OBD-II Code · Transmission
P0782
2-3 Shift Malfunction
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)
$300–$2,500
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
2-3 upshift 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
- Harsh 2-3 shift
Likely causes
- SolenoidMost common
- Clutch
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0782 is the 2-3 shift malfunction — TCM commanded a 2-3 upshift, didn't see the input/output ratio land at the third-gear target (around 1.0:1 on a…
P0782 is the 2-3 shift malfunction — TCM commanded a 2-3 upshift, didn't see the input/output ratio land at the third-gear target (around 1.0:1 on a direct-drive third in a 4-speed, around 1.0-1.1:1 on most 6-speeds), and set the code. The 2-3 shift is historically one of the highest-stress shifts in any transmission because it's when full torque-converter lockup gets armed on many platforms and when the 3-4 clutch (or its equivalent) takes a heavy load.
Cheapest-first ladder
- Fluid level and condition first — every time, no exceptions.
- Live-data scan during a road test: command-gear vs. actual-ratio during the 2-3 shift; if the ratio crosses second-gear value, hangs in a flare (RPM bump as torque drops momentarily), then lands at third late, that's a slipping 3-4 clutch or the 2-3 shift valve sticking — both repairable, but at different price points.
- Ohm the 2-3 shift solenoid (or the SS2/SS3 solenoid set, depending on platform) — 8-30 ohms typical; off-spec is a solenoid swap, on-spec moves suspect to the valve body or the clutch pack.
- Drop the pan and inspect the magnet — black flake or paper-towel-thin friction material in the pan is 3-4 clutch debris and a rebuild is the only fix. The expensive-misdiagnosis caveat: a slipping 3-4 clutch generates heat fast — every additional 1,000 miles of driving past the first P0782 typically degrades the clutch-pack friction surface another 10-20%, which is why a $300 valve-body fix becomes a $2,800 rebuild if the owner ignores it for two months.
Vehicle-specific patterns1995-2014 GM 4L60E throws P0782 from 3-4 clutch pack burn — this is THE textbook 4L60E failure mode in pickups and SUVs that tow above their rating;…
- 1995-2014GM 4L60E throws P0782 from 3-4 clutch pack burn — this is THE textbook 4L60E failure mode in pickups and SUVs that tow above their rating; the clutch pack overheats, the friction material falls off the steels, and the 2-3 shift goes soft then disappears. Rebuild with upgraded 3-4 clutch pack (Sonnax/Alto/Raybestos) is $1,800-3,200.
- 1995-2008Ford 4R70W/4R75W throws P0782 from the direct clutch wearing or the forward-clutch piston seal failing; rebuild $1,800-2,800.
- 2003-2012Chrysler 545RFE throws P0782 from the OD/2C clutch wearing, common around 130-180k miles. 2007-present BMW 6HP/8HP (ZF) throws P0782 from a clogged valve body or mechatronic problem, typically resolved with valve-body replacement at $1,500-2,800 plus fluid.
Estimated repair$400 (solenoid) to $3,200 (rebuild with upgraded 3-4 pack).
Look up another code
P0782 — frequently asked
What does a P0782 code mean?
2-3 upshift fault.
What causes a P0782 code?
Common causes: Solenoid; Clutch.
What are the symptoms of a P0782 code?
Typical symptoms: Harsh 2-3 shift.
Is it safe to drive with a P0782 code?
Not for long. Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it. Estimated repair: $300-$2,500.
How do I diagnose a P0782 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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