG wire between starter cut relay 1 and the PCM at A47.
Engine does not start: check fuse B2 and the IG1 ACG feed
If the engine does not start, turn the vehicle to OFF, LOCK mode, and check fuse No. B2, rated at 10 A, in the under-dash fuse and relay box. If that fuse is not OK, check for a short in the IG1 ACG wire between the No. B2 10 A fuse and the under-hood fuse and relay box. If the wire is OK, replace the under-dash fuse and relay box. Also replace the No. B2 10 A fuse. If the fuse is OK, continue to the IG1 ACG open-wire check.
IG1 ACG open-wire check
For the IG1 ACG open-wire check, remove starter cut relay 1 from the under-hood fuse and relay box. Disconnect under-dash fuse and relay box connector D, the 32P connector. Jumper connector D, 32P, terminal No. 7 to body ground. Then check continuity between starter cut relay 1 4P socket No. 3 and body ground. The test condition here is vehicle OFF, LOCK mode, starter cut relay 1 disconnected, under-dash fuse and relay box connector D, 32P, disconnected, and connector D, 32P, terminal No. 7 jumped to body ground. If there is continuity, replace the under-dash fuse and relay box. If there is no continuity, repair the open in the IG1 ACG wire between starter cut relay 1 and the under-dash fuse and relay box.
Verification and takeaway
Keep the final check separate from the circuit testing. Use the same confirmation routine that opened the diagnosis: clear the DTC with the HDS, try to start the engine, and check for Pending or Confirmed DTCs. The key is to separate an intermittent connection issue from a duplicated circuit fault, then let the engine-start result choose the START DIAG path or the IG1 ACG path. For more diagnostic training, visit stepdiagnostics.com.
Final check
P0615 is often diagnosed by confirming whether the code is active, checking for related starter-control direction, then splitting the circuit testing based on whether the engine starts.
For more guided automotive diagnostics, visit STEP Diagnostics.
