What P0713 means
The transmission fluid temperature sensor is an NTC thermistor whose resistance falls as the fluid warms; the module feeds it with 5 V through a resistor.
How the engine computer detects it
A low signal therefore means very hot or a short to ground, a high signal very cold or an open circuit. P0713 means the signal is too high – the sensor reads extremely cold, or the circuit is open or shorted to positive. GM's 2025 modules flag above 284 kΩ for 5 of 6 s after two trips; the 2007 Allison 1000 −45 °C (−49 °F) or below for 2.5 s; Saab's AF40 below −43 °C (−45 °F); Ford above 4.6 V for 5–12 s without MIL. Many require prior running time or a warm engine so a genuine −40 °C (−40 °F) cold start does not count (Allison: coolant above 20 °C (68 °F); Saab: over 10 minutes of driving). The transmission then stays in its cold strategy: open converter clutch, late upshifts.
Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages
Symptoms
- Fluid temperature shown around −40 °C (−40 °F)
- Converter clutch stays open, late upshifts
- Higher fuel consumption
- Check engine or transmission lamp depending on manufacturer
Common causes
- Transmission connector loose or corroded, wire open Most likely
- Sensor open internally Possible
- Signal wire shorted to positive Less likely
- Control module faulty Less likely
How to diagnose P0713
- Read every stored code with an OBD-II scanner. If misfire or fuel trim codes are there too, fix those first: they often cause this one.
- Inspect the parts involved: transmission fluid temperature sensor, transmission internal harness, transmission control module.
- Work through the causes above from most to least likely, cheapest checks first.
- Clear the code and drive a full drive cycle to confirm the repair held.
Reading the code
- P
- Powertrain
- 0
- Generic (SAE) code
- 7
- Transmission
- 13
- Specific fault
Questions drivers ask
Can I drive with code P0713?
If the car shifts normally, drive gently to a shop. If it's stuck in one gear, slips, shifts harshly or won't move out of Park, don't drive it: have it towed.
Will P0713 clear by itself?
The light can go off after several drive cycles without the fault, but the code returns if the cause is still there. After a repair, the readiness monitors need a full drive cycle before an inspection.
This page is general information, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis. Repair costs are rough estimates for parts and labor and vary by vehicle and region.