P0972 and related codes: shift solenoid control circuits A to F

What does P0972 mean?

Where P0750 to P0774 describe a shift solenoid as a whole, these codes narrow the problem down to the wire between the computer and the solenoid. Low usually means a short toward ground, high a short toward the supply or an open circuit, and a range code a resistance that does not match a healthy coil. Solenoid F, on gearboxes with many gears, gets its own codes from P2706 to P2710.

What causes P0972?

1. A wire chafed through on the gearbox case or a bracket
2. Fluid that has wicked through the connector into the harness
3. A solenoid coil shorted or open inside the gearbox
4. A fault in the output stage of the gearbox computer
5. A gearbox computer connector that is loose or corroded

What to check first for P0972

• Unplug the gearbox connector and look for fluid and green corrosion on the pins
• Measure each shift solenoid's resistance through the connector and compare it with the expected value
• With the computer unplugged, check the wiring for a short to ground or to the supply
• Note whether several solenoids report at once, which points to a shared supply or connector

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