P0600 to P0607: engine control module internal faults
The engine computer reports a fault inside itself: a memory checksum, a programming error, a processor fault or poor performance of its own circuits.
SeverityHighCarrying on can cause expensive damage, so deal with it now.
Can you keep driving?Only as far as the workshopWhat does P0606 mean?
Every engine control module runs self-tests on its memory and processors, often with a second processor watching the first. When a test fails, it stores one of these codes. A genuine internal fault does happen, but a poor power supply or ground, a voltage spike or interrupted programming can produce the same codes, and they are cheaper to fix.
What causes P0606?
- A weak battery or a poor ground causing voltage drops
- A software update or programming session that was interrupted
- Water ingress or corrosion inside the module
- A genuine internal failure of the module
- A short in a sensor circuit that pulls the module's supply down
What to check first for P0606
- Test the battery and clean and tighten the main ground connections
- Ask whether the manufacturer has a software update for this code
- Inspect the module and its connectors for water or corrosion
- Only after power, grounds and software are ruled out, consider repairing or replacing the module, which then needs coding to the car
Can you drive with P0606?
Drive only to a workshop. The engine computer controls the throttle, the fuel and the ignition, and with an internal fault it can cut power, run erratically or stop the engine without warning; have it towed if it does any of those.
Since May 2018 an engine warning light that stays on is a major defect at the MOT, so the car fails until the fault is fixed.
Codes on this page
- P0600Serial Communication Link
- P0601Internal Control Module Memory Check Sum Error
- P0602Control Module Programming Error
- P0603Internal Control Module Keep Alive Memory (KAM) Error
- P0604Internal Control Module Random Access Memory (RAM) Error
- P0605Internal Control Module Read Only Memory (ROM) Error
- P0606ECM/PCM Processor
- P0607Control Module Performance
Related codes
Checked on · Rafael Soares
These are the generic meanings every manufacturer shares. Each brand adds its own detail, so your car's handbook, its service information and a qualified mechanic have the last word. OdoKeep has no connection with any manufacturer, and the app does not read codes from the car.
