P0713 code: Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Circuit High
P0713 means transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor Circuit High. The code says where to look, not what failed — the fix depends on which cause your car actually has.
What P0713 means
P0713 is the mirror image of P0712: the voltage on the fluid temperature sensor circuit is stuck above its valid range, which usually means an open circuit — a broken wire, unplugged connector, or failed sensor. To the computer, an open temperature circuit reads as impossibly cold fluid, often the sensor's minimum reading, no matter how long you've driven. Like its sibling, this is an electrical fault rather than a real temperature problem. The consequence of a permanently 'cold' reading is that the transmission may stay in its cold-weather strategy: firmer or delayed shifts, late or absent torque-converter lockup, and slightly worse fuel economy. It also blinds the computer to genuine overheating, which matters if you tow or haul.
P0713 symptoms
- Transmission temperature reads extremely cold regardless of driving
- Delayed or missing torque-converter lockup (higher cruise RPM)
- Firm or odd shifting that never settles into warm behavior
- Slightly worse fuel economy
- Check-engine light
What it costs to fix P0713
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 |
Sometimes this is as simple as a corroded or half-seated connector — nearly free. A sensor replacement is cheap in parts; the labor depends on whether the sensor is external or part of the internal harness under the pan.
The price swings on which cause it turns out to be — so confirm the cause before paying. Diagnose P0713 for my exact vehicle →
How to fix P0713
Moderate — doable at home with common tools and patience
- Confirm the fluid is healthy before relying on it
With this circuit open, the module believes the fluid is permanently cold and cannot warn you if it truly overheats. So check level and condition by the service-manual method first, and hold off on towing until the circuit works. Knowing the fluid is good also means a pan drop, if you end up needing one, won't uncover a bigger problem halfway through.
- Check the case connector is fully latched
P0713 often appears after a pan drop, exhaust work, or a transmission swap, when the connector wasn't pushed home or its lock tab broke. Unplug it, look for corroded or pushed-out pins, and reseat it until it clicks. A temperature stuck at the sensor's minimum — often minus 40 degrees on a scan tool — is the classic open-circuit signature.
- Jumper the harness side to test the wiring
With the sensor connector unplugged and the key on, bridge only the TFT signal and return pins on the harness side with a fused jumper, following the wiring diagram. The scan tool should jump to its hottest reading. If it does, the wiring and module are fine and the fault is in the sensor or internal lead; if nothing changes, the break is in the vehicle harness.
- Find the break with end-to-end resistance checks
If the jumper test failed, unplug the module and measure each TFT wire from the module pin to the transmission connector pin. A good wire reads close to zero ohms, so an open or a high reading marks the break, often where the harness flexes near the transmission mount. With the key on, the signal pin should also show the module's reference, typically about 5 volts.
- Replace the sensor or its internal lead
If the wiring checks out, measure the sensor from the transmission side; an open reading confirms it. External TFT sensors thread into the case, but internal ones are part of the harness inside the pan, where vibration can crack a lead at the pass-through connector. After the repair, verify the reading climbs steadily on a test drive.
DIY or shop? Reseating a connector, the jumper test, and continuity checks are approachable for anyone comfortable with a multimeter and a wiring diagram, and together they decide whether the fix is a wire or a part. An external sensor or a broken harness wire is a reasonable home repair. When the open is in an internal harness, expect a pan drop and a temperature-based refill; if the sensor belongs to a solenoid pack or an integrated control unit that needs programming or adaptive resets, a transmission specialist is the better bet.
Tools for the DIY steps: Scan tool with transmission data · Digital multimeter · Fused jumper lead · Back-probe pins · Wiring diagram · Drain pan and specified fluid
Not sure which step applies to your car? Get the likely cause for your exact vehicle before buying anything for P0713.
Start a case with P0713 and your car. Redline weighs these causes against what your car shows, and names the check that would settle it before you buy parts.
Can I drive with P0713?
Redline can’t determine from a symptom or code alone whether your car is safe to drive.
P0713: common questions
Why does my transmission think it's freezing outside?
An open temperature circuit defaults to the sensor's coldest possible reading. The computer dutifully runs its cold-fluid strategy — firm shifts, delayed lockup — forever. A scan tool showing an impossibly low, unchanging temperature confirms the circuit is open.
Is P0713 the sensor or the wiring?
Either. An open circuit can be a broken wire, a corroded or unplugged connector, or a failed sensor element. The good news is an open is easy to trace with basic electrical testing, so you shouldn't pay for parts-guessing here.
Can I drive with P0713?
Redline can't make that call from the code alone. The two costs of waiting are shift quirks and — more importantly — no working overheat protection, so avoid towing and sustained hard driving until the circuit is repaired. If you smell hot fluid or the transmission slips, stop driving and get it checked.
Will fixing P0713 improve my fuel economy?
Modestly, if the fault was delaying torque-converter lockup. A computer that thinks the fluid is always cold may hold off lockup, keeping cruise RPM higher than necessary. Restoring the real temperature reading lets the normal lockup strategy return.
Related trouble codes
Don’t have a scanner yet? A ~$25 Bluetooth adapter reads codes like P0713 from your phone. See our guide to the best OBD2 Bluetooth adapters. Run a repair shop? See Redline for shops.
Generic OBD-II reference. Manufacturer-specific behavior varies. Confirm with a scan tool and, for safety-related codes, a professional inspection. Cost ranges are reference ranges, not quotes.
Seeing P0713 on your car?
Every problem becomes a Case. Tell Redline what the car is doing: it shows what the evidence supports, what’s still missing, and what to check next, before you approve a repair.
“Inner pad ~1 mm. Outer pad 3 mm.”
Next: check the slide pins move freely before buying parts.