Low-voltage fault in the control circuit of shift solenoid L. Usually it means a short to ground on the control wire, less often a coil with shorted windings that pulls the voltage down. No manufacturer documents this code publicly. GM's analogue for solenoid A, P0973 on the 6-speed units, needs a ground-short flag from the output hardware for 1.2 of 1.5 seconds and lights the MIL after one trip; Ford names P0973 a short to ground and runs the check continuously. CARB requires circuit monitoring. P08E5 is the high-voltage counterpart, P08E6 the open circuit. A shorted output usually forces the TCM into a safe substitute gear, and acceleration feels weaker.
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 locked in a substitute gear
- Weak acceleration
Most likely causes
- Control wire shorted to ground
- Coil with shorted windings
- Fluid or moisture in the connector creating a path to ground
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 P08E4 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 8: Transmission
- E4: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P08E4?
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 P08E4?
The most common causes are: control wire shorted to ground; coil with shorted windings; fluid or moisture in the connector creating a path to ground.
Related codes
- P08D2Shift Solenoid J Control Circuit Low
- P08DBShift Solenoid K Control Circuit Low
- P08E1Shift Solenoid L Electrical
- P08E3Shift Solenoid L Control Circuit Range/Performance
- P08E5Shift Solenoid L Control Circuit High
- P08E6Shift Solenoid L Control Circuit/Open
- 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.