P0973Shift Solenoid A Control Circuit Low
- Generic OBD-II code · Powertrain
- Turns on the check-engine light
- Matters for the ITP
- Can trigger limp mode
- How the car detects it
- Low-voltage fault in the control circuit of shift solenoid A, usually a short to ground. Ford lists it as SSA short to ground beside P0750 (open) for the 5R110W, 6R80, 6F and 6R140, checked by a driver feedback line within 0.5 to 5 s. GM six-speeds (6L/6T) call SS A the mode 2 solenoid and set P0973 after 1.2 of 1.5 s, MIL after one trip. The Saab 9-4X 6T70 needs 2 s, Type A, then only reverse and 5th remain. GM's 2016 Allison 1000 table folds ground short (0.42 ohm or less) and open (200 kOhm or more) into this code over 10 counts. Saab's Aisin gearbox in the 9-5 (2010) maps it to shift solenoid valve 2. High side is P0974.
- What you may notice
- MIL on after the first faulty trip on many vehicles
- Limp mode with only a few gears, often reverse plus one forward gear
- Harsh engagements due to maximum line pressure
- Torque converter lockup and manual shifting disabled
- Likely causes
- LikelyControl wire to solenoid A chafed through and shorted to ground
- PossibleInternal short in solenoid A or the control solenoid assembly
- PossibleFluid or metal debris bridging pins at the transmission connector
- RareFaulty low-side driver in the transmission or powertrain module
- Inspection (ITP)
- Matters for the ITP. While the check-engine light is on, the car fails the emissions check.
- Repair
- Hard · Usually a job for a workshop.Typical cost: €100 – €1,600
- Related codes
Explanation from obdex (CC0), exactly as the app shows it. Guidance only; confirm with a workshop.