What P090A means
Watches the drive circuit of the actuator for clutch B, the second clutch of a dual-clutch transmission, and sets when the module finds an open circuit.
How the engine computer detects it
Ford uses it on the DPS6 PowerShift of the Fiesta and Focus: the clutch B electric motor is tested for driver faults (P087A), hall sensor faults (P087B), sequence errors (P087E), an open circuit (P090A), a short to ground (P090C) and a short to power (P090D). Trade guidance for the DPS6 is to swap the two identical clutch motors; if the code moves to the clutch A equivalent P0900, the motor is defective, otherwise the harness or TCM is. CARB requires circuit monitoring of such outputs. Shifting becomes erratic and the transmission may refuse to drive.
Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Even gears or reverse missing, erratic shifts
- Limp mode or no drive
Common causes
- Failed clutch B actuator motor Most likely
- Loose connector or broken wire to the clutch B motor Possible
- Faulty motor driver inside the TCM Less likely
How to diagnose P090A
- 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 b 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
- 0A
- Specific fault
Questions drivers ask
Can I drive with code P090A?
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 P090A?
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.