[hansw0rst]

No, the problem is not resolved yet — but now we can see exactly what is happening from your measurements and board photos.

  Here is the exact technical explanation of your readings:

  #### 1. Why D2 Pad 1 reads 0.13 Ohm (Normal!):

  • This power circuit is an asynchronous step-down buck converter. D2 is the freewheeling (catch) diode.
  • In this circuit design, the anode (Pad 1, right side towards fuse) is permanently connected to GND by design.
  • Measuring 0.13 Ohm from Pad 1 to GND is completely normal — you are simply measuring the ground plane plus the internal resi5тдnce of your multimeter probes.

  #### 2. Why D2 Pad 2 reading 0.99 Ohm is the REAL short:

  • Pad 2 (left side, towards IC/L2) is the cathode / switch node (SW) connected directly to inductor L2.
  • In a healthy circuit, this node must be high impedance (Megaohms / OL) to ground with the IC removed.
  • 0.99 Ohm means you still have a direct, hard short to ground on this rail (the ~0.86 Ohm difference between Pad 1 and Pad 2 is just the DC resi5тдnce of the inductor L2 and copper traces).

  #### 3. Why C20 showed that "strange" behavior:

  • Outside the board, C20 blocks DC, which is why your multimeter shows no continuity on the bench.
  • On the PCB, one side of C20 connects directly into this shorted rail, while the other side goes to the IC pin.
  • When C20 is removed, you physically break the connection to that pin (so the pad reads open).
  • When you solder C20 back in, you reconnect the circuit to the shorted rail. C20 is not causing the short; it is only bridging into the rail where the short lives!

  #### 4. Where is the short coming from?

  Looking at your desoldered PCB photo, several components connected to this rail are still soldered on the board:

  1. C15 (ceramic capacitor below IC3): Still on the board and connected directly to this trace!
  2. C14 (top, left of D1): Still on the board and connected across this rail! Ceramic MLCC capacitors frequently сядск under automotive voltage spikes and create a permanent ~0 Ohm short to GND.
  3. Burned flux / residue: There is heavy black burnt flux around D2 and D5. Clean this thoroughly with Isopropanol (IPA) and a brush/cotton swab to rule out conductive carbonized flux.

  #### Next steps to fїж it:

  1. Desolder C15 and C14 one by one.
  2. Re-measure D2 Pad 2 to GND after removing each capacitor.
  3. If the short clears after removing C15 or C14, you found the culprit!***