P0A00 to P0A0F: motor, inverter and their cooling
Codes from P0A00 to P0A0F cover an electric car's motor, the inverter that drives it, and the cooling for both. Many inexpensive readers show them as a number with no description. Have it checked soon, with a reader that actually decodes the code.
Can you keep driving?
In the short term, but book it within a few days. If a red warning appears, or the car suddenly loses a lot of power, pull over safely and call for assistance.
What the code actually means
A code in this range points at one of three things: the electric motor, the inverter that drives it, or the cooling for either of them. Many inexpensive readers show these codes as a bare number, with no description at all.
How the inverter works
The traction battery stores direct current, and the motor needs alternating current. The inverter sits between them: it converts the current, controls how much torque the motor makes, and runs the motor as a generator when you slow down. The power electronics run warm, and usually have their own cooling.
Common causes
- A fault in the electric motor
- A fault in the inverter, the power electronics that control the motor
- A fault in the cooling for the motor or the inverter
What to do now
- Write down the full code, all five characters, before anything is cleared.
- If the reader shows only a number, ask for a scan with a tool that supports the car.
- Note whether the car has shown the turtle symbol, a reduced power message or other warnings at the same time.
- Do not open the hood to look. The inverter, the motor and the orange cables can hold dangerous voltage with the car switched off.
- Book it in with a dealer or a shop qualified for high voltage work.
What people often get wrong
Assuming it is the same converter as in P0A94. An EV has two: the inverter, which turns the pack's direct current into alternating current for the motor, and the DC-DC converter, which steps power down for the 12 volt system. The codes point at different parts.
When the car must go to a workshop
This belongs with a dealer or a shop qualified for high voltage work. It needs training, an isolation procedure, insulated tools and test equipment, and none of it is owner serviceable.
Read next
- Red high-voltage warning on an EV: stop and call
- The turtle symbol on an EV: reduced power, not a fault
- P0A94: DC-DC converter fault
This page is general information and does not replace a professional assessment. Symbols, codes and behaviour vary between makes. Always check the handbook for your own car.
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