Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Gear-Shift Position Sensor
The gear-shift position sensor is mounted on the top of the gearbox housing, on the gear shift linkage rod. The gear selector contains a Park / Neutral position (PNP) switch and connectors which inform the transmission control module (TCM) about which gear is selected and if the reverse gear is selected so that the reversing lamps can be lit. The gear-shift position sensor is a position switch which is supplied via +15. A number of trailing contacts supply power to the sensor outputs. The combination of pins A, B, C and PA indicate the current gear selector position (see the table below). The trailing contacts can either be closed or open.
There are diagnostics for the gear-shift position sensor.
Table for the gear-shift position sensor
The value indicates the position of the gear-shift position sensor (A, B, C and PA), see the table.
• = High signal (open)
- = Low signal (grounded)
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.