TransmissionGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Garage soon
Code P0882: low power supply to the gearbox control unit (TCM)
P0882 means: transmission control module (TCM) power input signal low.[1][2][3] The gearbox control unit (TCM) is the computer that governs the automatic gearbox; depending on the manufacturer, it may be integrated into the engine control unit or be separate. P0882 is stored when the voltage reaching it is insufficient. CódigosDTC says the cause is usually a short circuit in the circuit.[1]
What code P0882 means
The gearbox control unit (TCM) is the computer that governs the automatic gearbox; depending on the manufacturer, it may be integrated into the engine control unit or be separate. P0882 is stored when the voltage reaching it is insufficient. CódigosDTC says the cause is usually a short circuit in the circuit.[1]
TroubleCodes.net describes the operation with an example: the TCM's power comes through a gearbox control output circuit, which also feeds the solenoid and pressure switch assembly and the engine control unit. On starting, the TCM checks the voltage of that circuit and, if it is low, stores the code. If the gearbox goes into limp mode, the circuit voltage changes and the gearbox stays in a low gear without shifting.[2]
It is a generic code of the OBD-II standard (it starts with P0), according to AutoDTCs.[3]
Original definition (SAE J2012): TCM Power Input Signal Low[1][2][3]
Causes of P0882
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
- 1Wiring of the TCM power circuit in poor condition: chafed, broken or corroded cables.[1][2]
- 2Connectors with corrosion or with terminals bent or pushed back in the engine control unit or the electrical distribution module (TIPM).[1][2]
- 3Weak or faulty battery giving a low voltage.[1][2]
- 4Faulty control unit (PCM), although TroubleCodes.net only considers it when the circuit is good and the code remains active.[2]
- 5Alternator charging poorly or starter motor drawing too much current (TroubleCodes.net).[2]
Symptoms
- Engine fault warning light on.[1][2]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- The gearbox does not change gear.[1][2]Gears will not engage: faults that cause it
- Gearbox limp mode. With the code stored but not active, TroubleCodes.net says the gearbox may work normally or go into limp mode depending on the vehicle.[1][2]Limp mode: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P0882
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Check the battery voltage and do a load test; if it fails, replace it. Clear the code and test again.[1][2]
- 2With the ignition off, measure the resistance of the gearbox control circuit between the modules. Less than about 5 ohms indicates a short to earth, and more than 5 ohms an open circuit. Move the harness while measuring to detect intermittent faults.[1][2]
- 3Check the cables and connectors: corrosion, bent or broken terminals and moisture. Clean or replace corroded connectors.[1][2]
- 4With the engine running, the alternator output should be about 14 V; TroubleCodes.net says to replace it if it falls below 12 V. A starter motor drawing a lot of current can cause the code.[2]
- 5Only if the circuit is good and the code remains active does TroubleCodes.net suggest trying a control unit in good condition.[2]
Can I keep driving with P0882?
Garage soon
AutoDTCs rates it as moderate (it should be repaired soon, and it does not usually leave the car stranded). TroubleCodes.net and CódigosDTC warn that, with the code active, the gearbox may stop changing gear or go into limp mode, so it is worth taking it to a workshop soon and not making long journeys.[1][2][3]
Parts related to code P0882
The parts that most often cause this code. The code points to the circuit, not always the part: diagnose before you buy.
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Documented faults related to P0882
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
Control units and comfort electronics (BSI, SAM...): the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: CommonPeugeot 408Electronic faults with the doors, boot and screen (suspected BSI control unit)In 2025 Peugeot recalled around 60,000 2023-2024 Peugeot 308 and 408 cars (code MUV) over a software fault in the door control unit that can cause unintended opening or closing and disable the anti-trap protection on the windows; 408 owners also describe a power boot lid that will not open or close and a screen that goes black.
- High severityFrequency: CommonRenault Laguna IIMultiplex electrical system and hands-free card faultsThe Laguna II had a reputation problem because of faults in its multiplexed electrical network: the hands-free card, the card reader and the ABS, ESP and handbrake warning lights came on erratically, especially in the early years of production (2001-2003).
