Cause
Seized or obstructed park mechanism
The park pawl and its linkage, stiff or jammed so the actuation that should move it stalls. Park is a mechanical latch — a pawl dropping into a toothed wheel — and corrosion, debris or damage can hold it engaged or released against everything the actuator can deliver.
The classic trigger is parking on a slope without the parking brake. The car's whole weight rests on the pawl, and the release then strains against it — apply the parking brake first, every time, and the pawl lives an easy life.
It reads electrically — as range motor circuits working too hard — which is why it appears as a cause on codes that sound like wiring.
Typically specialist work. Needs equipment or training most home workshops do not have.
Codes this can cause (13)
Codes where this is a likely explanation first, rather than merely a possible one.
- P272B Transmission Range Select Motor Control Circuit Current Too High Likely for this code High
- P272D Park Pawl Motor Control Circuit Current Too High Likely for this code High
- P272A Transmission Range Select Motor Control Circuit High
- P272C Park Pawl Motor Control Circuit High
- P27E7 Transmission Range Control B Circuit/Open High
- P27E8 Transmission Range Control B Circuit Performance High
- P27E9 Transmission Range Control B Circuit Low Moderate
- P27EA Transmission Range Control B Circuit High Moderate
- P2887 Park Lock/Pawl Actuator Circuit High
- P2888 Park Lock/Pawl Actuator Circuit/Open Moderate
- P2889 Park Lock/Pawl Actuator Circuit Low Moderate
- P288A Park Lock/Pawl Actuator Circuit High Moderate
- P288B Park Lock/Pawl Actuator Circuit Performance High
Information, not instruction
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