P0706 Code: Transmission Range Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
The range sensor works electrically, but its reading doesn't match where the lever and gears really are.
At a glance
Severity: Moderate
- Meaning
- Transmission Range Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
- System
- Transmission · Powertrain
- Safe to drive?
- With caution
- Typical repair cost
- $30–$500
- DIY difficulty
- Moderate
Unlike P0705, this code doesn't mean the wiring is broken. The range sensor delivers a signal that looks electrically valid, but the transmission computer finds it implausible – for example it reports a position between two detents, jumps between Neutral and Drive at a steady cruise, or shows Park while the output shaft is turning. That usually points to mechanics rather than electronics: a sensor that is out of adjustment, a stretched or loose shift cable, a worn cable bushing, or internal wear that lets the contacts drift. It is common after a transmission has been removed or a sensor replaced without the alignment tool.
Can I keep driving? Drivable with care if the car engages the right gears. Check that the lever lines up with the letter on the display before pulling away, use the parking brake every time you park, and get it checked soon – a lever that doesn't fully reach Park is a roll-away risk.
How to read P0706
- P Powertrain
- 0 Generic (SAE)
- 7 Transmission
- 06 Specific fault
Symptoms
- Gear display flickers or shows the wrong gear when the lever is fully in position
- Engine starts only when the lever is jiggled or pushed slightly forward in Park
- Lever feels vague, sloppy or doesn't click cleanly into each detent
- Delayed or clunky engagement into Drive or Reverse
- Intermittent limp mode that comes and goes on bumps
- Check engine light, sometimes without noticeable drivability change
Possible causes
Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).
- Range sensor out of adjustment relative to the shift shaft
- Worn shift cable bushing, stretched cable or loose linkage
- Internally worn range sensor giving drifting position signals
- Loose sensor mounting bolts or damaged shaft splines
- Intermittent contact in the connector (partial corrosion)
- Worn detent spring or manual valve linkage inside the transmission
Diagnosis step by step
Compare lever, display and scan data
Put the lever firmly in each detent and compare three things: the letter on the shifter, the dash display and the range PID. A PID that shows a position only when you push the lever slightly past the detent points to adjustment or linkage.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Check the shift cable and bushing
Under the car or under the hood, have a helper move the lever while you watch the transmission shift arm. Free play before the arm moves, a cracked or missing rubber bushing, or a loose cable clamp means the shaft doesn't reach the position the lever shows.
Tools: Flashlight
Move the shaft directly
With the engine off and the wheels chocked, disconnect the cable at the transmission and rotate the shift arm through every detent by hand while a helper watches the range PID. Clean readings here but not from the cabin lever confirm a cable or bushing problem.
Tools: Pliers, OBD-II scanner
Verify sensor alignment
With the shaft in Neutral, check the sensor against the alignment marks, pin hole or gauge given by the manufacturer. Loosen the bolts, align, and tighten to spec; even a couple of degrees of rotation can put a position on the edge of its window.
Tools: Screwdriver, Torque wrench
Road-test for signal drift
Drive over rough pavement while recording the range PID. If it jumps between positions while the lever is still, and adjustment and cable are good, the sensor contacts are worn and it needs replacing.
Tools: OBD-II scanner
Where the parts are
- 1Battery
- 2Alternator
- 3Engine computer (ECM)
- 4CAN bus
- 5Transmission
- 6Wheel speed sensor
- 7High-voltage battery
Repair options & costs
| Repair | DIY? | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Readjust range sensor and clear adaptations | Yes | $90–$200 |
| Replace shift cable bushing | Yes | $30–$150 |
| Replace shift cable | No | $200–$500 |
| Replace range sensor with alignment | No | $180–$450 |
Rough US estimates for parts and labor; shop rates vary by region. Not a quote.
Notes by brand
Ford
Ford's external range sensors (MLP or DTR) have to be set with an alignment tool on the shift shaft. Range/performance codes after a transmission swap or sensor replacement are very often just a misaligned sensor, so check alignment before ordering parts.
Audi
Audis with the older five- and six-speed Tiptronic automatics use an external multifunction switch at the selector shaft. Worn contact tracks and misadjustment after cable work are well-known reasons for implausible selector-position codes and start-in-Park problems.
Emissions / smog test impact
Will fail
With P0706 stored the check engine light is on, which fails an OBD emissions or smog check. After the fix, drive until the light stays off before retesting.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between P0705 and P0706?
P0705 means the signal pattern itself is invalid or missing – usually a failed sensor or wiring. P0706 means the signal is valid but disagrees with where the lever or gear really is, which more often comes down to adjustment, cable or linkage wear.
Can a worn shift cable bushing really set a sensor code?
Yes. When the small rubber or plastic bushing at the cable end crumbles, the lever moves but the transmission shaft lags behind. The sensor then reports a position between detents, and the computer flags it as implausible.
Is it safe if my car sometimes doesn't go fully into Park?
No. If the shaft doesn't reach Park, the parking pawl may not engage and the car can roll. Always set the parking brake and have the linkage and sensor checked promptly.
Will a new sensor fix P0706?
Only if the old one is worn. Many replacements come back with the same code because the real problem was the cable or the alignment, so a correct adjustment check should come first.