What P090C means
Set when the control circuit of the clutch B actuator shows a low state, which on the documented application means a short to ground.
How the engine computer detects it
Ford defines P090C as the short-to-ground check of the clutch B motor in the DPS6 PowerShift transmission, paired with P090A for an open circuit and P090D for a short to power. Ford's TCM program 14M02 for 2011-2015 Fiesta and Focus also lists P090C among the codes that a defective TCM can cause, so the module belongs on the suspect list along with the motor and its wiring. Swapping the identical clutch motors helps: if the fault moves to P0902, the motor is bad. CARB requires circuit monitoring of such outputs. Expect missing gears, erratic shifts or no 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 unavailable
- Limp mode or no drive
Common causes
- Clutch B actuator motor with internal short to ground Most likely
- Failed TCM output stage (Ford program 14M02 lists this code) Possible
- Chafed motor wire touching ground Possible
How to diagnose P090C
- 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.
Vehicles that report P090C most
| Vehicle | Years | Reports | Share | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | 2012–2016 | 20 | 78k |
Counts of owner complaints to the NHTSA that mention P090C (20 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
- 9
- Transmission
- 0C
- Specific fault
Questions drivers ask
Can I drive with code P090C?
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 P090C?
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.