OBD codes / P0712
P0712
ModerateTransmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Circuit Low
P0712 itself won't hurt the transmission — it's an electrical fault reading falsely hot. The annoyances are hot-mode shift behavior and a temperature warning you can't trust. Drivable while you arrange the fix, but repair it soon so the temperature reading means something again.
What this code means
P0712 means the voltage on the transmission fluid temperature sensor circuit has dropped below its valid range — typically a short to ground. Because of how these sensors work, a shorted-low circuit reads as impossibly hot fluid: the computer may see maximum temperature seconds after a cold start, which is physically impossible. This is an electrical fault, not genuinely overheating fluid — that distinction is the whole diagnosis. The side effect is that the computer may believe the fluid is scorching and switch into hot-mode protection: early converter lockup, altered shift points, sometimes a transmission temperature warning on the dash. Causes are a shorted sensor, chafed wiring grounding out, or a pinched internal harness.
Symptoms you might notice
- Transmission temperature warning or gauge pegged hot when the car is cold
- Early or aggressive torque-converter lockup
- Altered shift feel from hot-mode strategy
- Check-engine light
What it costs to fix
Typical range: $60–$450 · about ~0.3–2 hrs of labor
| If the cause is… | Part | Labor |
|---|---|---|
| Fluid temperature sensor | $30–$150 | ~0.3–2 hrs |
| Wiring / connector repair | $10–$120 | ~0.5–1.5 hrs |
A shorted circuit is a straightforward electrical diagnosis. The cost question is where the short lives: external wiring is cheap to repair, while a sensor built into the internal harness means the pan comes off, adding labor.
The price swings on which cause it turns out to be — so confirm the cause before paying. Diagnose P0712 for my exact vehicle →
Frequently asked
My dash says the transmission is overheating — is it really?
With P0712, probably not. This code means the circuit voltage is impossibly low, which the computer interprets as extreme heat — even on a cold morning, which is the giveaway. Confirm with a scan tool: if it reads maximum temperature at startup, it's electrical, not thermal.
What's the difference between P0712 and P0713?
They're electrical opposites. P0712 is the circuit shorted low, which reads as falsely hot; P0713 is the circuit open or high, which reads as falsely cold. Both are wiring-or-sensor problems, but the direction tells the technician what kind of fault to hunt for.
Can I drive with P0712?
Yes — the transmission isn't actually hot, and the fault is electrical. The trade-off is odd shift behavior from hot-mode strategy and losing your real overheat warning, so it's worth fixing promptly rather than living with.
Could low fluid cause P0712?
Not directly — a circuit-low code is a short, not a fluid problem. Still, check the fluid while you're there: it takes two minutes, and if the internal harness has to come out anyway, a fluid and filter service at the same time is smart maintenance.
Seeing P0712 on your car? Get a diagnosis specific to your exact year, make and model.
Diagnose P0712 for my vehicleRelated trouble codes
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Generic OBD-II reference. Manufacturer-specific behavior varies — confirm with a scan tool and, for safety-related codes, a professional inspection.