Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid Circuit Performance or Stuck Off
What it means
The transmission control module (TCM) commanded the torque converter clutch to lock, but it saw that the difference between engine speed and input shaft speed stayed larger than expected, meaning lockup is not happening or is slipping. The cause is usually hydraulic or mechanical rather than electrical, and ignoring it leads to hot fluid and clutch wear.
Related lights
Dashboard lights that may come on with this code.
Symptoms5
- High engine speed at steady cruising speeds, or RPM that surges up and down.
- Shudder at moderate speeds, like driving over rumble strips.
- Higher fuel consumption.
- Higher transmission fluid temperature.
- Check engine light on.
Possible causes6
- Low, old or burned transmission fluid.
- Torque converter clutch solenoid stuck or clogged with debris.
- Worn friction lining on the torque converter clutch itself.
- Sticking lockup control valve or worn bore in the valve body.
- Pressure leak past the seal rings on the input shaft.
- Incorrect reading from the input shaft or engine speed sensor (less common).
How to diagnose5
- Check the transmission fluid level, color and smell; dark fluid with a burned smell shows past slipping.
- On a road test, watch the lockup command and the slip between engine speed and input shaft speed on a scan tool.
- Make sure there are no speed sensor or fluid temperature sensor codes, as they can cause a false slip reading.
- Command the solenoid with the scan tool, and have the lockup circuit pressure measured if a test port is available.
- Inspect the pan and filter for debris; metal particles or friction material point to internal wear.
How to fix6
- Top up the fluid with the correct type and repair any leak.
- Change the transmission fluid and filter if the fluid is dirty or burned.
- Replace the torque converter clutch solenoid if it is proven to stick.
- Repair or replace the valve body if the lockup valve or its bore is worn.
- Replace the torque converter if its internal clutch is worn.
- Clear the codes, then road test on a highway and confirm stable lockup and no returning code.
Repair cost
In Saudi riyals; the highlighted part is the expected range for this fault.
In the Saudi market: SAR 250–5,000 (≈ USD 67–1,330)
Our prices come from the Saudi market, converted at a fixed rate (SAR 3.75 per USD). Prices in your country may differ a lot, so we show the cost level.
The cost is low when a fluid change or a new solenoid fixes it, and rises sharply if a valve body or a new torque converter is needed, which requires removing the transmission.
Prices are rough estimates for common cars at independent workshops and vary with the car and the source of the part.
Prices last updated: September 2026
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from P0740?
P0740 means an electrical fault in the solenoid circuit, while P0741 means the circuit is fine electrically but lockup does not actually happen or slips, so the cause is usually the fluid or internal parts.
Will a fluid change fix it?
Sometimes, especially if the fluid is old or low. If the code returns after the change, the solenoid, valve body or converter itself most likely needs repair.
Is shudder at moderate speeds related to this code?
Usually yes. A slipping converter clutch during lockup causes a shudder like rumble strips, and it gets worse as the clutch wears.
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