P0974 code meaning
Shift Solenoid A Control Circuit High
Powertrain system Generic code P09xx codes Check engine light
What P0974 means
High-voltage fault in the control circuit of shift solenoid A. What it covers depends on the maker. Ford reserves it for a short to power on SSA, because an open SSA circuit sets P0750. GM six-speeds put both an open and a power short of the mode 2 solenoid here: 1.2 of 1.5 s, MIL only after two trips. The Saab 9-4X 6T70 waits 2 s, Type B, and then blocks 1st gear. GM's Allison 1000 tables of 2016 and 2023 treat it as a pure power short (0.39 ohm or less, 3 samples, 75 or 60 ms) and report opens separately. Saab's Aisin gearbox in the 9-5 (2010) sets it when solenoid valve 2 reads off while commanded on, 100 ms five times, Type A. Ground-side faults are P0973.
P0974 at a glance
- Check engine lightYes, usually on
- Emissions testCan fail
- Limp modePossible
- Repair difficultyHard
- Typical labor1 to 5 hours
- Clears after repairAfter a drive cycle
Symptoms of P0974
- MIL on, on GM six-speeds only after a second faulty trip
- First gear locked out, start-off in a higher gear
- Missing or wrong shifts, possibly limp mode
Common causes of P0974
- Most likelyOpen coil or broken wire where the maker reports opens under the high code (GM six-speed)
- PossibleControl wire shorted to a supply voltage
- PossibleSpread or corroded pins at the transmission connector
- Less likelyFaulty driver stage in the control module
Check the most likely causes first. Replacing parts by guesswork is the most expensive way to clear a code.
Parts involved
Shift solenoid aWiring harnessTCM
What each part of P0974 means
| P | Powertrain system: engine, fuel system, ignition, emissions and transmission. |
| 0 | Generic code: it means the same on every make (SAE standard). |
| 9 | Area: transmission. |
| 74 | The exact fault in that area. |
What to do next
- Note P0974 and any other codes stored with it: several codes together often point to one cause.
- Check for loose connectors and damaged wiring around the parts the code names.
- Check open recalls for your car: some faults are fixed for free by the dealer. Enter your VIN.
- Clear the code only after the repair. If it comes back, the fault is still there.
Buying a used car? Scan it for stored codes before you pay. A recently cleared memory can hide a problem.
Questions about P0974
What does P0974 mean?
P0974 means "Shift Solenoid A Control Circuit High". High-voltage fault in the control circuit of shift solenoid A. It is a generic code, so it means the same on every make.
Is it safe to drive with P0974?
Drive gently and only to a workshop. With P0974 the car can go into limp mode (reduced power) to protect itself.
Will P0974 fail an emissions test?
Yes, it can. P0974 is emissions-related, so most inspection programs fail a car while it is stored or while the check engine light is on.
How hard is P0974 to fix?
Difficulty: hard. A typical repair takes 1 to 5 hours of work. This is a job for a workshop.
Will P0974 clear itself after the repair?
After the repair the car has to complete a drive cycle (a mix of city and highway driving) before the test runs again. Until then the readiness monitor shows "not ready", which can fail an inspection.