The Lemon IndexRight after a cold start, the spark timing isn't where the computer wants it.
Drive on, get it checked. You can usually keep driving. Have the code read at your next service or within a few weeks.
Dirty throttle body. Then: vacuum leak; software.
Owners named P050B in 5 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford.
The details
What P050B means
Right after a cold start, the spark timing isn't where the computer wants it.
Can I drive with P050B?
Drive on, get it checked. You can usually keep driving. Have the code read at your next service or within a few weeks.
40% of the owner complaints that name P050B also say the car shakes, runs rough or misfires. A complaint can describe more than one problem, so this doesn't prove the code caused it.
Common causes of P050B
- Dirty throttle body
- Vacuum leak
- Software
A shop should confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
What owners describe
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires: 40% of complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode: 40% of complaints
Share of complaints naming the code whose text also mentions each problem.
Related codes
P050A P050D P0507 P0506 P0505 P0504 P0500 P0513
Quick answers
What does P050B mean?
Cold Start Ignition Timing Performance. Right after a cold start, the spark timing isn't where the computer wants it.
Can I drive with P050B?
Drive on, get it checked. You can usually keep driving. Have the code read at your next service or within a few weeks.
What causes P050B?
Dirty throttle body; Vacuum leak; Software.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text names P050B. A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis. Meanings: the standard SAE J2012 definitions in our own words; manufacturer codes only where verified for that make. General information, not repair advice for your car.