Are you noticing strange shifting issues or unexpected warning messages on your dashboard? A bad shift solenoid is one of the most common causes of unusual behavior in an automatic transmission. When this small but vital component fails, it can lead to hard shifts, slipping gears, or even getting stuck in one gear.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the shift solenoid, including the most common symptoms, its location, replacement cost, and how to diagnose the problem properly. But first, let’s look at the key signs of a bad shift solenoid.
In This Article:
Signs of a Bad Shift Solenoid
The most common symptoms of a bad or failing shift solenoid include hard or delayed shifting, being stuck in a particular gear, or generally rough gear changes in your automatic transmission. You might also see a transmission warning light or other related warning lights appear on your dashboard.
Below is a more detailed look at the signs of a bad shift solenoid and how to recognize them before they cause major transmission damage.
1. Check Engine light
The first sign you will notice of all bad shift solenoid symptoms is probably the check engine light. The check engine light will light up even when there is a problem with the transmission.
Usually, if you use an OBD2 canner to read the trouble codes, you may see a P0700 Trouble code. This code basically tells you that there is a problem with the transmission control, and more trouble codes will be found in the transmission control module.
2. Transmission Warning Light
Some cars also have a separate warning light for the transmission. If this light is on, there may be a stored trouble code related to a bad shift solenoid.
To read the trouble codes from the transmission control module, you need an OBD2 scanner to read generic and enhanced trouble codes. Most cheaper ones can only read the codes from the engine control module.
3. Shifting delays
If the transmission control unit recognizes any shift solenoid problems, it may cause the transmission to shift very slowly. This applies to both upshifting and downshifting.
4. Skipping gears
You may also notice that your car has a problem engaging some gears, and therefore it will skip to the next gear. This is a big sign that you have transmission shift solenoid problems. You have one or more shift solenoid for each gear, and if one is broken, it will not shift to that gear. Instead, it will jump directly to the next gear.
5. Stuck in gear
If the shift solenoid got damaged while the gear was engaged, it might cause the transmission to be stuck in that gear. If this is the case, you can try to give the shift solenoid external power to release the gear if you know how to do it.
6. Downshift or Upshift Issues
You may also have intermittent problems with the transmission shift solenoid, which will cause shifting problems. This can cause hard shifting or shiftings at too low or too high RPM, for example.
7. Limp mode
Limp mode is a protective mode for your engine, and you will notice it mostly because your engine will get an RPM limit of 2500-3000 RPM, and it may also affect your transmission shifting.
Limp mode causes the transmission to not shift over gear 3, and if there is a bad shift solenoid, it may cause your car to activate limp mode. You can read more about it here: Limp mode.
What Is A Shift Solenoid?
A transmission shift solenoid is an electromagnet component of an automatic or semi-automatic transmission that controls the flow of fluid to change gears and other functions in the transmission.
The transmission control unit is collecting information from the engine, vehicle speed sensors, and other sensors. The transmission control module uses all these parameters to calculate when it’s time to shift to the next gear.
When it’s time to shift, the transmission control unit sends out power or ground to the required shift solenoid, and it causes the solenoid to open and let the transmission oil flow into the valve body, which then shifts to the next gear.
Shift Solenoid Location
The transmission shift solenoids are located inside the valve body of your automatic transmission.
They are integrated into the valve body, and on some car models, you can see them without removing the valve body, while on others, you have to remove the valve body to reach them.
In the picture above, you see the shift solenoids located on the valve body. The shift solenoids are the tubes with yellow, green, and black colors.
Shift Solenoid Replacement Cost
A single shift solenoid’s replacement cost is between $100 and $350, and a shift solenoid pack costs between $400 and $700, including transmission fluid, filter, parts, and labor work.
The replacement cost of a shift solenoid depends a lot on what car model and transmission model you have.
As I mentioned before, in some cars, you can’t replace just one solenoid. You have to replace the whole solenoid pack, or in some cars, even the whole valve body, which is often very expensive.
When you replace a shift solenoid, valve body, or solenoid pack, you should always replace the transmission fluid and filter.
These are the prices, including parts and labor costs. The prices do not include diagnosis and fluid replacement costs.
- Single shift solenoid replacement cost: $50-150$
- Shift solenoid pack replacement cost: $300-600$
- Valve body replacement cost: $500 to $1000
The price is also affected a lot depending on what parts and transmission fluid you are using. Aftermarket parts are often cheaper than original parts but often not of the same quality.
