OBD-II Code · Computer
P2610
PCM Internal Ignition Off Timer Performance
Severity
low
Lowest on our scale. Fix it when convenient.
Can you drive it
Only if running normally
A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety.
Indicative cost (USD)
$150–$1,500
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
PCM off-timer fault.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- Check engine light
Likely causes
- Failed PCMMost common
- Reflash needed
Read the full diagnostic procedureP2610 means the PCM detected an internal fault with its engine-off timer — the counter that tracks how long the engine has been off between key cycle…
P2610 means the PCM detected an internal fault with its engine-off timer — the counter that tracks how long the engine has been off between key cycles, used by evaporative-emissions monitors, cold-start logic, and ambient-temperature rationality checks. The timer should count smoothly from 0 to 86,400 seconds (24 hours) during a soak, then reset; an internal fault means the counter is stuck, jumping, or losing time across power-down cycles.
Shop-floor ladder, cheapest first
- Scan-tool read the freeze-frame and confirm the code set during a key-off-to-key-on transition (typical) vs during run (rare and points to PCM corruption).
- Check PCM battery-feed circuit: a weak hold-power feed (typical fuse-fed, 12V always-hot) can cause the timer to reset randomly; backprobe the keep-alive memory (KAM) feed at the PCM connector and confirm 12V with the key off; voltage drop more than 0.5V from battery means corrosion or a failing fuse panel.
- Battery condition: a marginal battery that drops below ~9V during cold cranking can corrupt KAM and trigger P2610; load-test the battery and replace if it fails.
- Aftermarket parasitic-draw devices (dashcams, hardwired radar detectors, aftermarket alarms) on the keep-alive feed are a known cause — disconnect them and clear the code.
- If hardware checks pass, PCM reflash to the latest calibration often clears the fault; if reflash doesn't take, the PCM is the part. DO NOT probe HV orange-wire circuits with a standard multimeter. Always service HV with Class 0 1000V gloves, isolation tester (Megger), and DC-rated lugged probes. Pack contactor stuck-closed (P0AF1/P0AF2) is the only condition where the orange-wire bus may be live AFTER the service plug is removed. NEVER assume zero potential — always measure with an HV-rated meter.
Vehicle-specific patterns2003-2014 GM full-size trucks/SUVs (Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon) are the most common P2610 ticket — the Saginaw-built PCMs of this gene…
- 2003-2014GM full-size trucks/SUVs (Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon) are the most common P2610 ticket — the Saginaw-built PCMs of this generation have a known KAM-corruption failure mode, often triggered by a marginal battery or a low-voltage event during winter starts, and GM issued multiple TSBs for PCM reflash; if reflash doesn't hold, the PCM gets replaced.
- 2011-2016Ford F-150 EcoBoost and 2011-2014 Mustang see P2610 from a similar PCM internal-watchdog fault, sometimes paired with intermittent stalling.
- 2005-2010Chrysler 300 / Charger / Magnum 5.7L Hemi sees it from a failing instrument-cluster gateway that corrupts the PCM keep-alive bus.
- 2007-2012Nissan Altima / Maxima sees it from a known ECM ground-strap corrosion issue at the chassis tie-point.
Estimated repair$0 (clear code after battery replacement) to $1,200 (PCM replacement + programming).
Look up another code
P2610 — frequently asked
What does a P2610 code mean?
PCM off-timer fault.
What causes a P2610 code?
Common causes: Failed PCM; Reflash needed.
What are the symptoms of a P2610 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light.
Is it safe to drive with a P2610 code?
Only if running normally. A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety. Estimated repair: $150-$1,500.
How do I diagnose a P2610 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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