P0860 to P0866 and P0880 to P0892: transmission module power and communication
The gearbox computer's power input, or its power relay control or sense circuit, has a fault, or the dedicated communication circuit between the gearbox computer and the engine computer or the gear shift module reads wrong.
SeverityHighCarrying on can cause expensive damage, so deal with it now.
Can you keep driving?Only as far as the workshopWhat does P0880 mean?
The gearbox computer needs a steady supply, often switched through its own relay, to drive the solenoids that change gear. If that supply is too low, too high or drops out, the computer cannot trust what it controls, so it puts the gearbox in limp mode. Some gearboxes also have a direct communication line to the engine computer or to the gear shift module, separate from the main network, and these codes cover it too.
What causes P0880?
- A weak battery or a poor ground at the gearbox computer
- A failed gearbox power relay or a blown fuse
- A corroded connector at the gearbox computer, often mounted on or inside the gearbox
- A damaged wire in the communication circuit to the engine computer or the shift module
- A charging system that delivers too much or too little voltage
What to check first for P0880
- Check the battery and charging voltage, and the gearbox computer's grounds
- Test the gearbox relay and fuse with the ignition on
- Inspect the gearbox computer's connector for fluid and corrosion
- Read the engine and shift module codes as well, to see which side lost the other
Can you drive with P0880?
Drive only to a workshop. In limp mode the gearbox usually holds one gear; avoid fast roads and hills, and have the car towed if it will not select drive or reverse.
Since May 2018 an engine warning light that stays on is a major defect at the MOT, so the car fails until the fault is fixed.
Codes on this page
20
- P0860Gear Shift Module Communication Circuit
- P0861Gear Shift Module Communication Circuit Low
- P0862Gear Shift Module Communication Circuit High
- P0863TCM Communication Circuit
- P0864TCM Communication Circuit Range/Performance
- P0865TCM Communication Circuit Low
- P0866TCM Communication Circuit High
- P0880TCM Power Input Signal
- P0881TCM Power Input Signal Range/Performance
- P0882TCM Power Input Signal Low
- P0883TCM Power Input Signal High
- P0884TCM Power Input Signal Intermittent
- P0885TCM Power Relay Control Circuit/Open
- P0886TCM Power Relay Control Circuit Low
- P0887TCM Power Relay Control Circuit High
- P0888TCM Power Relay Sense Circuit
- P0889TCM Power Relay Sense Circuit Range/Performance
- P0890TCM Power Relay Sense Circuit Low
- P0891TCM Power Relay Sense Circuit High
- P0892TCM Power Relay Sense Circuit Intermittent
Related codes
Checked on · Rafael Soares
These are the generic meanings every manufacturer shares. Each brand adds its own detail, so your car's handbook, its service information and a qualified mechanic have the last word. OdoKeep has no connection with any manufacturer, and the app does not read codes from the car.
