What Is the P1870 Code?
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The P1870 code is a specific code for General Motors vehicles, which may include companies that it runs like Chevrolet and Buick. It is part of the way General Motors manages their automatic transmissions and can be triggered by a variety of transmission performance-related parameters, typically regarding the acceptable RPM just before a transmission shift occurs.
More About the P1870 Code
This code is generally an indication that your transmission is slipping, which can cause undue wear and damage to the vehicle’s clutch packs. Generally, a vehicle will send the P1870 code if the vehicle is experiencing a higher RPM than is acceptable because that may indicate that there’s a problem with the transmission. By forcing the vehicle to avoid the highest gear and throwing this code, the vehicle lets you know that something is wrong, allowing you to go in and fix the problem before you continue driving it.
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What Are the Symptoms of a P1870 Code?
When a General Motors vehicle throws a P1870 code, the most noticeable symptom you’ll probably notice is the fact that the vehicle may start experiencing issues with shifting between gears. If you regularly run your vehicle hard, causing it to move up into fourth gear, then you’ll notice that this gear is no longer available. You may also notice higher RPMs than usual and generally poor performance from your vehicle, and the check engine light will come on.
What Are Some Causes of a P1870 Code?
There are many potential causes for a P1870 code. You may see any of these causes:
- Issues with contaminated or dirty transmission fluid
- Usage of the wrong transmission fluid grade or formulation
- Low levels of transmission fluid
- Towing more than your vehicle can handle
- Issues with the pressure pump
- Issues with the pressure sensors that pick up the transmission components
- Problems with the shuttles within the valve body
Almost all of these problems revolve around the transmission itself. It’s typically best to assume that something has gone wrong with the transmission rather than that the sensors are broken or malfunctioning in some way.
How Serious Is the P1870 Code?
A P1870 code is a serious code. As soon as it’s noticed, it’s important that you fix the problem. More often than not, there’s a problem with the transmission, and while the problem could be as easy as topping up your transmission fluid, running a transmission while there are problems going on can create a serious problem that can be much more expensive to solve.
Can I Still Drive with a P1870 Code?
The P1870 code will not instantly shut your engine off, which means that you will typically be able to drive your vehicle to a service expert to get help with your engine. However, it will throttle some of the engine performance to avoid overworking the transmission as much as possible. Additionally, if you continue to drive for a while with a P1870 code, you’re likely to create serious problems for your engine’s transmission.
How Easy Is It to Diagnose a P1870 Code?
There are many reasons why an engine may throw a P1870 code. The short list on this page includes only a few of the potential causes of a P1870 code, and there may be causes that you didn’t see in this specific list. Additionally, you may need to look through the history of any other codes that the engine threw, as well as any other errors that may be co-occurring. Plus, the diagnosis problem may vary depending on the vehicle’s make and model. This is why it’s a good idea to get an expert’s help if your engine is returning a P1870 code.
How Difficult Is It to Inspect a P1870 Code?
The P1870 code can indicate problems anywhere within your transmission. That’s why it can be very difficult to inspect; you may need to get into the engine and get your hands dirty regarding your transmission. If you’re not trained in the process of understanding a transmission and managing everything inside the car, then you may not be able to determine the problem in the first place. It’s a better idea to simply hand it over to the experts first.
Need Additional Help with Your P1870 Code?
A P1870 code can indicate that something is seriously wrong with your car, and if you want to get it back in working condition, it’s best to get an expert to help you fix the problem. This can help make sure you’ve caught everything that could have gone wrong, so you don’t have to re-fix it in a few days.
If you’re looking for a local expert, then you can find repair shops near you with KBB’s help. This makes it easier for you to get back on the road with confidence.
Plus, KBB also has a massive database of OBD-II codes available. This can help if you want to learn more about these codes or if you’re looking up a code your engine is throwing.
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