You do also want to look for technical service bulletins for your vehicle because many car models such as Hyundai have bulletins on the shift solenoids.
How to Diagnose a Shift Solenoid Problem?
First, we have to figure out if it’s a wiring, shift solenoid, TCM, or mechanical problem. To do so, you should read and research the trouble codes carefully to understand the problem before starting the troubleshooting.
If the trouble code tells us that it’s stuck or an electrical problem, it is most likely a wiring or shift solenoid problem and you need to test the shift solenoids.
Many shift solenoid-related codes can be solved by doing a transmission fluid replacement or carrying out a transmission flush. A transmission fluid change is often not that expensive, so it’s well worth doing.
Using a diagnostic scanner is a must when it comes to shift solenoid-related problems.
Here is a list of how you can carry out the troubleshooting with a scanner:
- Find a transmission wiring diagram for your transmission.
- Find out which pins are going to the affected shift solenoid.
- Loosen the transmission wiring plug on the transmission
- Use the OBD2 scanner and start the output test of the affected shift solenoid.
- Measure with a multimeter to see whether you get both 12 volts and ground to the shift solenoid at the plug on the transmission on the affected pin.
If you do not get both 12 volts and ground, you may have a wiring problem or a faulty transmission control unit (TCM).
If you get 12 volts and ground and the shift solenoid trouble code keeps coming back after you have erased it, you probably have a faulty shift solenoid.
Common Shift Solenoid Trouble Codes
- P0750 – Shift Solenoid A
- P0752 – Shift Solenoid A – Stuck Solenoid @ ON
- P0753 – Transmission 3-4 Shift Solenoid – Relay Circuits
- P0754 – Shift Solenoid A – Intermittent fault
- P0755 – Shift Solenoid B
- P0756 – AW4 Shift Sol B (2-3) – Functional Failure
- P0757 – Shift Solenoid B – Stuck Solenoid @ ON
- P0758 – Shift Solenoid B – Electrical
- P0759 – Shift Solenoid B – Intermittent fault
- P0760 – Shift Solenoid C
- P0761 – Shift Solenoid C – Performance or Stuck Off
- P0762 – Shift Solenoid C – Stuck Solenoid @ ON
- P0763 – Shift Solenoid C – Electrical
- P0764 – Shift Solenoid C – Intermittent fault
- P0765 – Shift Solenoid D
- P0766 – Shift Solenoid D – Performance or Stuck Off
- P0767 – Shift Solenoid D – Stuck Solenoid @ ON
- P0768 – Shift Solenoid D – Electrical
- P0769 – Shift Solenoid D – Interm
- P0770 – Shift Solenoid E
- P0771 – Shift Solenoid E – Performance or Stuck Off
- P0772 – Shift Solenoid E – Stuck Solenoid @ ON
- P0773 – Shift Solenoid E – Electrical
- P0774 – Shift Solenoid E – Intermittent fault
FAQs
Although you can probably drive your car with a faulty shift solenoid, it is not recommended. A faulty shift solenoid can cause further damage to your transmission which will be more expensive than repairing the shift solenoid immediately.
Whether you can replace a shift solenoid yourself is entirely up to what car model you drive and how much knowledge you have. Some shift solenoids are fairly easy to replace by removing the transmission and valve body with the help of a repair manual. However, it is quite difficult to replace a shift solenoid in most car models, and you may need a computer afterward to adjust it.
In some cases, you can fix a stuck shift solenoid by changing the transmission oil and filter and doing a transmission fluid flush. Unfortunately, in most cases you will need to replace the stuck shift solenoid if a flush doesn’t help.
There are usually 2 to 5 shift solenoids in most automatic transmissions, depending on the make and model of the car. Their primary purpose is to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the clutch packs in the transmission, which allow for shifts between gears.
Conclusion
If you notice any of the bad shift solenoid symptoms mentioned above, it’s time to take your car to a mechanic if you are not sure how to diagnose it yourself. They will be able to diagnose the problem and, hopefully, fix it without having to replace the entire transmission.
Worn shift solenoids are a much more common problem in older cars, so if you have an older vehicle, this is something to keep in mind.
