EngineLightCodes
Powertrain code

P0560 System Voltage

Severity
Stop soon
Typical repair cost
$0–$660
Do it yourself
Possible, easy
Shop time
0.3–2 hours

The module measures its own supply voltage.

How the engine computer detects it

CARB allows other monitors to be suspended below 11 V, and above a maker's threshold only if the voltage itself is diagnosed – that is what these codes record. GM's engine modules and Ford's PCM set them without warning lamp. P0560 is the general code without low/high split, used differently: Saab's 2002 9-5 transmission module sets it below 9 V or above 18 V for 1 s and goes into limp mode; Saab's EDC16 diesel only above 17 V (24 V charger or jump start); the GM-built 9-4X as a low-voltage code. GM's and Ford's engine modules use P0562/P0563 instead.

Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages

Symptoms

  • Charge warning
  • Transmission limp mode (Saab)
  • Several modules report codes, starting problems

Common causes

  1. Battery weak or faulty Most likely
  2. Alternator or regulator (under- or overcharging) Most likely
  3. Jump start or charger at 24 V Possible
  4. Corroded or loose battery terminals or ground strap Possible

How to diagnose P0560

  1. Read every stored code with an OBD-II scanner. If misfire or fuel trim codes are there too, fix those first: they often cause this one.
  2. Inspect the parts involved: battery, alternator, module power supply, engine control module.
  3. Work through the causes above from most to least likely, cheapest checks first.
  4. Clear the code and drive a full drive cycle to confirm the repair held.

Reading the code

P
Powertrain
0
Generic (SAE) code
5
Vehicle speed, idle control and auxiliary inputs
60
Specific fault

Questions drivers ask

Can I drive with code P0560?

Only for a short distance. When the charging system isn't working right, the car may run on battery power alone and can stall, sometimes taking power steering with it. Turn off accessories you don't need and head straight to a shop.

This page is general information, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis. Repair costs are rough estimates for parts and labor and vary by vehicle and region.