EN

Severity: Moderate Code type: Generic (all makes)

P0773 Code: Shift Solenoid E Electrical

The transmission computer found an open, short or wrong current in the solenoid E circuit: failsafe mode.

At a glance

Severity: 3/5 – Moderate3/5

Severity: Moderate

Meaning
Shift Solenoid E Electrical
System
Transmission · Powertrain
Safe to drive?
With caution
Typical repair cost
$100–$1,300
DIY difficulty
Hard

P0773 is the strictly electrical code for the fifth shift solenoid in a multi-speed automatic. The transmission computer measures the current or the feedback voltage every time it switches solenoid E and sets the code when the circuit is open, shorted to ground, shorted to power, or draws the wrong current. Because the diagnosis is electrical, the outcome is usually decided with a meter at the transmission case connector before anyone opens the pan. A frequent twist is a coil or internal connection that opens only when hot, so the code appears after twenty minutes of driving and the part tests fine in a cold driveway. Most transmissions respond immediately with a failsafe gear.

Can I keep driving? The vehicle will usually move in a fixed gear. Drive slowly to a shop or home, avoid highway speeds and towing, and don't keep clearing the code to regain gears, because repeated failsafe shifts are hard on the clutches.

How to read P0773

How to read P0773P10273734
  1. P Powertrain
  2. 0 Generic (SAE)
  3. 7 Transmission
  4. 73 Specific fault

Symptoms

  • Sudden drop into one gear with a bang or flare, often once the transmission is warm
  • Normal shifting again after switching the engine off and on, until the fault returns
  • Wrench or transmission warning light with the check engine light
  • No upshift above a certain gear, high rpm on the highway
  • Other solenoid circuit codes if a shared wire or connector is involved

Possible causes

Ranked by how often each cause is behind this code (editorial estimate).

  1. Solenoid E coil open or shorted, sometimes only when hot 30%
  2. Case connector with bent, spread or fluid-contaminated pins 22%
  3. External harness chafed on the transmission, crossmember or exhaust 16%
  4. Internal harness or solenoid body connector damaged, pinched by the pan or a previous repair 14%
  5. Low supply voltage or poor ground at the transmission computer 10%
  6. Failed output driver in the transmission computer 8%

Diagnosis step by step

Diagnostic flow: P07731Note when the code sets2Check battery and ground first3Measure solenoid E hot and cold4Test for shorts to ground and power5Load-test the wiring6Go inside only after confirming

  1. Note when the code sets

    Freeze frame shows transmission fluid temperature and speed at the moment the code set. A code that only appears above normal operating temperature points to a coil or connection that opens when hot, which changes how you test it.

    Tools: OBD-II scanner

  2. Check battery and ground first

    With the engine running, battery voltage should be around 13.5 to 14.5 V. Measure the voltage drop between the transmission computer ground and the battery negative with the headlights and blower on; more than about 0.3 V is a problem that can set solenoid codes.

    Tools: Multimeter

  3. Measure solenoid E hot and cold

    At the case connector, measure solenoid E cold, then again right after a drive when the fault is active. An on/off shift solenoid that climbs far out of spec when hot, or goes open, has failed even if it reads fine in the morning.

    Tools: Multimeter

  4. Test for shorts to ground and power

    With the case connector unplugged, measure from each solenoid E pin to the transmission case: it should be open. Then check the harness side of the control wire for voltage with the key on and the computer unplugged; any voltage means it touches a live wire.

    Tools: Multimeter

  5. Load-test the wiring

    A wire with a few strands left can pass an ohmmeter test and still fail under current. Use the scan tool to command solenoid E while measuring voltage at the case connector; a drop of more than a volt compared with battery voltage points to a high-resistance connection.

    Tools: Multimeter, OBD-II scanner

  6. Go inside only after confirming

    If the harness to the case is good and the reading at the case connector is wrong, the fault is inside: the solenoid, its internal lead or the solenoid body connector. Replace the part, install a new pan gasket and refill with the correct fluid to the correct level.

    Tools: Towels & shallow pan, Torque wrench

Where the parts are

Charging system and control modules – P07731234567
Charging system and control modules
  1. 1Battery
  2. 2Alternator
  3. 3Engine computer (ECM)
  4. 4CAN bus
  5. 5Transmission
  6. 6Wheel speed sensor
  7. 7High-voltage battery

Repair options & costs

RepairDIY?Estimated cost
Clean, repair or replace the case connector No $100–$300
Repair external harness damage No $120–$380
Replace shift solenoid E (pan removal) No $250–$650
Replace solenoid body or internal harness No $450–$1,100
Replace and program transmission computer No $500–$1,300

Rough US estimates for parts and labor; shop rates vary by region. Not a quote.

Emissions / smog test impact

Will fail

P0773 turns on the check engine light, and an OBD emissions test fails while it's on. After the repair, drive until the readiness monitors are complete before retesting.

Frequently asked questions

Why does P0773 only appear when the transmission is warm?

Coils and crimped connections expand with heat. A cracked winding or a tired crimp can open at operating temperature and close again when cool. Measuring right after a drive, or with the scan tool while the fault is active, catches it.

Can a weak battery cause P0773?

It can contribute. The computer judges the circuit partly by current, and low or unstable supply voltage, a corroded ground or a failing alternator can make a healthy solenoid look faulty, especially together with other solenoid codes.

Is P0773 always inside the transmission?

No. The case connector and external harness fail often and are much cheaper to fix. Always test from the computer to the case connector before removing the pan.

Why do I get my gears back after restarting?

The computer re-checks the circuit on every start. If the fault is heat-related or intermittent, it passes for a while, then fails again and drops back into failsafe.

Sources