Quick Answer
The P2602 code means Coolant Pump “A” Control Circuit Low. The controller classified the Pump A control path as electrically low; it did not measure low coolant pressure or prove the pump failed. Save the complete fault record, identify the VIN-specific Pump A circuit, then inspect its connector, harness, supply and ground before ordering parts.
1What Does the P2602 Code Mean?
P2602 is the standardized low-circuit member of the Coolant Pump A control family. The responsible controller detected the electrical result it classifies as low on that output or control path. “Low” describes the monitored circuit state. It does not mean coolant level, pressure, flow, temperature or pump speed is low.
The letter “A” is an OEM designation, not a universal location. Ford’s 2024–2025 gasoline OBD summary maps Pump A on one architecture to a high-temperature auxiliary loop for cabin heating and says a smart driver reports an output-circuit fault. Another make may assign Pump A to a different auxiliary loop or to a primary electric pump. Confirm the VIN, engine and wiring diagram.
A shorted control wire, damaged connector, failed power or ground path, internal pump electronics or a driver problem can produce this classification. Application-specific software can matter too: Honda Service Bulletin 14-075 covers only the 2014 Accord Plug-In and directs a PGM-FI update for a defined P2602 condition. That narrow example is not a universal repair.
P2602 vs. nearby coolant-pump codes
| Code | General description | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| P2600 | Coolant Pump A Control Circuit/Open | General circuit or open-path result, not the dedicated low classification. |
| P2601 | Coolant Pump A Control Circuit Range/Performance | Commanded or expected operation does not agree with the monitored result. |
| P2602 | Coolant Pump A Control Circuit Low | Dedicated low electrical classification for the OEM-defined Pump A path. |
| P2603 | Coolant Pump A Control Circuit High | Dedicated high electrical classification; it does not mean high coolant temperature. |
| P261C | Coolant Pump B Control Circuit Low | Comparable low-circuit wording for the OEM-designated Pump B path. |
Read the exact scan record. An OEM may pair P2602 with a failure-type suffix or an extended code. Preserve that detail because it can identify the electrical failure mode more precisely than the five-character code alone.
2P2602 Symptoms and Likely Causes
P2602 symptoms depend on the circuit Pump A serves and on the vehicle’s protection strategy. A low control circuit may be present before any temperature change, while loss of a critical electric pump can quickly affect heating, engine cooling or hybrid thermal management.
The code may be current, pending or intermittent and can appear with supply-voltage, communication or cooling-performance faults.
A cabin-heating loop may provide weak heat, while another architecture may show a temperature warning or restricted function.
The controller may limit torque, disable an affected feature or run another cooling device as a safeguard.
The circuit fault can occur only during a commanded pump event that is absent at idle or during a short trip.
Practical cause-checking order
- Recent work or accessible connector trouble: an incompletely seated plug, bent or backed-out terminal, damaged lock, water intrusion, corrosion or harness disturbed during cooling, battery or collision repair.
- Harness, fuse, supply or ground fault: chafing, heat damage, a control wire shorted to ground, an open feed, weak ground under load or a protection device opened by excessive current.
- Pump-side electrical failure: shorted internal electronics, motor or driver damage, contamination in a connector, or a pump that loads the circuit abnormally.
- Controller or calibration branch: consider only after proving the external paths and checking VIN-applicable service information. Do not transfer the Honda software bulletin to an unlisted vehicle.
Recheck recent repairs first. If P2602 appeared after coolant, pump, harness, battery or module work, verify connector engagement, harness clips, grounds, coolant routing and every required bleed or setup step before replacing another part.
3How Serious Is P2602, and Can You Drive?
With P2602, a steady MIL, normal temperature, no leak, no power loss and normal heater or hybrid operation may allow the shortest light-load trip for diagnosis when the owner’s manual permits it. Avoid towing, hard acceleration, long idling and extended driving until the Pump A loop is identified. A heater-loop pump fault and a primary cooling-pump fault do not carry the same risk.