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda MX-5 IVDC/DC converter control unit fault with risk of short circuit and fireA 2018 Safety Gate alert covers MX-5 ND models built between August 2014 and April 2017: the DC converter control unit could fail, cause a short circuit and damage the converter, with a risk of fire. It is a precautionary recall; check the chassis number at the official service centre.
- Medium severityFrequency: Very frequentFiat StiloElectrical and electronic faults in the multiplex systemThe Stilo has had a reputation for widespread electrical faults since its launch: poor contacts in the multiplex wiring, an instrument cluster that switches off and sensors that disconnect, sometimes while the car is running.
12 V battery: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: CommonHyundai-Kia E-GMP (Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, EV6)Faulty ICCU: 12 V battery drains, charging fails and power is lostThe ICCU, which combines the on-board charger and the converter that powers the 12 V system, can fail on the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and EV6: it cuts AC charging, drains the 12 V battery and, in the worst case, the car loses power and stops. Hyundai and Kia have recalled units built from 2021 to 2024.Repair: €2,000–€5,000
- Medium severityFrequency: Very frequent1.5 Hybrid12 V battery going flat while parkedYes: on the hybrid Yaris and Yaris Cross, the 12 V battery can go flat within a few days while parked because of the residual draw of modules such as eCall or keyless entry. It is fixed with a software update or, if the battery is already damaged, by replacing it.
- Medium severityFrequency: Very frequent1.8 HybridThe 12V battery drains on the C-HR and Corolla hybridsYes: on the first-generation C-HR hybrid, the 12V battery is one of the most frequently reported faults: it runs flat after a few days standing or on short trips, and the car will not start. The ADAC and Toyota itself point to it as a cause of faults on the C-HR and Corolla.
- Medium severityFrequency: Very frequent2.0 and 2.5 HybridThe 12 V battery goes flat if the car sits unused for several daysYes, it is a common complaint: the 12 V battery can go flat after just a few days without using the car, because of the standby drain from the electronics (multimedia, telematics, keyless entry). With the 12 V battery very low, the hybrid system can lock itself into a safe mode.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 6 E63/E64Battery drain and loose positive cableThe battery and alternator are frequently cited by Fiches-auto, and there is a recall for the battery's positive cable, which can work loose.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalFord Galaxy IIIAcid leak from the 12 V battery (campaign 18P11)According to the fiches-auto.fr page, campaign 18P11 (August 2019) covers Galaxies built between February 2014 and February 2019 over a risk of battery acid leaking, which can worsen over time.
Wiring, connectors and short circuits: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW N62 / N63Additional turbo coolant pump with a risk of short circuit and fireIn 2011 BMW recalled 5, 6 and 7 Series, X5 and X6 models built between 2007 and 2011 because of the additional turbo coolant pump: moisture, a short circuit and, in extreme cases, a fire. In 2012 there was another campaign for a crack in the pump, with a more robust version.
- Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)Main relay of the power relay assembly (overheating and fire risk)Yes, on the first units: Hyundai and Kia recalled 2016–2018 Ioniq and Niro hybrids and plug-in hybrids because the main relay that connects the high-voltage battery could come loose, overheat and, in the worst case, cause a fire.
- Critical severityFrequency: Occasional1.6 GDi híbrido (Kappa)Clutch hydraulic actuator (HCA): leak or moisture with risk of short circuit and fireYes, this is the most documented hybrid system fault: the hydraulic actuator that engages the combustion engine with the hybrid assembly has had two recalls (2018 for a leak on the Niro and 2025 for moisture in its electronic board on the Niro, Ceed and XCeed PHEV), with a risk of short circuit and fire.
- High severityFrequency: Occasional1.3 TCeBlown fuel pump fuseOn the Renault Captur II and Clio V with the 1.3 TCe engine, a 20-amp fuse can blow and leave the car without an engine. According to L'argus, in April 2021 this fault still had no factory fix; the official service centre's diagnosis includes checking, and sometimes replacing, the catalytic converter.
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonRover 75Seat SRS connector fault with airbag and seatbelt warning light onAuto Express warns that the Rover 75's seat SRS connector can cause the airbags to fail, and dealers were fixing it with revised connectors. The Dutch APK inspection puts the airbag or seatbelt fault warning among the most frequent defects across almost all series.
