A fault code doesn’t yet mean the unit or sensor itself is faulty: often it’s the plug and connector leading to it.
Possible causes
- The pressure control solenoid in the valve body with the transmission control unit (TEHCM)
- Low or old transmission fluid
- A damaged transmission pump — no fluid pressure (per a GM bulletin — when there is no drive and no reverse)
- Low voltage: a flat battery or corroded terminals
What you can do yourself
- The transmission may go into limp mode: shifts are harsh or the car drives in one gear. You can drive gently for a short distance.
- Check the transmission fluid level using the procedure for your car: on the 6T30/6T40 it is checked through the check plug with the transmission warm.
- Don’t replace the transmission just because the fluid is dark: per GM bulletin PI1131 the valve body is diagnosed first, and per PI0324E the transmission pressure is measured.
- Check the battery and terminals: low voltage can put the gearbox unit into limp mode.
Stop and don’t drive on if:
- The Check Engine light is flashing
- The temperature gauge is in the red or the overheating light is on
- The red oil pressure light is on
- Smoke from under the bonnet, a burning or petrol smell
- Strong jerking, knocking from the engine, or the car barely moves
OOleg’s tip: check the connector
Often the cause is simple — there is no contact in the connector (plug). Look at the connector from the back: remove the rubber seal and you will see whether a wire is corroded or has come off completely. Corrosion shows up as green deposits. Ideally, gently pull each wire towards you one at a time: a sound wire stays in place, while a corroded one simply comes off — it needs to be repaired.
Unplug and inspect connectors with the ignition off.
A code of the GM 6T30, 6T40 and 6T45 transmissions (Cobalt, Nexia R3, Gentra, Cruze, Aveo, Tracker, Malibu, Captiva). The number follows the SAE standard: pressure control solenoid E, GM’s No. 5.
Source: GM PI1131, PI0324E, PIP4624M (static.nhtsa.gov)
On Oleg’s website:Transmission adaptation ↗
The explanation comes from the error code reference in the AvtoElektrik PRO app.