P0600 Serial communication link
What P0600 means
The engine control unit has detected a fault in a serial data link, either between processors inside the unit or with another module such as the transmission control unit. Functions that rely on shared data may stop working.
P0600 is a generic SAE J2012 code: it means the same on every make. The exact cause still depends on the car, so read the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
At a glance
- Severity
- Medium
- Typical repair cost
- 80–600 €
- Workshop time
- 0.5–3 h
- Repair difficulty
- Medium
- DIY possible
- No
- Check engine light
- Yes
- Affects emissions test
- No
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Other warning lights on
- Erratic shifting or limp mode
- Engine may run poorly or not start in some cases
Common causes
- Weak battery or poor power supply to the ECU
- Poor ground connections
- Damaged CAN bus wiring or corroded connectors
- Faulty transmission control unit or another module on the network
- Internal engine control unit fault
Can I keep driving with P0600?
You can drive carefully, but have it checked within one to two weeks. If other systems such as the gearbox start misbehaving, have it seen sooner.
What to check first
- Check the battery and charging voltage
- Inspect ECU power fuses, grounds and connectors for corrosion
- Scan all modules for communication (U-codes) to find which link is affected
- Have the data bus wiring tested before replacing any control unit
Related 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 Control module processor fault
- P0607 Control module performance
- P0610 Control module vehicle options error
Data: TORKO fault-code catalogue, built on OBDex (CC0-1.0) and reviewed against workshop practice. Informational only — it does not replace a diagnosis by a mechanic.
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