Damaged, chafed or corroded wiring to the brake band apply solenoid, including a short to earth or high resistance; Poor connection or corroded terminals at the transmission internal harness connector or control module connector; Faulty brake band apply solenoid with low coil resistance or an internal short; Low system or battery voltage, or a weak charging system or poor earth; Fluid contamination or debris affecting the solenoid or internal harness in the valve body; Faulty transmission control module driver circuit.

P1852

Brake Band Apply Solenoid Low Voltage.

Saturn
Powertrain
Manufacturer code
Medium severity

How this code is built

P: SystemPowertrain
1: Defined byThe manufacturer
8: AreaTransmission
52: FaultThe specific fault in that area

What it means

P1852 on a Saturn means the transmission control module detected a low voltage condition in the circuit for the brake band apply solenoid in the automatic transmission. The module expected a certain voltage on the solenoid circuit when commanding it and saw a lower reading, which points to a wiring, connection, supply or solenoid fault. Which transmission and solenoid arrangement is fitted depends on the model and year, so check model-specific information.

Symptoms

Transmission warning light or check engine light on
Harsh, delayed or flared gear changes
Transmission stuck in one gear (limp mode)
Loss of a gear or no engagement in certain ranges
Poor fuel economy or unusual engine speed at cruise

Possible causes

Damaged, chafed or corroded wiring to the brake band apply solenoid, including a short to earth or high resistancelikely
Poor connection or corroded terminals at the transmission internal harness connector or control module connectorlikely
Faulty brake band apply solenoid with low coil resistance or an internal shortpossible
Low system or battery voltage, or a weak charging system or poor earthpossible
Fluid contamination or debris affecting the solenoid or internal harness in the valve bodypossible
Faulty transmission control module driver circuitrare

How to diagnose

Read and record all stored and pending codes with freeze frame data, noting battery voltage and conditions when the code set
Check battery condition and charging voltage, and inspect battery and earth connections
Check the transmission fluid level and condition, looking for burnt smell, debris or metal particles
Visually inspect the external transmission harness and connectors for chafing, heat damage, fluid ingress and corrosion
Check the solenoid circuit for supply voltage, short to earth and resistance against the model-specific wiring diagram
Measure the solenoid coil resistance and compare with the manufacturer's specification for that transmission
Back-probe the control module signal while commanding the solenoid, if the procedure allows, to confirm the driver output
Clear the code and road test to see if it returns, confirming the fault is current

How to fix

Repair or replace damaged wiring and secure it away from heat and abrasion
Clean, repair or replace corroded or loose connectors and terminals
Replace the brake band apply solenoid or the solenoid assembly if resistance or operation is out of specification
Correct battery, charging or earth faults so system voltage is stable
Change the transmission fluid and filter and clean or repair the valve body if contamination is found
Repair or replace the transmission control module only after wiring and solenoid faults are ruled out

Can I keep driving?

Medium severity

The car can usually be driven carefully for a short time, but the transmission may go into limp mode or shift harshly. Have it checked soon, as continued driving can cause extra wear to the transmission.

Guide written by AI from the code's definition. Confirm with a diagnosis before replacing parts.