P0601 — Internal Control Module Memory Check Sum Error

P0601 means: The controller's internal memory has failed its checksum test.

System: Electrical · Standard: SAE J2012 generic code · Severity: Repair soon

01Can you keep driving?

Repair soon

The car will usually keep running, but continued driving risks secondary damage or an emissions failure. Book the repair.

02What you will notice

Rough running
Multiple drivability symptoms
No start on some vehicles

03Likely causes, most common first

Failed controller
Voltage spike damage
Corrupted programming

04How this code is diagnosed

This is an internal controller failure. It usually requires replacement or reprogramming rather than a sensor.

Start by reading every stored and pending code, not just this one. A single fault frequently sets three or four codes at once, and the first one in the freeze-frame data is usually the cause while the rest are consequences.

Common questions

What does P0601 mean?

The controller's internal memory has failed its checksum test. Internal Control Module Memory Check Sum Error is a generic electrical code defined by SAE J2012, so it carries the same meaning on every OBD-II vehicle.

Is it safe to drive with P0601?

Repair soon. The car will usually keep running, but continued driving risks secondary damage or an emissions failure. Book the repair.

What are the most likely causes of P0601?

In rough order of how often they turn out to be the problem: Failed controller; Voltage spike damage; Corrupted programming.

Other electrical codes

Sourcing

Code number, system and definition follow the SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 generic diagnostic trouble code standard. Symptoms, causes and severity are the standard generic diagnostic logic for that fault. This page does not contain manufacturer-specific procedures, part numbers or pricing.