Learn more:
- Transmission Shifting Hard – Causes & How to Fix it
- Automatic Transmission Won’t Shift into the Third Gear (Causes)
- Car Won’t Move In Any Gear Automatic Transmission – Causes & How to Fix
i have a 2008 manual captiva everything is fine except i cant get into any gears.. .i can move the stick into the gears but nothing engages, i can see the linkage on the motor area moving.. but it wont get out of neutral.. this is for all gears… help.. i have no idea why it is happening .. clutch pedal hasnt changed.. if i turn motor off and try and leave in gear it just rolls.. gears will not engage???? help
Yes I just replaced shift solenoid a and b . My question is when I received them both solenoids had a wrote on them. Is it ok to use the a shift solenoid in place of a b solenoid? They look and do the same thing jus wondering if I could use them that way. A in A and A in B.
Hi my name is Rich is there any way you could help me I 99 s10 with a 4L60E transmission I have all my gears but when in drive it don’t want to shift up it’s like if went into neutral let the gas off and it may kick in
Thanks Rich
Do you know what I should do if I get the DTC codes p1618 p0756 p0733 in a 2001 Volvo s80 2.9 non turbo
I have a 2001 hyundi santa fe runs but wont move.
* have a 1999 mercury mountaineer the transmission. Will let you back up but that is all started it today what could be wrong with itl
Hi I have a 04 ford expedition and I have a shift solenoid #1 malfunction. Thats what they said at oreilys auto parts. When I took it to get diagnostic. What could it be?
I have 2013 W204 mercedes c180, when i try to accelerate suddenly, i feel like somone kicking from behind but this one happens only when the car is cold. It disappears when i drive after 10 km.
Most of the poeple says software update will work but dealer says there is no update for this model !!
They want to change cam shaft sensor. But they are not sure if this one is going to work or not.
Thanks for your advice! The information is very helpful and you guys continue the good work.
Great article!!! My 2003 Toyota Prado’s forwards gears function fine but reverse does not engage. Occasionally it does engage. I have replaced oil and filter but problem remains or got worse.
Hi
Am Rafferty from Zambia, I have a 4l30e gearbox in my BMW with too much harsh downshifts. Many mechanics have failed to repair. When we removed the shift solenoids, we discovered that solenoid A wasn’t clicking , so we got the we got solenoid B from the other gearbox coz even in the same gearbox apparently solenoid A wasn’t clicking. So we managed to put two solenoids both B solenoids and the transmission was worse, the car lost pulling.
I have been to many but no positive help.
What should I check on
Thanks in advance
I have a 1998 Camry.. My engine light came on. I tested it. It said it was my shifting solenoid.. But car drove fine! The months later. I slid on road and bumped my front bumper on a street pole and I lost my forward gears… Reverse works but drive gears don’t! Will shifting solenoid still fix this ?
My vehicle is ToyotaCorolla 1nz engine sedan change my gearbox before female lug 9 pin and male lug 8pin and after fitting female 9 pin and male lug 9 pin now the check light is on plz reply
Honda Jazz 2012 5spd Auto. 28k on the clock. Ticking/gurgling noise in 3rd gear. Performance not affected and no dashboard lights coming on. Trans oil clean and no sediment. Honda is puzzled, so are other transmission specialists. No answers from anyone yet. Tried low selector with paddle shifts – no difference.
Possible solenoid problem?
2004 Acura TL gets intermittent engine light failures after having the transmission replaced with rebuilt one by AAMCO. Codes are showing Shift Solenoid Valve Circuit Open for A, B, and C. But it is intermittent. When this is occurring, the car can be sluggish and not shift well. Then it can suddenly go away. When bringing car back to AAMCO or to ACURA they cant reproduce after clearing codes. Thoughts?
My super custom 2RZ ENGINE doesn’t reverse when transmission gets hot
2007.5 Chevy Duramax with Allison 6 speed automatic. Got code p0757 b shift solenoid stuck open. Replaced solenoid,fluid and filters. Then I got p0847 code. Cleared code and now getting p0757 again and transmission is in limp mode. Thanks for any help you can give me.
My Prado TX is behaving some how not namal when I engaged drive it forces the gear and produce sounds, what would be the problem?
Hello..
(( Chevrole malibu 2013 v6 LTZ shift sol valve 1 ctrl .. ))
I make computer check on my car and I get this massage..
I visit the dealership and I asked about the solonid valve but they don’t know what I mean and what is that exactly… what I should do ..?