Stop and arrange a tow if the temperature warning appears, the gauge rises abnormally, coolant or steam escapes, power drops unsafely, the vehicle stalls, a hybrid/high-voltage warning appears, the MIL flashes with severe misfire, or you notice smoke, a burning odor or abnormal mechanical noise.
Never open a hot pressurized cooling system. Automatic fans and electric pumps can run with the engine off or during an output test. Hybrid high-voltage circuits require OEM isolation procedures and qualified personnel; access to the diagnostic connector does not make high-voltage work safe.
4How to Diagnose P2602 in the Right Order
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Save the complete fault record
Before clearing anything, scan every available module and save current, pending, history and permanent DTCs, freeze frame, failure order, ECU identification, failure-type suffixes and the driver’s symptoms. Companion supply, network, temperature or cooling-flow codes can show which fault occurred first.
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Identify the VIN-specific Pump A architecture
Use the VIN, engine, powertrain and wiring diagram to locate Pump A, its controller, fuse, ground, connector and control method. Check current bulletins and determine whether the circuit serves cabin heat, engine cooling, a hybrid loop or another function. Apply an OEM bulletin only to its listed vehicle.
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Inspect the cold system and accessible wiring
With the vehicle safely shut down and coolant cold, inspect the fuse, connector and harness for heat, moisture, corrosion, loose terminal fit, rub-through and poor routing. Check the specified coolant level and look for leaks or recent-service disturbance, without opening a hot system or forcing the pump.
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Prove supply, ground and control integrity
Follow the OEM diagram and use the required DVOM, load test, current clamp or oscilloscope. Test power and ground under the commanded load, then trace the control and feedback paths by the specified breakout method. Do not jump a controller pin directly to battery or ground.
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Compare commanded and actual evidence
On a supported vehicle, monitor the available pump command, status, supply-voltage and coolant-temperature data while running the correct output test under published safety conditions. Correlate scan feedback with current, sound and confirmed circulation. A missing PID or unsupported active test is a coverage limit, not evidence of failure.
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Confirm the failed path and required setup
Replace a pump only after the circuit and OEM confirmation test identify it. Repair terminals and wiring to factory sealing and routing standards. Consider a controller last. If a VIN-specific bulletin directs software, follow that branch, then complete any refill, bleed, coding, initialization or relearn required for the repair.
Specifications are vehicle-specific. There is no universal P2602 voltage, resistance, current, duty cycle, pressure, speed, time or temperature threshold. Use the service-manual units, connector view, test equipment and monitor conditions for the exact VIN.
5P2602 Repairs and Typical Costs
The correct P2602 fix may be a terminal repair, restored power or ground, a harness repair, a proven electric-pump replacement, or a VIN-specific software action. Correct coolant level or trapped air only after finding why it occurred. Replace the larger pump or cooling assembly only when testing proves that architecture and service path.
| Possible path | Current US estimate |
|---|---|
| Professional check-engine diagnosis and circuit testing | $122–$233 |
| Coolant change, refill and bleed, only when justified by coolant condition or an opened circuit | $437–$508 |
| Water-pump replacement category, only where the proven Pump A architecture maps to this service | $885–$1,134 |
| Auxiliary pump, connector, harness, fuse, software, controller or hybrid-loop work | VIN-specific quote |
RepairPal lists each national range above as updated August 7, 2026. The estimates exclude location, taxes, fees and related work. They are alternative outcomes, not amounts to add together. A small auxiliary pump may not match the national water-pump category, so obtain a written estimate tied to the VIN and proven failure.
6Using iCarsoft CR Max P for P2602
On a supported vehicle, iCarsoft CR Max P can scan the relevant engine, hybrid or body-control module, preserve P2602 status and available freeze frame, identify the ECU and display ECU-provided live data. Useful pump command, status, voltage or coolant-temperature PIDs may be available when the exact VIN, ECU and installed software expose them.
Supported-vehicle diagnosis
iCarsoft CR Max P
Preserve the fault record, review exposed coolant-pump data and run supported output tests before replacing parts. Coverage varies by VIN, module and software version.
