What P0887 means
Some transmissions draw their power through a relay, such as the transmission control relay in Chrysler's fuse box that feeds the solenoids.
How the engine computer detects it
P0885 to P0887 cover the coil control of that relay, P0888 to P0892 its sense line, which reads back the switched output and compares it with the command. A dead relay leaves all solenoids without power, so the transmission drops into its hydraulic emergency gear. P0887 means the coil control line sits high: a short to voltage or voltage present despite the command. FCA's 948TE nine-speed in the 2014–15 Cherokee, Chrysler 200 and Ram ProMaster City stored it with MIL, and three bulletins cured it with a transmission module reflash, so an over-sensitive detection can cause it too.
Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages
Symptoms
- MIL on
- Shift problems or limp mode
Common causes
- Transmission module software (FCA 948TE) Most likely
- Control wire shorted to voltage Possible
- Relay faulty Possible
- Transmission module faulty Less likely
How to diagnose P0887
- 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 relay, relay wiring, fuse, 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.
Vehicles that report P0887 most
| Vehicle | Years | Reports | Share | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Cherokee | 2014–2016 | 12 | 50k |
Counts of owner complaints to the NHTSA that mention P0887 (13 in total), not failure rates: popular models get more complaints simply because more of them are on the road. Models with fewer than 3 complaints are left out.
Reading the code
- P
- Powertrain
- 0
- Generic (SAE) code
- 8
- Transmission
- 87
- Specific fault
Questions drivers ask
Can I drive with code P0887?
Drive gently and only as far as you need to. The engine computer may limit power to protect the engine, so avoid highways and heavy traffic until it's fixed. If the check engine light starts flashing, pull over.
Will my car pass an emissions inspection with P0887?
Probably not in states that test vehicles with an OBD-II scan: an emissions-related code that keeps the check engine light on is usually an automatic fail. Rules differ by state and county, so check yours.
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.