Hi, my faulty code is P0973 can u guide me, Toyota Innova 2013
I have Mercedes c220 cdi 2.1 it’s a 2002 108k on clock I just bought it last week it starts up straight away it has been stood for 1 n 1/2 years now I got code p220a what should there live data read as it come at 708/5 for both
Hello, I have a Toyota prado that the automatic transmission is giving me a rough shift just from 2nd to 3rd when I drive slowly. When at high rev it changes smooth. Problem started after I did a fluid and filter change in the tranny. The guys had forgot to tighten the refill plug and I lost oil and car could not go in gear. They repaired whatever was the issue to stop it from going into gear and ensure correct oil level is in tranny, however this problem cannot be identified. Do you have any clue what could be the issue as no errors when scanned
International truck 9800i pro sleeper is failing to engage gears and is stuck in a gear.what can be the possible causes and it’s solutions.
got code p0713 temp sensor in kia soul trans a4cf2, at 179f 3.44kohms fluctuated to 0.00 at operating temp, at 55f 11.68k and 90f 4.8k, so it thermistor is faulty since it doesnt seem to function at full temp with 1kohms, but would this code bring on limp mode with code p0765 to keep car in essentially 3rd gr to prevent trans overheating that it seems to detect? or could there possibly be another answer, could it be bad eng coolant temp perhaps causing all this? i seen eng coolant temp go bad causing overheating issues with no check engine lights, but not case here.
Hi, I have a Honda Crv 1st gen. Code is P0758 shift solenoid valve B failure. As per stated above, is this an electrical problem or the solenoid failed? Thanks for your comments
I have 1997 Acura cl 3L 6 culture. I got hun up in the snow the other day and it’s like I through reverse out in the tranny makes a higher pitched whine or wierd grinding and won’t even engage also makes this noise when it’s cold and you first start vehicle then goes away after warm also makes the noise in neutral pretty well all the time but it’s quite faint compared to the reverse. All the forward gears shift and it drives fine That’s why I’m guessing it’s not the transmission. I have replaced the transmission fluid and it’s the same.my next plan of action was shift Solenoid.i would appreciate any help you might be able to give. Thanks
I’m having a hard time finding out what is wrong with my yukon denali 05 transmission I have changed both shift solenoids and filter with new fluid but still no 1st and 4th gear
I have a Re5r05a that doesn’t want to go in reverse for quite a while. I took it to a transmission shop and they said there was nothing electrical wrong. I changed the screen and fluid before I took it to them. They said I need a new transmission. Would a faulty solenoid cause this issue? Your help is greatly appreciated
Regards
David
Hi, I’ve bought a ford explorer 2005 with 200k miles on it. The transmission doesn’t shift the gears (only one forward gear and the reverse is working). If I put it in reverse the car shakes for a second. In the car the “serve engine soon” and “O/D” lights are burning. When the car is in neutral there is a medium/light knocking on the right side (almost where the passenger airbag is). And last: if I put the car in “drive” and put my foot off the break – pedal (and don’t push the gas pedal) it will (almost) not move forward. So my guess is that the shift is worn down but ok? And that the major problems are coming from a broken shift solenoid or a bad wire?
Any help would be appreciated.
Yes the easiest way to figure this out is to read the trouble codes and see if there is a problem with a shift solenoid. Check the condition of the transmission fluid also and replace if it’s very dirty. However the easiest and cheapest way is to read the trouble code memory first.
I have a Buick lacrosse 2010 cxl…I need to replace a transmission shift solenoid 5 but how to know what’s it’s the numnber 5 solenoid..
You do either need a wiring diagram for that specific model from the transmission control unit to the shift solenoids, or unplugging one solenoid at a time and check which trouble code you are getting, with this method you can recognize it easily!
Have a 04 Corolla the transmission stopped shifting and the codes that came up were P0741 – Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off and I think is was p0750 shift solenoid I know it was a shift solenoid code not sure if it was p0755 or p0750
I would start with a transmission fluid replacement. Heard of corollas before with the P0741 code which got fixed by a fluid replacement!
PO712 – failed transmission fluid temp sensor/ PO707 – defective transmission range sensor/ PO
PO 760 – shorted solenoid 3
Are the codes that the auto parts store printed out for me when I pulled up with the wrench symbol showing for my 2016 ford fusion se. Drove it home had some transmission hard shifts later that night and the next day the car would not go into gear. Had it towed to a mechanic who called and said the transmission would need to be replaced and that their code reader said there was an internal transmission failure and that is what caused the other codes to show up. How true is this statement?
