B2573 — Gear Selection Brake Interlock Short to Ground

B2573 — Gear Selection Brake Interlock Short to Ground. B2573 can affect brake and gear-selection interlock behavior.

For Ford vehicles

gear selection/brake interlock output circuit – short to ground

vehicle

Is it safe to drive?

Repair the interlock circuit before normal use B2573 can affect brake and gear-selection interlock behavior. If the selector does not release, brake input is not recognized, or starting is blocked, stop safely and repair the vehicle. If operation remains normal, avoid rough roads or harness movement and arrange prompt diagnosis.

Typical symptoms

B2573 remains stored in the controller and may return after the ignition is reset.
An ABS or system warning lamp may illuminate on vehicles that assign B2573 to the ABS subsystem.
The gear selector may fail to release from its selected position when the brake is applied.
The vehicle may not recognize the brake input required for gear selection or starting.
The code may appear only after the wiring is moved, suggesting an intermittent short to ground.

Common causes

Chafed, crushed, or cut harness wiring allows the gear selection/brake interlock output to contact body ground.
Corrosion, water intrusion, or a loose connector creates a low-resistance path from the output pin to chassis ground.
A shorted brake-pedal or gear-selector interlock component pulls the B2573 output circuit toward ground.
An internal short exists in the controller's gear selection/brake interlock output driver.
Misrouted accessory wiring or a damaged splice intermittently grounds the interlock output conductor.

How to diagnose with an OBD scanner

Confirm B2573 with an OBD2 scanner Connect an OBD2 scanner, such as an ELM327 interface or AIScanAuto, and scan all accessible modules if supported. Record stored, pending, and freeze-frame information for B2573 before clearing any codes.
Inspect the interlock output wiring Using the vehicle wiring diagram, trace the gear selection/brake interlock output from its controller to the interlock components. Inspect the full harness for chafing, crushed sections, water, corrosion, pin damage, and contact with grounded metal.
Test the circuit for a short to ground Identify the B2573 output pin and perform the prescribed resistance or voltage test against chassis ground with the circuit configured as specified by the service information. An abnormal ground-side value confirms the reported condition and distinguishes it from an open circuit.
Isolate the interlock component and controller Disconnect the brake or gear-selector interlock component as directed and test whether the short disappears. If the wiring and component are sound, the controller's output driver may be pulling the circuit to ground and should be professionally tested or replaced.
Repair and verify B2573 Repair the damaged wiring or connector, restore the proper routing and sealing, and then clear B2573 with the scanner. Confirm that brake recognition, gear selection, and any starting interlock operate normally, then monitor for a returning fault.

Approximate repair cost

A rough independent-shop estimate for diagnosing and repairing B2573 is USD $150-$900, with cost depending mainly on whether the fault is a wiring or connector repair or requires replacement of an interlock component or controller. These figures are estimates, not verified quotes, and vary by region and vehicle.

Common questions

What does B2573 specifically mean?

B2573 identifies a short to ground in the gear selection/brake interlock output circuit. It points to the output wiring, connector, interlock component, or controller driver rather than a general brake-system diagnosis.

Can the vehicle be driven with B2573 stored?

Driving is not recommended if B2573 interferes with gear selection, brake recognition, or the starting interlock. If no symptom is present, arrange prompt diagnosis and avoid movement or vibration of the affected wiring harness.

How is a B2573 short to ground diagnosed?

First confirm B2573 with an OBD2 scanner, then inspect and test the specified output circuit against chassis ground using the vehicle wiring diagram. Isolate the interlock component before condemning the controller.

Does B2573 always require module replacement?

No. A wiring short, contaminated connector, or internally shorted interlock component can cause B2573 without a module failure. Controller replacement should be considered only after the wiring and connected components have been isolated and tested.

B2573 — B2573 — Manufacturer Controlled DTC: Causes, Symptoms & Fix

The engine control module logs B2573 when it spots trouble in the body electrical system. This code lives in the B-series family — that's the group covering body and chassis electronics. When the module decides something isn't right with power door locks, windows, lighting, wipers, or any of those convenience features, B2573 is the flag it throws.

