OBD-II Code · Transmission
P0733
Gear 3 Incorrect Ratio
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)
$500–$3,500
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
3rd gear ratio 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
- Check engine light
- Slipping in 3rd
Likely causes
- Worn 3rd gear clutchMost common
- Solenoid
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0733 sets when the TCM commands 3rd gear and the calculated input/output ratio falls outside the expected 3rd-gear window (typical 1.00:1 on a 4-spe…
P0733 sets when the TCM commands 3rd gear and the calculated input/output ratio falls outside the expected 3rd-gear window (typical 1.00:1 on a 4-speed direct-drive 3rd, around 1.14-1.20 on a 5-speed, varies on 6-8 speeds) by more than 5-7% for 2-5 seconds under load. Same diagnostic logic as P0732 but specific to the 3rd-gear apply elements (typically a clutch pack rather than a band on most modern transmissions).
Cheap diagnostics first
- ATF level at the spec temperature, then a pressure-tap test for line pressure across the throttle range, then scan-tool solenoid command vs reported gear-state during a road test.
- Watch the calculated ratio in live data during a 2-3 upshift, the ratio should snap from 1.62 to 1.00 within 0.5-1 second on a healthy 4-speed, a slow ramp or hung-up intermediate ratio is the signature of clutch slip.
- Ohm the shift solenoids and compare against spec.
- Expensive misdiagnosis: the 3rd-gear apply element on most platforms is buried deep in the trans and requires a full teardown to service, do not authorize the teardown until you have verified line pressure is in spec under load and ruled out a stuck or leaking shift solenoid, a $200 valve-body rebuild often eliminates the symptom because the actual fault was solenoid bore wear leaking apply pressure rather than worn clutches.
Vehicle-specific patterns2000-2007 GM 4L60E sees P0733 from 3-4 clutch pack wear, the 3-4 clutches are the chronic wear point on this trans and the failure typically arrives…
- 2000-2007GM 4L60E sees P0733 from 3-4 clutch pack wear, the 3-4 clutches are the chronic wear point on this trans and the failure typically arrives between 120-180K miles, a rebuild with updated 3-4 clutch hardware is the standard fix;
- 2003-2010Volvo S60/XC90/Saab 9-3 with Aisin AW55-50SN/55-51SN throws P0733 from valve-body bore wear, the solenoids leak pressure past worn bores and the fix is a sonnax valve-body rework kit;
- 2005-2010Ford Five Hundred/Freestyle with CVT (ZF CFT30) has been retired by Ford with extended warranties, the CFT30 fails the steel-chain interface and is not economically rebuildable.
Estimated repair$300 to $4,200.
Look up another code
P0733 — frequently asked
What does a P0733 code mean?
3rd gear ratio fault.
What causes a P0733 code?
Common causes: Worn 3rd gear clutch; Solenoid.
What are the symptoms of a P0733 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light; Slipping in 3rd.
Is it safe to drive with a P0733 code?
Not for long. Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it. Estimated repair: $500-$3,500.
How do I diagnose a P0733 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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