Pressure control solenoid A circuit low: the driver sees a short to ground. Ford tests its line pressure (EPC) solenoid this way; a short there opens a high-side switch that cuts power to the shift solenoids and leaves park, reverse, neutral and one fixed forward gear at maximum line pressure. On GM's six-speeds and the Saab 9-4X 6T70, A is the line pressure solenoid; the fault matures in 1.5 to 2 s and is Type A, with reverse and 5th gear only, no converter lock-up and maximum line pressure. GM's 8-, 9- and 10-speeds use A for a clutch solenoid and treat less than 0.5 ohm as a short, Allison 1000 for main modulation pressure (125 ms). Siblings: P0960 open, P0963 high, P0961 performance.
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
- MIL and transmission warning on immediately
- Limp mode with only one forward gear and reverse
- Harsh engagements, poor acceleration from standstill
Most likely causes
- Control wire chafed through and touching ground
- Internally shorted solenoid coil
- Transmission fluid or water in the connector bridging pins
- Faulty output stage in the control module
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 P0962 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 9: Transmission
- 62: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0962?
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 P0962?
The most common causes are: control wire chafed through and touching ground; internally shorted solenoid coil; transmission fluid or water in the connector bridging pins.
Related codes
- P0960Pressure Control Solenoid A Control Circuit/Open
- P0961Pressure Control Solenoid A Control Circuit Range/Performance
- P0963Pressure Control Solenoid A Control Circuit High
- P0966Pressure Control Solenoid B Control Circuit Low
- P0970Pressure Control Solenoid C Control Circuit Low
- P0747Pressure Control Solenoid A Stuck On
Sources
- saabwisonline.com: dtc p0961 p0963
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG03A Transmisson Diagnostics
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 17OBDG04 Transmisson Diagnostics
- newtonnet.co.uk: fordobd2012
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.