Set when the TCM sees too little voltage on the control line of shift solenoid J, typically because the line or the coil is shorted to ground. No manufacturer documents this code publicly; J would be a tenth on/off valve, which none of the known transmission sources assigns. GM's analogue for solenoid A, P0973 on the 6-speed units, fails when the output driver reports a ground short for 1.2 of 1.5 seconds and lights the MIL after one trip; Ford names the same fault on its solenoids a short to ground. CARB requires such circuit checks. P08D3 is the high-side fault, P08D4 the open circuit. The TCM usually switches the valve off and runs a substitute gear.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?Drive as little as possible and gently. If the transmission slips or stays in one gear, go slowly to a repair shop or call for a tow truck.
Symptoms
- Check engine or transmission warning light on
- Transmission holds a substitute gear
- Harsh or missing shifts
Most likely causes
- Control wire chafed through and shorted to ground
- Solenoid coil with internal short
- Damaged internal transmission harness or lead frame
- Faulty output stage in the TCM
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: hard
- It can trigger limp mode.
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P08D2 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 8: Transmission
- D2: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P08D2?
Drive as little as possible and gently. If the transmission slips or stays in one gear, go slowly to a repair shop or call for a tow truck.
What causes code P08D2?
The most common causes are: control wire chafed through and shorted to ground; solenoid coil with internal short; damaged internal transmission harness or lead frame.
Related codes
- P08CCShift Solenoid J
- P08CFShift Solenoid J Electrical
- P08D1Shift Solenoid J Control Circuit Range/Performance
- P08D3Shift Solenoid J Control Circuit High
- P08D4Shift Solenoid J Control Circuit/Open
- P08DBShift Solenoid K Control Circuit Low
- P0973Shift Solenoid A Control Circuit Low
Sources
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 16OBDG03 Transmission Diagnostics
- fordservicecontent.com: OBD Operations Summary Gasoline 2020 2023
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.