P0970: Pressure Control Solenoid C Control Circuit Low

Pressure control solenoid C circuit low, a short to ground in the driver. On GM's six-speeds C is the C456/CBR1 solenoid; on the Saab 9-4X 6T70 it is clutch pressure solenoid 3 for the low/reverse and 4-5-6 clutches. A short for 1 s (Saab) or 0.3 s (GM 2018 table) sets a Type A code: only reverse and 5th gear, no converter lock-up, maximum line pressure. GM's 8-speed uses C for clutch 3 (C13567), the 9- and 10-speeds for CB38 or C23457910 with less than 0.5 ohm counting as a short; GM's dual-clutch gearbox uses it for the odd-clutch shutdown valve. Siblings: P0968 open, P0971 high, P0969 performance. Since the solenoid sits in the valve body, repairs often mean the control solenoid valve assembly.

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 on immediately
Limp mode in reverse and one forward gear
Weak acceleration from standstill

Most likely causes

Internally shorted solenoid in the control solenoid valve assembly
Chafed control wire touching ground
Fluid or moisture in the connector
Faulty output stage in the control module

What to check, in order

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

Check the fluid level and condition according to the manufacturer
With the connector unplugged, check whether the signal wire is making contact with ground.
Check the transmission connector
Read the data with a transmission-compatible scanner
Measure the solenoid valve circuit
Leave opening the transmission to a specialized repair shop

Good to know

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

What each character of P0970 means

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0970?

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 P0970?

The most common causes are: internally shorted solenoid in the control solenoid valve assembly; chafed control wire touching ground; fluid or moisture in the connector.

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.