My 2005 GS300 with 120K mikes has thrown code P0980(Shift solenoid C control) for the third time in around 6 months. Does anyone have experience with what should be my next plan of action? The condition when this occurs is typically when the car is cold and after I pull out of my driveway and occurs at around 15 MPH.

 

SEARCH!!!!!!

just takes 2 seconds and you will find this

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/4442207-post6.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...p-anybody.html

 

deleted duplicate post

 

Yes, I did search and found both of those posts among others. Neither really told me anything. Not only did I take 2 seconds but I took over an hour searching for my problem.

I will look at the report from my scanner software(Auto Enginuity) a little more carefully the next time it pops up to see if it actaully identifies one of the shift solenoids by number. In the mean time, the car appears to shift properly until this occurs. I changed my fluid at 60K by draining/refilling/driving until I used a case of ATF(Toyota Type 4) and am going to be doing it again shortly. ATF still looks like new as it did at the 60K change.

One of the posts above mentions solenoid 3 and checking to see if it operates. Is it typical for these solenoids to become temperamnental over time or is it usually a wiring problem. Just seems weird that this only seems to occur when the car is first driven after sitting overnight.

 

I am not sure if this is a DIY kind of thing. I would take it to a transmission shop and ask them more about it. GL!

 

the answer to your question is IN the first link i sent you. whether you want to believe it or not is your own deal.

I suggest you go to a transmission repair facility IF you dont want to fix it yourself.

 

Do you believe that an intermittant solenoid is going to exhibit an out of tolerance resistance spec? I can drive months without this occuring again. I will check the resistance of the seperate shift modules to see if there is a difference between them.

As far as the attitude, not sure what I have said to deserve your tone. I am just asking a question.

As far as fixing it myself, that is my plan unless there is a risk taking off the valve body to replace the solenoid.

 

So I found this old post cause I've been having the same problem. Searched up toyota and lexus shift solenoid C and found a good picture of the tear down here.

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...oid-fixed.html

I also found a post to try a transmission flush as the solenoids build up with gunk and stick open. I figured it was cheaper to by a case of trans fluid and to try the flush and then to try to open her up if that didn't work.

We'll low and behold the transmission flush worked just fine for the last 18 months.

It has been in the 30's cold the last few days and the code started again ;( with VSC, TCS, and CEL lights all on. Once I warm it up, there is no problem.

Here is another link with pictures on an SC

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/per...placement.html

So there are 2 types of solenoids, SL and Valve. I'm guessing besides debris clogging these things, it could lead to complete failure. I've seen this with the window and lock regulator motors and IACV.

I searched up a bunch on P0980 and most searched come up on the Shift Solenoid Values. I hoped that the error code would say which one, but it looks like all 3 would be replaced. Maybe there is a way to check with a meter or somehow clearly identify which one is faulting when cold.

 

LOL...I posted this more than 3 years ago.

I did indeed replace the solenoid. It was an easy fix. It was # 2 solenoid C. Was $240 from Sewell when they used to sell parts.

Part number was 3523030010

It has been so long since I had this issue that I am not sure if the exact same code was coming up or not. My scanning software pretty much told me the exact solenoid.

As you can probably tell from the links that AMSMIKE posted, they pretty much tell you nothing. I did a lot of searching on this issue even though clowns like him didn't believe me.

 

DI'd the check engine light vsc and vsc off come on along with the p0980??

 

Yes........

 

just cause you guys dont get along,its hard to call mike a clown as he has helped countless people...and he is very smart especially bout our cars

I know this isn't the same code but this might give people more of a incite and a visual about replacing the shift solenoids

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...oid-fixed.html

 

Thanks!! The reason I asked was because the transmission shop I took my car to is telling me they are not related and that I have a bad ECM. They didn't even run diagnostics or make sure the solenoids where functionioning properly.

 

Mine was intermittent. It would show up every 3 months or so. I posted this in post #4 and then got scolded by AMSMike that I should take it to a transmission repair shop if I didn't want to do it myself. LOL...what a joke. Glad he doesn't post on here anymore.