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo GiuliettaShort circuit from badly routed wiring that can prevent gear shifting (KBA campaign, 2010-2015)Yes: according to Germany's KBA, on Alfa Romeo Giulietta cars built between 2010 and 2015 inadequate cable routing could cause a short circuit and, as a result, gear-shift failure.
Automatic gearbox (torque converter and CVT): the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonMultitronicWear of the variator chain and conesYes: the variator uses a chain of more than 1,000 links between two pairs of cones that wears with mileage, especially if the oil is not changed regularly. Gebrauchtwagenberater ties the gearbox's reputation to "numerous total failures"; Schaeffler/LuK sells a kit to repair the chain.
- Critical severityFrequency: Common2.0 CDI (OM640)Costly failure of the Autotronic (CVT) automatic gearboxYes: the Autotronic continuously variable gearbox, optional on the 180 CDI and 200 CDI, is the problem cited most by owners of the 140 hp version (24 of 114 testimonies) and a fault hotspot according to the ADAC up to 2006. A German source recommends avoiding it and choosing the manual gearbox.
- High severityFrequency: CommonMultitronicControl unit (TCU) failure and limp modeYes: the multitronic control unit, especially in the 01J code (up to 2007), is one of its best-documented weak points. Overheating with oil seeping into the control unit causes fault warnings and limp mode and, if ignored, can end up damaging the gearbox itself.
- High severityFrequency: Common7G-Tronic / 9G-TronicConductor plate and speed sensor failure (limp mode)Yes: one of the most cited weak points of the 7G-Tronic (722.9) is the internal conductor plate, which integrates the turbine, output and intermediate-shaft speed sensors; if it fails it can trigger a limp mode with delayed shifts or harsh jerks, although it does not always require replacing the whole gearbox.
- High severityFrequency: CommonAudi A6 C6Wear and failures of the Multitronic automatic gearbox on front-wheel-drive versionsYes: on front-wheel-drive versions with the Multitronic (CVT) gearbox, gebrauchtwagenberater.de documents jerking when pulling away that can progress to complete failure, especially on older cars; fiches-auto.fr adds selector lock-ups and torque converter breakages. The quattro versions, with the Tiptronic gearbox, do not share this problem.Repair (garage): €1,000Appears at around 120,000 km
- High severityFrequency: CommonMINI Cooper R50Faults in the CVT automatic gearbox, the manual gearbox and the clutchAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Mini R50 accumulates 22 gearbox mentions and 32 clutch mentions, and the CVT automatic variant is described as fragile and 'to be avoided'. Wikipedia confirms that the CVT and the manual gearboxes were fitted depending on the year.
Frequently asked questions
What does “TCM” mean in this code?
It is the transmission control module, the automatic gearbox's control unit. Depending on the car, it may be integrated into the engine control unit or be a separate module.[1]
Can a battery problem cause P0882?
Yes: both CódigosDTC and TroubleCodes.net include a weak battery among the causes, and both start the diagnosis by measuring the voltage and doing a load test.[1][2]
What should I check first with a P0882?
The battery (voltage and load test), and then the TCM power circuit: wiring, connectors and fuses. The control unit is left until last.[1][2]
Can I keep driving with P0882?
With the code active the gearbox may stop changing gear or go into limp mode. AutoDTCs rates it as moderate, but the prudent course is to take it to a workshop soon.[1][2][3]
Will I pass the MOT with code P0882?
If the code has switched on the engine warning light, no: with that light on, the inspection records a serious defect, and on Euro 5 and Euro 6 cars the ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection, similar to the MOT) also reads the OBD diagnostic system. Repair the fault before you go; clearing the code just before the inspection does not help either, because it counts as a serious defect.[4]
Not sure what is wrong with your car? Describe what you notice in the symptom diagnosis or see all fault codes.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- P0882 - Señal de entrada de potencia baja en el TCMCódigosDTC · Technical documentation · consulted 31 October 2026 · in Spanish
- P0882 trouble code - TCM power input signal lowTroubleCodes.net · Technical documentation · consulted 31 October 2026
- P0882 - TCM Power Input Signal LowAutoDTCs · Technical documentation · consulted 31 October 2026
- Desmontando mitos: ¿puede pasar mi coche la ITV con el testigo de «avería motor» encendido?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 March 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish