P068A

ECM/PCM Power Relay De-Energized Performance - Too Early

ECM power supply Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P068A means the engine/powertrain control module detected that its own power relay switched off (de-energized) sooner than expected. That relay keeps the computer powered while it finishes shutting down, so an early drop-out can cause intermittent stalling, hard starting, or an occasional no-start. It usually points to the relay itself, its connections, or the control wiring.

High

Can I keep driving? Risky — the relay feeding the engine computer is dropping out too soon, which can cause intermittent stalling or a no-start; have it diagnosed before relying on the car.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

2,162

scans in the past year

Found in

0.3%

of scans

0.6%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P068A scans

P0113in 16.9% of scans

P0183in 9.6% of scans

P0101in 9.3% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Intermittent stalling, especially at shutdown or key-off
Hard starting or an occasional no-start
Check-engine light on
Electrical dropouts or loss of computer-controlled functions

Common causes

Most likely first

Faulty ECM/PCM main power relayLikely
Corroded or loose relay socket, connector, or groundCommon
Open or shorted wiring in the relay control circuitCommon
Failing ECM/PCM (less common)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Inspect the ECM/PCM power relay and its socket; swap in a known-good relay to see if the fault clears.
Check the relay's power feeds, ground, and connector for corrosion or high resistance.
Test the relay control wiring between the computer and relay for opens or shorts.
Monitor system voltage at key-off for an early drop; if wiring and relay are good, suspect the ECM/PCM. Clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P068A?+

Be cautious. The engine computer's power relay is releasing too early, so the car can stall or fail to restart unexpectedly. Get it diagnosed soon.

Can I just clear P068A?+

You can clear it, but if the relay or its wiring is at fault the problem — and the risk of stalling — will return. Fix the underlying relay circuit.

Read & clear P068A yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

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✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX