P1833

What it means

P1833 on a Chevrolet means the transmission control module has detected low voltage on the supply feeding the automatic transmission solenoids. The module monitors the solenoid power feed, and when it reads below the expected level with the ignition on or the engine running, it sets the code. The cause can be in the feed, fuse, relay, wiring or connectors, the battery or charging system, or the control module itself, and the exact circuit layout depends on the model and transmission.

Symptoms

• Transmission warning light or check engine light on
• Harsh, delayed or erratic gear changes
• Transmission stuck in one gear (limp mode)
• No shift or flared shifts between gears
• Torque converter clutch not engaging, with poor economy
• Intermittent shifting problems that come and go with electrical load

Possible causes

• Poor connection or corrosion in the solenoid power feed circuit, including the transmission harness connectorlikely
• Weak or poorly connected battery, or high resistance in battery or earth cableslikely
• Blown fuse or faulty relay supplying the transmission solenoid powerpossible
• Charging system fault causing low or unstable system voltagepossible
• Chafed or damaged wiring causing a short to earth or high resistance on the power feedpossible
• Internal fault in the transmission solenoid pack or internal wiring harness pulling the supply downpossible
• Faulty transmission control module or engine control modulerare

How to diagnose

1. Read all stored codes and freeze frame data, noting battery voltage, engine speed and gear when the fault set, and look for other voltage or charging codes
2. Check battery condition and terminal tightness, and measure battery voltage with the engine off and running to confirm the charging system is healthy
3. Inspect the fuses and relay for the transmission solenoid supply, using the vehicle wiring diagram for the model, and test them under load
4. Visually inspect the wiring and connectors between the supply, the control module and the transmission for chafing, corrosion, water ingress or pushed-out pins
5. Voltage drop test the solenoid power feed and its earth with the circuit loaded, to find any high resistance
6. Check the transmission internal connector and harness, and test solenoid resistance against the specification for that transmission
7. Clear the code and road test while monitoring supply voltage, to see whether the fault returns and under what conditions
8. If the wiring, supply and solenoids all test good, check the control module power and earth feeds before suspecting the module

How to fix

• Clean, repair or replace corroded or damaged connectors and terminals in the solenoid power circuit
• Replace a weak battery or repair loose or corroded battery and earth connections
• Replace the blown fuse only after finding why it failed, or replace a faulty relay
• Repair or replace damaged wiring on the solenoid power feed
• Repair the charging system if voltage is low or unstable
• Replace the faulty solenoid pack or internal harness, or the control module if testing confirms it is at fault, following the correct procedure for the model

Can I keep driving?

This code for other makes

• P1833BuickA/T Solenoids Power Circuit Low Voltage
• P1833CadillacA/T Solenoids Power Circuit Low Voltage
• P1833GMA/T Solenoids Power Circuit Low Voltage
• P1833GMCA/T Solenoids Power Circuit Low Voltage
• P1833OldsmobileA/T Solenoids Power Circuit Low Voltage
• P1833OtherTransmission Transfer Case Differential Lock-Up Solenoid Open Circuit
• P1833SaturnA/T Solenoids Power Circuit Low Voltage

Nearby codes

• P1831ChevroletPC Solenoid Power Circuit Low Voltage
• P1835ChevroletKick-Down Switch