P0481 on RAM
Cooling Fan 2 Control Circuit
P0481 on RAM vehicles indicates cooling fan 2 control circuit. Au7o has documented this code across 1 RAM model — most commonly on ProMaster City. This code indicates the PCM detected a fault in the control circuit for cooling fan 2 (a second engine cooling/condenser fan relay or circuit). The cooling fans help regulate engine and A/C condenser temperature, especially at low speeds and idle. A fault can lead to reduced cooling performance, potential overheating in heavy load or hot conditions, and poor A/C cooling. It should be checked promptly to avoid overheating risk. Typical repair costs on RAM range from $450 to $900, depending on the specific model and root cause.
Common Causes of P0481
- •Faulty cooling fan relay (fan 2)
- •Open or shorted wiring in the fan control circuit
- •Corroded or loose connector at relay or fan
- •Failed cooling fan motor
- •Blown fuse feeding the fan circuit
- •Failing PCM (less common)
P0481 on RAM by Model
RAM ProMaster City(1 issue)
- Engine Cooling Fan Motor and Fan Control Relay Failure Causing Overheating2015-2018
The single electric cooling fan module used on the ProMaster City fails in two ways: the fan control relay/circuit drops out, and the plastic fan blade separates or the motor seizes. Owners report the fan literally melting off its motor. Because the 2.4L relies entirely on this one fan at low road speed, failure shows up first in stop-and-go delivery duty as a temperature gauge climbing at idle that recovers on the highway. CarComplaints ranks cooling-fan-relay malfunction with engine overheating as the worst reported defect on the 2015 model year, with reports around 24,000-25,000 miles and repair costs near $600-650. A ProMaster City owner documented the dealer replacing the relay for a P0481 code, only to have the van overheat again about 100 miles later because the fan motor itself was the failed part. The same fan module family is used on the Jeep Renegade. Note this is a separate defect from the full-size Ram ProMaster 3.0L diesel / 3.6L gas cooling fan seizure recall - that recall does not cover the City.
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View P0481 across all makes →Frequently Asked Questions
What does P0481 mean on RAM?▼
P0481 stands for "Cooling Fan 2 Control Circuit." This code indicates the PCM detected a fault in the control circuit for cooling fan 2 (a second engine cooling/condenser fan relay or circuit). The cooling fans help regulate engine and A/C condenser temperature, especially at low speeds and idle. A fault can lead to reduced cooling performance, potential overheating in heavy load or hot conditions, and poor A/C cooling. It should be checked promptly to avoid overheating risk. On RAM specifically, this code is documented across 1 model.
What causes P0481 on RAM vehicles?▼
Common causes on RAM: Faulty cooling fan relay (fan 2), Open or shorted wiring in the fan control circuit, Corroded or loose connector at relay or fan, Failed cooling fan motor, Blown fuse feeding the fan circuit. Specific causes vary by model and year — see the per-model sections below.
How much does it cost to fix P0481 on a RAM?▼
Repair costs on RAM range from $450 to $900, depending on the specific model and root cause.
Which RAM models have P0481 documented?▼
Au7o has documented P0481 on 1 RAM model: ProMaster City.