DTC Trouble Codes

Look up a check-engine or warning code: what it means, symptoms, causes and how to fix.

Powertrainlow

P0128 — Coolant Thermostat (Below Regulating Temperature)

The engine is taking too long to warm up.

Powertrainmedium

P0171 — System Too Lean (Bank 1)

The engine computer is adding a lot of extra fuel — too much air or too little fuel.

Powertrainhigh

P0300 — Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected

More than one cylinder is misfiring, at random.

Powertrainhigh

P0301 — Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected

Cylinder 1 is not burning fuel properly.

Powertrainhigh

P0335 — Crankshaft Position Sensor "A" Circuit

The computer is not getting a good signal from the crankshaft sensor.

Powertrainmedium

P0420 — Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)

The oxygen sensor after the catalytic converter reads almost the same as the one before it, so the converter is not cleaning the smoke well.

Powertrainlow

P0442 — EVAP System Small Leak Detected

The fuel vapour system has a small leak.

Powertrainlow

P0455 — EVAP System Large Leak Detected

The fuel vapour system has a big leak or is open to air.

Powertrainlow

P0460 — Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit

The fuel level signal is not what the computer expects.

Powertrainlow

P0462 — Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit Low

Fuel level signal voltage is too low — usually the wire is touching ground (short).

Powertrainlow

P0463 — Fuel Level Sensor "A" Circuit High

Fuel level signal voltage is too high — usually a broken wire (open circuit).

Powertrainmedium

P0500 — Vehicle Speed Sensor "A"

The computer is not getting a correct speed signal.

Powertrainhigh

P0520 — Engine Oil Pressure Sensor/Switch Circuit

The oil pressure switch / sensor signal is wrong.

Powertrainmedium

P0562 — System Voltage Low

The computer sees battery / charging voltage below normal.

Powertrainhigh

P0563 — System Voltage High

The computer sees charging voltage above normal (usually over about 15–16 V).

Powertrainmedium

P0615 — Starter Relay Circuit

The computer found a problem in the starter relay control circuit.

Powertrainmedium

P0616 — Starter Relay Circuit Low

The starter relay control signal is too low — often an open or grounded wire.

Powertrainmedium

P0617 — Starter Relay Circuit High

The starter relay signal is high when it should be off — the starter may keep running.

Powertrainmedium

P0620 — Generator (Alternator) Control Circuit

The engine computer has a problem with the wire it uses to control the alternator.

Networkhigh

U0001 — High Speed CAN Communication Bus

A module found a problem on the high-speed CAN data wires.

Networkhigh

U0073 — Control Module Communication Bus "A" Off

A module stopped talking because the data bus is shut down or faulty.

Networkhigh

U0100 — Lost Communication With ECM/PCM "A"

Other computers can no longer hear the engine computer (ECM).

Networkmedium

U0121 — Lost Communication With ABS Control Module

The ABS computer stopped sending messages on the data wires.

Networkmedium

U0140 — Lost Communication With Body Control Module

The body computer (lights, locks, wipers, chimes) is not talking on the data wires.

Networkmedium

U0155 — Lost Communication With Instrument Panel Cluster

Another computer in the car stopped getting messages from the meter. The meter has no power, no ground, or is not connected to the data wires.

How to read a trouble code

PSystem: P = engine/gearbox, B = body, C = chassis, U = network
00 = same on all cars, 1 = company-specific
4Part of the system (e.g. 3 = ignition / misfire, 4 = emissions)
20The exact fault