Voltage on the park lock or pawl actuator control line is above the expected window. Wiring faults of this kind typically come from chafing, water ingress at connector seals, or pin push-back — a wiggle test on the harness while the code is active often confirms the location.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?Drive gently to a repair shop. If it slips, you hear clunks, or it loses its gears, do not keep driving.
Most likely causes
- Control wire shorted to B+
- Open actuator coil
- Connector pins corroded - high contact resistance
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.
What each character of P288A means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 2: Generic code: same on every make
- 8: Transmission
- 8A: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P288A?
Drive gently to a repair shop. If it slips, you hear clunks, or it loses its gears, do not keep driving.
What causes code P288A?
The most common causes are: control wire shorted to B+; open actuator coil; connector pins corroded - high contact resistance.
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.