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P0746: Pressure control solenoid poor performance or stuck off

The gearbox pressure control solenoid isn’t doing its job and pressure is off, giving soft or slipping shifts. Often fluid or the valve.

Code P0746 at a glance
CodeP0746
SystemEngine and transmission
GroupP07xx, Transmission
TypeGeneric: it means the same on every make
Can you keep driving?With care

What P0746 means

The pressure control solenoid sets the fluid pressure the automatic gearbox uses to clamp its internal clutches. It decides whether gear changes are smooth yet firm. The control unit gives the command but doesn’t see the expected result in the gearbox: the valve responds poorly or stays off.

Most common causes

  • Low gearbox fluid
  • Old fluid or debris that makes the valves stick
  • The pressure control solenoid moving sluggishly or not opening
  • Valve body with dirty or worn passages
  • Internal pressure leak from worn seals or gaskets

Symptoms

  • Engine or gearbox warning light on
  • Soft or slipping gear changes
  • Revs flare between gears
  • Gearbox goes into limp mode and stays in one gear

Can you drive with P0746?

With care You can drive gently to a garage, though the gearbox may drop into limp mode and lose gears. If it slips, the more you use it the more it wears.

How to check it

If the gearbox has a dipstick, check the fluid level and condition with the engine warm. With a scanner, see whether other gearbox codes are stored too: together they help the garage tell a fluid problem from a valve problem.

How to read and clear P0746 with Final OBD

Plug an OBD2 scanner in under the steering wheel, switch the ignition on and open Final OBD. Under Faults you’ll see P0746 with this same explanation and whether it’s confirmed, pending or permanent.

This code is usually stored by the gearbox control unit. With Free you read it for nothing with its short description, because Free reads every control unit; with Pro you also get the full explanation, how the car was running when it was logged and clearing.

Clearing the code only turns the light off: if the cause is still there, it comes back. Clear it once it’s fixed, and not right before the ITV. It’s all in how to read and clear fault codes and in the ITV and OBD.

Similar codes

P0746 is a generic code, so it means the same on any make, for example on Alfa Romeo, Dacia, Kia, Opel / Vauxhall, Toyota, Škoda. See what Final OBD does on your car in makes and models.

What does code P0746 mean?

The pressure control solenoid sets the fluid pressure the automatic gearbox uses to clamp its internal clutches. It decides whether gear changes are smooth yet firm. The control unit gives the command but doesn’t see the expected result in the gearbox: the valve responds poorly or stays off.

Can you drive with P0746?

You can drive gently to a garage, though the gearbox may drop into limp mode and lose gears. If it slips, the more you use it the more it wears.

How do you clear P0746?

With an OBD2 scanner and an app like Final OBD, which clears it for free if it’s stored by the engine control unit. But clearing it only turns the light off: if the cause isn’t fixed, P0746 comes back.