P0650 and related codes: warning lamp and output circuits
A circuit the engine computer uses to light a warning lamp (check engine, engine hot, immobilizer or fuel cap) or to send a signal to the dash or another module (vehicle speed, engine speed, fuel level or the driver display) has a fault.
SeverityModerateUsually not urgent today, but it can get worse if left.
Can you keep driving?Drive gently, check it soonWhat does P0650 mean?
Besides running the engine, the computer drives several lamps and passes signals on to the instrument cluster and other modules. P0650 deserves attention: if the engine warning light circuit is broken, the light cannot warn you of other faults, so a real problem could go unnoticed. The other codes mean a gauge or a lamp may not work: a speed signal fault can leave the speedometer or cruise control dead, an engine hot lamp fault can hide overheating.
What causes P0650?
- A failed bulb or LED in the instrument cluster, on older cars
- A damaged wire between the engine computer and the cluster
- A corroded connector behind the dashboard or at the engine computer
- A fault in the instrument cluster itself
- A short in the output circuit that the computer shut off to protect itself
What to check first for P0650
- Switch the ignition on without starting and check that the engine warning light comes on for a moment
- Check whether the speedometer, rev counter, fuel gauge and temperature gauge work
- Inspect the connectors at the engine computer and behind the instrument cluster
- Read the instrument cluster's codes as well
Can you drive with P0650?
Usually you can drive to a workshop. Until the engine warning light works, watch the gauges more closely, and if the temperature lamp circuit is the one at fault, keep an eye on the temperature gauge and stop if it climbs.
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
9
- P0608Control Module VSS Output "A"
- P0609Control Module VSS Output "B"
- P0624Fuel Cap Lamp Control Circuit
- P0644Driver Display Serial Communication Circuit
- P0648Immobilizer Lamp Control Circuit
- P0650Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Control Circuit
- P0654Engine RPM Output Circuit
- P0655Engine Hot Lamp Output Control Circuit
- P0656Fuel Level Output Circuit
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.
