P0600: Serial communication link fault
The engine ECU is having trouble talking to another control unit in the car. Usually wiring, plugs, power supply or the unit itself.
| Code | P0600 |
|---|---|
| System | Engine and transmission |
| Group | P06xx, Control unit and auxiliary outputs |
| Type | Generic: it means the same on every make |
| Can you keep driving? | With care |
What P0600 means
The car’s control units share data over a wired network. This code means the engine ECU has lost or cannot make sense of that communication with another unit. It can be as simple as a low battery or a loose plug, or an internal fault in one of the units.
Most common causes
- Low battery or poor terminal contact
- Plug on a control unit loose, wet or corroded
- Network wires chafed or broken
- Poor earth on one of the control units
- Internal fault in the engine ECU or another unit
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on
- Several warning lights at once on the dashboard
- Automatic gearbox or traction control in limp mode
- Sometimes hard starting or lack of power
Can you drive with P0600?
With care Some systems may be running in limp mode. Drive gently and get it to a garage soon.
Open the bonnetthe in-depth explanation
How to check it
Note which other codes appear at the same time, especially any starting with U, as they show which unit is not responding. Also check the battery voltage on the scan tool.
How to read and clear P0600 with Final OBD
Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0600 with its description and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.
If the engine stores it over standard OBD, with FREE you read this code with its explanation for nothing and clear it. With PRO you also read the faults of every control unit and clear them in all of them.
Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before an inspection. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in inspections and OBD.
Similar codes
- P0601 Internal control module memory checksum error
- P0602 Control module programming error
- P0603 Internal control module keep alive memory (KAM) error
- P0604 Internal control module random access memory (RAM) error
- P0605 Internal control module read only memory (ROM) error
- P0606 ECM/PCM processor fault
- P0607 Control module performance
- P0615 Starter relay: circuit fault
What does code P0600 mean?
The car’s control units share data over a wired network. This code means the engine ECU has lost or cannot make sense of that communication with another unit. It can be as simple as a low battery or a loose plug, or an internal fault in one of the units.
Can you drive with P0600?
Some systems may be running in limp mode. Drive gently and get it to a garage soon.
How do you clear P0600?
With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0600 comes back.
Read it on your car
Final OBD reads and clears engine faults through standard OBD for free, each one explained in plain English. With PRO it also reads the faults of every control unit, each make’s own codes included, and clears them in all of them.
