P08EB: Drive Motor A Clutch Pawl Position Circuit Low

Set when the pawl position signal of the drive motor A disconnect clutch stays below its valid range, which points to a short to ground in the signal wire, a missing sensor supply or a sensor that has failed low. The module then cannot tell whether the pawl has engaged. No manufacturer documents this code publicly; the matching hardware is the disconnect clutch switch on the front drive unit of the Corvette E-Ray, which GM links only to P08ED, and supplier patents describe such position sensing on pawl or strut clutches. CARB requires out-of-range checks on these inputs. P08EC is the high-side fault, P08EA the general circuit fault. The system typically keeps the motor uncoupled and lights a warning.

High severity. Can I keep driving?If the car still runs, drive as little as possible and go to a specialized repair shop. Do not touch the orange cables: they carry high voltage.

Symptoms

Check engine light or hybrid system warning on
Electric drive axle disabled
Hybrid modes with electric assist not selectable

Most likely causes

Position signal wire shorted to ground
Missing supply voltage to the position switch
Position switch or sensor failed low

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

Read the codes with a hybrid-compatible scanner and write down the freeze frame data
With the connector unplugged, check whether the signal wire is making contact with ground.
Make sure the battery cooling air intake is clean
Check the 12 V auxiliary battery, which can also trigger warnings
Leave any high-voltage measurements to a specialized repair shop

Good to know

Repair difficulty: hard
It can trigger limp mode.
It affects emissions.

What each character of P08EB means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
0: Generic code: same on every make
8: Transmission
EB: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P08EB?

If the car still runs, drive as little as possible and go to a specialized repair shop. Do not touch the orange cables: they carry high voltage.

What causes code P08EB?

The most common causes are: position signal wire shorted to ground; missing supply voltage to the position switch; position switch or sensor failed low.

Related codes

Sources

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.