OBD-II Code · Transmission
P0705
Transmission Range Sensor Circuit
Severity
high
Left alone, this one tends to take other parts with it.
Can you drive it
Not for long
Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it.
Indicative cost (USD)
$100–$400
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
PRNDL switch/range sensor fault.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- No start in P/N
- Wrong gear light
Likely causes
- Failed neutral safety switchMost common
- Misadjusted linkage
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0705 means the Transmission Range Sensor (also called PRNDL switch, inhibitor switch, neutral safety switch, or internal mode switch depending on pl…
P0705 means the Transmission Range Sensor (also called PRNDL switch, inhibitor switch, neutral safety switch, or internal mode switch depending on platform and era) is sending an invalid or implausible signal to the TCM. The TRS reports which gear position the shift lever has selected — Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Manual gears — and on modern transmissions it's read either as a multi-wire stepped voltage signal (each position produces a unique voltage between 0.5V and 4.5V, with specific voltage 'steps' for each gear per the FSM table) or as a digital CAN-bus message from an integrated mode switch.
The cheapest-first ladder
- scan live data and watch the reported gear position as you slowly walk the shifter through P-R-N-D-2-1.
- Each position should report cleanly and stay reported; if any position flickers, reports two gears at once, or skips to an invalid combination (e.g., shows R+D simultaneously), the sensor is failed or the wiring is shorted.
- Verify the shifter cable is correctly adjusted — a misadjusted cable can make the lever sit between detents and produce ambiguous voltage readings.
- Inspect the connector at the trans-case end for water and corrosion (this connector is right above the road and gets dirt-blasted).
- Caveat: the expensive misdiagnosis is replacing the TCM ($800-1,500) or the entire valve body ($1,200-2,500) when the actual fault is a $75-250 range sensor or a $0 cable adjustment.
Vehicle-specific patterns1995-2006 GM 4L60E/4L65E (Silverado, Tahoe, Camaro, S10) throws P0705 from a worn internal mode switch on top of the valve body — the IMS is a notori…
- 1995-2006GM 4L60E/4L65E (Silverado, Tahoe, Camaro, S10) throws P0705 from a worn internal mode switch on top of the valve body — the IMS is a notorious wear item; GM TSBs cover replacement.
- 2007-2014GM 6L80/6L90 throws P0705 from the same IMS issue moved to the TEHCM.
- 2003-2008Ford 4R75E/5R55S (F-150, Mustang) throws P0705 from the external Digital Transmission Range Sensor (DTRS) bolted to the side of the case — replacement is straightforward but requires shift-cable readjustment.
- 2011-2018Ford 6R80 throws P0705 from the same external DTRS pattern, often after off-road or deep-water use.
- 2003-2013Chrysler 545RFE/68RFE throws P0705 from corrosion at the case connector or from a misadjusted shift cable after engine-out service. Aisin AS69RC and Allison 1000 throw P0705 from internal-mode-switch wear at high mileage. ZF 8HP-equipped vehicles (BMW, RAM, Jeep, Charger) throw P0705 from a failure inside the mechatronic unit since the range sensing is integrated.
Estimated repair$75 (cable adjustment) to $2,200 (TEHCM or mechatronic unit replacement).
Look up another code
P0705 — frequently asked
What does a P0705 code mean?
PRNDL switch/range sensor fault.
What causes a P0705 code?
Common causes: Failed neutral safety switch; Misadjusted linkage.
What are the symptoms of a P0705 code?
Typical symptoms: No start in P/N; Wrong gear light.
Is it safe to drive with a P0705 code?
Not for long. Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it. Estimated repair: $100-$400.
How do I diagnose a P0705 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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