OBD codes / P0752
P0752
SeriousShift Solenoid A Stuck On
Drivable with care, but starting from stops in too high a gear lugs the engine and slips the clutches — both generate heat. Keep launches gentle, avoid hills and towing, and get it diagnosed soon. If the car can barely pull away from a stop, have it transported instead.
What this code means
P0752 is the mirror of P0751: shift solenoid A is stuck in the applied state — the computer commands it off and the hydraulics stay on. A solenoid stuck on forces the transmission into whichever gears that solenoid's 'on' state selects, so the classic symptoms are starting out in too high a gear (a sluggish, bogging launch), being locked out of other gears, or harsh engagements as the transmission fights its own hydraulics. Causes mirror the stuck-off case with one addition: besides debris and varnish jamming the plunger (fluid condition, again, is the first check), a wiring short that keeps the circuit energized can also hold a solenoid on, so the electrical side still gets tested. Which exact gears misbehave depends on your transmission's shift logic.
Symptoms you might notice
- Sluggish, bogging launch as if starting in too high a gear
- Locked out of certain gears
- Harsh shifts or engagement
- Limp mode
- Check-engine light
What it costs to fix
Typical range: $80–$600 · about ~0.5–3 hrs of labor
| If the cause is… | Part | Labor |
|---|---|---|
| Shift solenoid A | $30–$150 | ~0.5–3 hrs |
| Wiring / connector repair | $10–$120 | ~0.5–1.5 hrs |
Same economics as the other solenoid codes: cheap part, labor set by access — under an hour if the solenoid sits inside the pan, several hours if the valve body must come out. A shorted harness is a cheaper fix than a solenoid on some vehicles, which is why testing precedes parts.
The price swings on which cause it turns out to be — so confirm the cause before paying. Diagnose P0752 for my exact vehicle →
Frequently asked
Why does my car feel gutless from a stop?
A solenoid stuck on can hold the transmission in a higher gear than intended, so you're pulling away in the equivalent of second or third — the engine bogs and acceleration is weak. It's the signature of a stuck-on shift solenoid, and the flip side of the stuck-off code's symptoms.
Stuck on versus stuck off — does it change the repair?
The repair targets are similar — fluid, solenoid, valve body — but stuck-on adds one suspect: a wiring short that keeps the solenoid energized even when commanded off. That's why a stuck-on code gets an electrical short-check before the pan comes down.
Is it okay that the transmission still 'works'?
It moves, but it's operating off-script: wrong-gear launches lug the engine and heat the clutches. Think of it as drivable-to-the-shop, not drivable-indefinitely. The longer it runs this way, the more the heat spreads the problem.
What will this cost to sort out?
If it's the solenoid or a wiring short, it's a parts-cheap repair whose price rides on labor access — quick on pan-accessible designs, several hours where the valve body has to come out. It only gets expensive if the pan reveals debris pointing to wear beyond the solenoid.
Seeing P0752 on your car? Get a diagnosis specific to your exact year, make and model.
Diagnose P0752 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.