Check current CR Max P price and availabilityCheck CR Max P compatibility by VINAn active test can help compare a commanded state with scan feedback and independent physical evidence. Use only the Pump A test named in the VIN-specific procedure. If the menu lacks that test, confirm coverage instead of substituting another actuator or repeatedly cycling the pump in an attempt to free it.
Know the measurement boundary. CR Max P does not directly measure physical voltage, current, resistance, coolant pressure or flow, leakage, terminal tension, mechanical rotation or internal pump condition. Use a DVOM, current clamp, oscilloscope, pressure or vacuum-fill equipment, temperature tools and physical inspection as the OEM procedure requires.
7Verify the P2602 Repair
After repair, confirm that the connector is locked and dry, terminals retain proper tension, the harness is clipped away from heat and abrasion, and every opened coolant circuit has been refilled and bled by the exact OEM method. Complete any required software update, setup or pump initialization with the specified battery support.
Save the post-repair scan, then use the OEM clearing procedure for erasable DTCs only after preserving the original evidence. Safely reproduce the relevant freeze-frame or monitor conditions, confirm normal command, feedback and thermal behavior, and rescan related modules for current or pending P2602 and companion faults. One clean idle period is not proof when the monitor requires other conditions.
A permanent P2602 can remain immediately after a successful repair. If the vehicle stores it as a permanent DTC, a scan tool or battery disconnect cannot erase it. Once current and pending faults are absent, the OBD system removes the permanent record only after the applicable monitor reruns and passes.
8Related Cooling-System Code Guides
9P2602 Frequently Asked Questions
Does P2602 always mean Coolant Pump A is bad?
No. P2602 reports a low electrical condition in the control path. A connector, terminal, harness, fuse, supply, ground, internal pump electronics, controller driver or application-specific calibration can be responsible. Prove the circuit before replacing the pump.
What is the difference between P2602 and P2601?
P2602 is the dedicated low-circuit classification. P2601 is a range/performance fault in which commanded or expected pump operation does not match the monitored result. Neither code, by itself, authorizes a pump replacement.
Where is Coolant Pump A located?
There is no universal location. “A” is assigned by the manufacturer and may identify an auxiliary heater, engine, component or hybrid cooling loop. Use the VIN-specific wiring and coolant-flow diagrams before touching a connector or hose.
Can I drive with a P2602 code?
A very short light-load trip may be reasonable only when the owner’s manual permits it and temperature, heater or hybrid operation, power and coolant level appear normal. Stop for overheating, steam, leakage, unsafe power loss or any high-voltage warning.
How much does a P2602 repair cost?
Professional diagnosis is currently estimated at $122–$233 nationally. A justified coolant service is $437–$508, while the broad water-pump category is $885–$1,134. Connector, auxiliary-pump, software and module work need a VIN-specific quote.
What can CR Max P check for P2602?
On a supported vehicle, CR Max P can read code status and freeze frame, access exposed live data and run an available Pump A output test. It cannot physically prove voltage, current, coolant flow, terminal tension or internal pump condition.
Technical and cost references
- SAE J2012_202509, Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions, revised September 1, 2025, and the current SAE J2012DA_202607 digital annex, dated July 29, 2026.
- Ford 2024–2025 MY OBD System Operation Summary for Gasoline Engines, revision April 16, 2024, for the P2600–P2603 family and one Pump A architecture example.
- American Honda Service Bulletin 14-075, MIL Comes On With DTC P2602, dated November 28, 2014, for a VIN-limited software example.
- RepairPal Check Engine Light Diagnosis & Testing Cost Estimate, $122–$233, updated August 7, 2026.
- RepairPal Coolant Change Cost Estimate, $437–$508, updated August 7, 2026.
- RepairPal Water Pump Replacement Cost Estimate, $885–$1,134, updated August 7, 2026.
Product information: Official iCarsoft CR Max P page.
Editorial note: Educational US-market planning information only. This guide does not replace the VIN-specific service manual, wiring diagram, cooling-system pressure precautions, hybrid high-voltage isolation, approved electrical test methods or diagnosis by a qualified technician. Never open a hot system, force an electric pump, bypass a control circuit or apply an unrelated active test.
