Is your car’s transmission doing weird shit? Is your car throwing a P0700 code? If so, you might need to replace your transmission control module (TCM). Sounds simple, but finding your transmission control module location can be difficult.
Transmission Control Module Location
So where exactly is your transmission control module located?
It depends.
I know. It’s a crappy answer and not what you wanted to hear. But it’s true.
The location of your transmission control module depends on the make, model, and year of your car.
In most cars, the transmission control module is in the engine compartment or somewhere behind the dashboard. But exactly WHERE in these places all depends on your car.
The best advice I can give to you is to Google it. Again.
I’m assuming you landed on this page because you already did a Google search. You’re going to need to search one more time to find your specific answer.
On your next search, be sure to include the make, model, and year of your car along with the term transmission control module (or TCM). If your search results come up with a different year for your car, try looking in the spot the article specifies anyway because cars are often built a similar way for several years.
What if my TCM location Google search doesn’t give me the answer?
Transmission control modules aren’t things that are written about a whole lot on the internet.
Why?
Because TCM failure isn’t a common problem. In most cases, a transmission control module will last for the life of a car.
If you’re one of the “lucky” ones who needs to replace your TCM, you’re going to need to search a little more.
If when you performed a specific search (with the make, model, and year of your car) you came up with no results, add the word “forum” after the make of your car in your search query.
For example, if I wanted to find the TCM in my Volvo V70, I would type the following in the search bar:
Volvo forum 1999 V70 transmission control module location.
If your search results don’t come up with a link directly to a forum post about your car’s TCM location, try using the search function within the specific car forum to search for your car’s transmission control module location.
Got it? Good. Now go search!
I wish I could have given you a specific answer, but there’s no way I could tell you your TCM’s location unless I knew the make and model of your car.
If I was really smart, I would have created a searchable database that tells the exact transmission control module location for every single make, model, and year of car.
But I’m not really smart. Just a little smart.
If you want to learn a more about your transmission control module, here are answers to some common TCM questions I’ve heard:
What is a transmission control module?
A transmission control module is basically your transmission’s brain. It’s a little computer that tells your transmission when to shift gears. It communicates directly with your car’s main computer (ECU) and takes in data to decide how and when to shift gears. Modern transmissions change based on your driving style. Your transmission shifts differently if you are driving like a maniac on a windy mountain road (safety first please) vs. driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Does a manual transmission have a TCM?
A manual transmission does not have a TCM. If you are one of the lucky ones (imo) who has a manual transmission, YOU are the TCM! You decide when and how to shift gears.
Can I replace the transmission control module myself?
Yes, you can replace the transmission control module yourself. But only YOU know if you actually can. There’s a chance that your TCM is buried deep within the depths of your car. And if you don’t have good mechanical ability, you might want to leave the job to a skilled mechanic.
Is the TCM inside the transmission?
Generally, the TCM is not inside the transmission. I’m not aware of any TCMs that are located inside of a transmission. There’s too much fluid and mechanical stuff happening inside of a transmission. It’s a terrible spot for a computer to live!
How do I know if my TCM is bad?
If your TCM is bad, you’ll likely get a check engine light on your dashboard. The most common code thrown is P0700 which is a transmission control system malfunction.
What happens when a transmission control module goes out?
When a transmission control module goes out, your car will shift poorly. Symptoms include:
- Erratic shifting
- Getting stuck in a gear for too long
- Clunky shifts
- Check engine light
- Car enters limp mode
If you are experiencing any of these problems, don’t delay in getting your car fixed! The longer you wait, the more damage you can cause! Replacing a transmission control module is a lot cheaper than replacing an entire transmission.
Conclusion
Your transmission control module location can be difficult to find, but with some very specific Google searching and research, you’ll be able to find it. Good luck!