Here's the thing about B2573: one bad reading won't flip the warning light. The computer needs to catch the same fault more than once, under similar driving conditions, before it commits to storing the code. That wait-and-see approach keeps you from chasing phantom problems. When the code finally sets, it saves a freeze frame snapshot — engine load, RPM, coolant temperature, vehicle speed — all timestamped to the moment the failure occurred. Those details are gold when you need to replicate the problem on the test bench.

The body control module (BCM) orchestrates most of these functions, so B2573 essentially means the BCM or one of its downstream components has surfaced a fault. Whether it's a flaky switch, a chafed wire, or a dying actuator, the result is the same: the affected system stops responding or acts erratically.

Common Symptoms of B2573

The check engine or warning light activates on the instrument cluster
The specific function tied to the fault — locks, windows, lighting, wipers — works intermittently or not at all
No noticeable impact on engine performance or drivability in most cases
Reduced functionality may appear only under certain conditions, such as extreme temperatures or humidity
Multiple body functions can fail simultaneously if a central connector or the BCM itself is the culprit

What Causes B2573?

Loose or corroded electrical connectors, especially in areas exposed to moisture and road salt
Damaged wiring insulation in door jambs, tailgate hinges, or other flex points where wires bend repeatedly
A blown fuse or faulty relay feeding the affected circuit
A failed switch, motor, or actuator in the body system that the BCM is trying to control
Water intrusion into connectors or the BCM housing
BCM internal failure (less common, but it happens when the unit overheats or suffers voltage spikes)

How to Diagnose B2573

Plug in an OBD2 scanner, pull the stored codes, and capture the freeze frame data. That snapshot tells you engine load, RPM, coolant temperature, and speed at the moment B2573 triggered — recreate those conditions during your road test to catch the failure live.
Look for related diagnostic trouble codes. B2573 often shares space with codes pointing to the exact circuit or component at fault. Manufacturer technical service bulletins (TSB) can also save hours — search by your vehicle's make, model, and model year on the manufacturer's site or nhtsa.gov.
Inspect the wiring harness and connectors tied to the affected body function. Pull back the loom, check for broken strands, melted insulation, green corrosion, or pins that don't seat firmly. Pay extra attention to the door jambs — those are the first places wires fatigue.
Activate the suspect system while monitoring its switch and motor PIDs in the scanner's live data. Does the BCM see the command? Does the motor show current draw? If the data doesn't match the physical behavior, you've narrowed the problem to that specific leg of the circuit.
Wiggle-test connectors at flex points and anywhere the harness passes through metal. A dead intermittent often shows up here. If wiggling restores function, you've found your loose pin or cracked wire.
Clear B2573 and complete a full drive cycle, including the conditions from the freeze frame. If the code returns, you have an active fault. If it stays cleared, the issue may have been transient — still worth monitoring.

Repair Options for B2573

Address the cheap stuff before swapping expensive modules:

Repair or solder broken wires, replace terminals, or fix corroded connectors: $80–$250
Replace a faulty switch, actuator motor, or relay: $120–$450
BCM repair (some specialty shops can rebuild them) or full replacement with programming: $300–$900

Total Cost to Fix B2573

Your actual invoice hinges on what failed. At independent shop rates (parts and labor, USD):

Wiring or connector repair: $80–$250
Switch or actuator replacement: $120–$450
BCM repair or replacement: $300–$900

In most cases, expect to spend between $80 and $900 total. The right diagnostic path — inspecting connectors and circuits before touching the BCM — keeps you on the low end of that range. Nobody should pay BCM prices for a loose ground wire.

Can You Drive with B2573?

Generally yes — B2573 doesn't hurt the engine or transmission. The car will start, accelerate, and stop just fine. That said, certain failures cross into safety territory. If the fault kills your exterior lights, horn, or windshield wipers during a storm, you're operating a vehicle with reduced visibility and awareness. Central locking failures can also leave the car unsecured. Fix the urgent items first; the rest can wait for a scheduled repair.