Also before sending it to the mechanic shop i drained and replaced the transmission fluid. It was more dirty than expected for just draining it less than a year ago but still pink, not burnt and no metal shavings noticed. Any help would be appreciated.
In this situation I would ask a special transmission workshop if you know any. Before replacing the transmission you have to measure the wirings and checking inside the transmission control unit for any transmission fluid inside it. It sounds strange, but sometimes it will push oil through the harness into the transmission control unit.
However, they should measure the shift solenoid and the transmission fluid temp sensor from the transmission control unit before any replacement in my opinion
I have a 04 Bonneville with 4.6 and 4T80E trans. It shifts fine when cold but when warms up it can shift erratic from 2-3 even 1-2 then sometimes it shifts fine. The car has 65k on it now. I did change the fluid and filters in it 1k ago. I bought it with 62k. Any info or ideas would b greatly appreciated
My lock up Solenoid seems to get busted or dead very oftenly on the shift Solenoid (lock up) type only when replacing the old busted one and after four days it again got busted or malfunction again .
Could it be a electrical short circuit on the plug in the solenoid which is connected with three solenoids in series on my A343F Transmission on my Toyota Prado Tx, KZJ95 model .
Please do let me know the reasons quickly !
Thanking you in advance !
It could be, but it’s most likely bad wirings then, depending on which trouble code you are getting. If you got the trouble code number, please post it here.
Thanks for your website! Have a 2005 GMC Sierra 1500 with 4L60E trans with 160k miles and never changed fluid (my bad, the only thing I don’t maintain). Thinking of changing fluid and filter shortly with a pan drop. Having zero issues with trans. Should I change the shift solenoids while the pan is dropped or leave it be? Any other advice you can provide will be greatly appreciated.
I would leave the shift solenoids if they are fully functional. It’s not a very common problem with the shift solenoids, so if you do not experience any issues I would only replace the fluid + filter 🙂
Hi i have a fault code P0731, P0750, P0753 on my Ford Mondeo faulty solenoid A circuit. My car is a 4 speed CD4E and i am looking to change the solenoid block. What is my best option either to change the atf or the solenoid altogether. Thank you.
If you can find a used transmission in a good shape it’s of course a good option – The downside is that you can be unlucky and get a bad one.
If the solenoid block is faulty, it’s probably the best way to replace it instead, but you have to be sure that there is no other problems with the transmission.
If I am buying a used car – Ford Escape 2015 that had it’s shift solenoid replaced at 36,000 miles….the car now has 50,000 miles on it…. should I be concerned about the transmission?…. any recommendations?
Make a proper test drive and see if there is any strange symptoms or noises from the transmission. If you can find any noises or problems I would recommend you to not purchase it!
Hi, i have a solenoid b fault on my 2004 Ford focus.
Would replacing the gearbox fix this issue?
Thank you, Chrissie
I have a 2011 Camry Toyota Camry four cylinder and the engine light just came on and it was p2716 which is shift solenoid and the transmission is a straw not a dipstick but I really can’t afford to take it into anyone if I can figure out how to change the transmission fluid on my own. What do you think? This is the first time in my life I’ve ever had to do maintenance on my car my family was in the used car business my whole life so I now know how to do an alternator and oil change so I think I’m capable if you think it’s possible, without causing more harm of course
I had a check engine light come on in my 2010 Mazda 3. The gears seem to be shifting too quickly. (In gear four going 55 mph.) I took it to AAMCO and they changed the solenoid pack. They also flushed the transmission mission fluid which showed lots of metal scraps. After about a mile of driving my car, the check engine light came back on. What are your thoughts/suggestions?
Hello i have a 98 ford ranger i hit a bump in the road and it was like i shifted into neutral i also have no reverse. However i can manually put transmission in 1 or 2 gear and works fine i also got it up to speed pout it in D and it shifted into overdrive and worked fine. What can be my problem?
I have a 2000 Chevy want go in drive or drive 3 but will go in drive 2 and 1 now in drive 2 I’ll started out but when it time to change gear I have to push to 3 and if I go to drive it will drop out gear if I put the two haul on it want go in gear.
I got a 2005 Taurus it runs great but I had a transmission oil change takes 1 and second gear grate but when it’s trying to go on thread it harsh and then pull what can it be is there a sensor attach to the trans on top of it to the fire wall.