EngineLightCodes
Powertrain code

P287B Shift Fork A Calibration Not Learned

Severity
Fix soon
Typical repair cost
$60–$280
Do it yourself
Shop job
Shop time
0.3–1.5 hours

The TCM has not learned the end-stop calibration for shift fork A.

How the engine computer detects it

Engagement positions cannot be commanded with full precision until adaptation completes.

Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages

Symptoms

  • Check engine or transmission warning light on
  • Harsh, delayed, or missing shifts
  • Possible limp mode (locked in one gear)
  • Slipping or shuddering during gear changes

Common causes

  1. Adaptation lost after battery disconnect or TCM reset Most likely
  2. Shift fork replaced without learn procedure Possible

How to diagnose P287B

  1. 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.
  2. Inspect the parts involved: shift fork a, shift fork actuator a, tcm.
  3. Work through the causes above from most to least likely, cheapest checks first.
  4. Clear the code and drive a full drive cycle to confirm the repair held.

Vehicles that report P287B most

VehicleYearsReportsMedian miles
Ford Focus2012–20181157k

Counts of owner complaints to the NHTSA that mention P287B (11 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
2
Generic (SAE) code
87B
Specific fault

Questions drivers ask

Can I drive with code P287B?

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 P287B 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.

Often reported together

Codes that owners mention in the same NHTSA complaints as P287B. They can point to a shared cause, so it's worth checking them together.

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.