B2426 — Passenger Solar Radiation Sensor Circuit Open

How do I diagnose B2426 myself?

Start with a scan: confirm B2426, save the freeze frame and note any companion codes. Then inspect the wiring and connectors related to the passenger solar radiation sensor, and verify the suspect component against live data before buying parts.

Will B2426 clear itself?

Sometimes B2426 clears after a few drive cycles if the fault was intermittent — for example a loose connector or a tank of bad fuel. The underlying cause usually remains, so the code tends to return. Clear it once; if it comes back, diagnose rather than erase it repeatedly.

What are the symptoms of B2426?

Drivers most often notice: no impact on engine operation in most cases, the affected function (locks, windows, lighting, wipers) works intermittently or not at all, warning light on the dashboard.

What does OBD2 code B2426 mean?

Passenger Solar Radiation Sensor Circuit Open (B2426): a body electrical fault affecting the body electrical system. The car is usually drivable while you plan the repair. Most often caused by blown fuse or failed relay, damaged wiring in door jambs or wet areas, body control module (BCM) fault.

How much does it cost to fix B2426?

BCM repair or replacement — $300–$900; Replace the switch or actuator — $120–$450; Repair wiring or connectors — $80–$250. Exact cost depends on the root cause, your vehicle and local labor rates — a proper diagnosis is the cheapest first step.

The B2426 trouble code is a body electrical fault logged by your vehicle's onboard diagnostic system. Officially it reads "Passenger Solar Radiation Sensor Circuit Open," which tells you exactly what the system has detected and where to look. The passenger solar radiation sensor measures sunlight intensity on the passenger side of the cabin — it's the sensor that helps your automatic climate control and sunload system make smart decisions about airflow and temperature. When the body control module or the relevant sensor module stops receiving a signal from that circuit, it flags the fault. The key phrase here is "circuit open." That means an electrical path somewhere in that sensor's wiring has been interrupted — current cannot flow where the module expects it to flow. This is not a reading that is slightly off; the circuit has gone completely silent.

The module does not set B2426 on a single bad moment. Most diagnostic strategies require the fault condition to appear repeatedly under specific operating conditions — voltage thresholds, ignition cycles, temperature ranges — before the check engine or warning light activates. This is why the freeze frame data stored alongside B2426 is so useful. It records engine load, RPM, coolant temperature, and vehicle speed the instant the fault was detected. That snapshot tells you exactly what conditions to reproduce when you test the circuit, which saves a lot of blind probing. The underlying causes range from something as simple as a loose connector to a failed sensor or a body control module that can no longer process the signal.

Common symptoms of B2426

B2426 does not directly touch engine operation, so you will not feel the car run differently. The symptoms are confined to the system the passenger solar radiation sensor serves:

• No change to engine performance — the powertrain is unaffected
• The affected comfort or convenience function operates intermittently or fails completely, depending on what role that sensor plays in your particular vehicle
• An illuminated warning light on the instrument cluster
• Possible dimming or failure of automatic lighting circuits that rely on solar load input
• Erratic behavior from automatic climate controls that cannot correctly read cabin sunload

What causes B2426?

The "circuit open" definition narrows the problem to a break in the electrical path. The most frequent culprits, listed from most to least likely, are:

• A disconnected, backed-out, or heavily corroded connector at the sensor or module
• A broken wire inside the passenger solar radiation sensor harness, often at a flex point
• An internally open or failed solar radiation sensor itself
• A blown fuse feeding that specific circuit
• Wiring damaged by moisture intrusion, especially in door jambs or areas exposed to water and road salt
• A faulty relay or poor ground connection in the circuit
• A body control module that can no longer process the signal correctly

How to diagnose B2426

Working through this code methodically prevents unnecessary parts replacement. Follow these steps in order:

1. Connect an OBD2 scanner and confirm B2426 is stored. Save the freeze frame data — note the engine load, RPM, coolant temperature, and vehicle speed recorded at the time of failure. Reproduce those exact conditions during your road test.
2. Check for any related trouble codes. Body electrical faults often appear in groups, and a secondary code may point directly to the root cause.
3. Look up manufacturer technical service bulletins for your make and model using your VIN — some B2426 complaints have factory-issued software updates or known repair procedures.
4. Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors associated with the passenger solar radiation sensor. Pull back the loom where needed and look for chafing, melted insulation, corrosion, or pins that are pushed out of their housings.
5. Perform an end-to-end continuity test on the sensor circuit. Gently wiggle the harness while watching the multimeter — an intermittent open will show as a reading that jumps between OL and a value.
6. Inspect connectors and wiring at flex points, particularly door jambs and any hinge areas where wires pass through. These are the most common failure points for intermittent opens.
7. Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle matching the freeze frame conditions, and verify that B2426 does not return.

How to fix B2426

Start with the least expensive repairs and work up only if the fault persists.

• Connector or wiring repair: Clean corroded terminals with electrical contact cleaner, reseat the connector firmly, and apply dielectric grease to protect against future moisture intrusion. If a wire is broken, cut out the damaged section and solder in a replacement — do not use butt connectors in door jambs. Estimated cost: $80–$250 for parts and labor.
• Passenger solar radiation sensor replacement: If the sensor itself is internally open, it must be replaced. This is typically a straightforward swap. Estimated cost: $120–$450 depending on the vehicle and sensor brand.
• Body control module repair or replacement: In rare cases the BCM has failed and cannot process the sensor signal. BCM replacement is the most expensive scenario. Estimated cost: $300–$900 for repair or replacement plus programming.

How much does it cost to fix B2426?

The total bill depends entirely on which component is at fault. Here is a realistic range for parts and labor at an independent repair shop in the United States:

• Wiring or connector repair: $80–$250
• Solar radiation sensor replacement: $120–$450
• Body control module repair or replacement: $300–$900

In most cases, fixing B2426 costs between $80 and $900. The cheapest and most common cause — a loose or corroded connector — is also the easiest to fix. Spending time on a thorough diagnosis before buying parts will almost always keep your total cost on the lower end of that range.

Can you drive with B2426?

Yes — in the vast majority of cases B2426 does not affect the engine, transmission, or brakes. Body electrical codes like this one rarely compromise safe operation of the vehicle. That said, the passenger solar radiation sensor often feeds into automatic climate control and sunload compensation. If the fault causes your automatic wipers, lighting, or climate system to behave erratically, address it before long highway trips or bad weather. Central locking faults linked to body module issues are worth fixing promptly since they can leave the car unsecured.

Related OBD2 codes

• B2400: B2400 — Manufacturer Controlled DTC: Causes, Symptoms & Fix
• B2401: Audio Tape Deck Mechanism Fault
• B2402: Audio CD/DJ Thermal Shutdown Fault
• B2403: Audio CD/DJ Internal Fault
• B2404: Audio Steering Wheel Switch Circuit Fault
• B2405: Audio Single-Disc CD Player Thermal Shutdown Fault