A pressure control solenoid inside the gearbox is stuck or lazy. Line pressure is wrong, so the box slips or bangs into gear.
P0746 — also written PO746, P 0746, 0746 — is the OBD-II code for pressure control solenoid 'a' performance / stuck off. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
P0746 is a transmission fault code, typically costing £250–£2200 to put right in a UK garage.
What causes P0746?
- Contaminated or degraded transmission fluid
- Stuck solenoid in the valve body
- Worn valve body bores
- Debris from a failing clutch pack
How P0746 is fixed
- Fluid and filter service with the correct specification fluid
- Replace or recondition the valve body / mechatronic unit
- Inspect the sump magnet for clutch material
P0746 repair cost in the UK
Most P0746 repairs land between £250–£2200 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Can you drive with P0746?
No. A slipping automatic overheats and turns a solenoid job into a gearbox rebuild.
Urgency: high.