What P0903 means
Set when the control circuit of the clutch A actuator shows a high state, meaning a motor or control line is shorted to battery voltage.
How the engine computer detects it
Ford names P0903 as the short-to-power test of the clutch A motor in the DPS6 PowerShift transmission of the Fiesta and Focus, part of a set with P0900 for an open circuit and P0902 for a short to ground. Ford's OBD summary gives no thresholds for these motor checks. Because both DPS6 clutch motors are identical, swapping them shows whether the motor or the harness and TCM side is at fault. CARB requires such circuit checks on transmission output components. P090D is the same fault on clutch B. The clutch is released and the vehicle may not drive normally.
Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Limp mode, gears missing or no drive
- Harsh or delayed engagement
Common causes
- Motor or control wire shorted to a supply line Most likely
- Internal fault in the clutch A actuator motor Possible
- Faulty motor driver in the TCM Less likely
How to diagnose P0903
- 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: clutch a actuator, wiring harness, tcm.
- 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
- 9
- Transmission
- 03
- Specific fault
Questions drivers ask
Can I drive with code P0903?
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 my car pass an emissions inspection with P0903?
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.