Solenoid C fault.
P0760 — also written PO76O, P 0760, 0760 — is the OBD-II code for shift solenoid c malfunction. Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
This is an electrical hitch with the 'C' solenoid—the little gatekeeper that handles your mid-range gears. It's a common headache on Ford Transits and older Hondas where the internal wiring gets brittle.
P0760 is a transmission fault code, typically costing £250–£900 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0760 actually feels like to drive
- The car feels like it's taking off in 3rd gear (Limp Mode).
- Violent 'thud' when shifting from Park into Drive.
- Engine revs up high but the car doesn't gain speed between 2nd and 3rd.
- Warning light on, often with 'Transmission Service Required' on the dash.
- Cruise control stops working entirely.
What causes P0760?
- Failed solenoid
- Wiring
UK vehicles that throw P0760 most often
- Ford Transit 2.2 TDCi (Durashift) 2006-2014
- Honda CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC (Automatic) 2007-2012
- Mazda 3 2.0 (FS4A-EL Transmission) 2004-2009
- Ford Fiesta 1.4/1.6 (4F27E Box) 2002-2008
- Volkswagen Golf Mk4 1.9 TDI (01M Gearbox) 2000-2004
How P0760 is fixed
- Solenoid pack
The P0760 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I see folks jumping straight to a new gearbox or a full rebuild the second they see this. Another classic is replacing the transmission speed sensors because they're cheaper, but that won't touch a P0760. Most often, people forget the internal wiring harness (the 'ribbon'). They swap the solenoid, but the brittle, heat-soaked plastic connector on the harness is actually the bit that's crumbled away. Check the loom for continuity before you bin a perfectly good solenoid.
What a UK garage should charge for P0760
You’re looking at £60-£90 for a proper diagnostic plug-in. A single solenoid from a factor like Euro Car Parts or GSF might be £80-£150, but if it's a full pack for a Nissan or Ford, you're looking at £300 plus. Labour is usually 2-3 hours (£150-£240) plus fresh ATF fluid (don't skimp, use Febi or Fuchs at about £12 a litre). All in, an independent will charge £350-£500; a main dealer will easily double that.
P0760 repair cost in the UK
Most P0760 repairs land between £250–£900 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.
Bob's tip on P0760
If a garage tells you it's a 'gearbox out' job immediately, get a second opinion. On many of these, like the Ford/Mazda units, you can swap Solenoid C just by dropping the sump pan—messy, but doable on the ramp in an hour. Insist they perform a 'resistance test' at the TCM connector first. If it's open circuit, it's electrical; if the resistance is spot on but it still won't shift, it's a mechanical blockage. Don't let them 'flush' it to fix a P0760; you're just washing money down the drain.
Can you drive with P0760?
Book in.
Urgency: high.