Information provided by the Clutch Position Sensor (CPS) prevents the engine from starting while the transmission is engaged. This sensor is a two-position switch that opens when the clutch is in the up position and closes when the clutch is depressed.
The PCM (Powertrain Control Module) calculates input data from the Transmission Speed Sensor (TSS) and Vehicle Speed Sensors (OSS) to determine the desired position of the CPS Sensor.
If the PCM finds a malfunction in the CPS Sensor control circuit or detects that the clutch is not in the correct position for the current conditions, the DTC P0810 OBDII code will be stored.
What does the P0810 Generic Fault Code Work?
This DTC is a generic transmission code and applies to many OBD-II vehicles (1996 and later). This applies to some like Volvo, Toyota, Ford, Honda, and Jeep, among others. While the troubleshooting steps are general, the exact troubleshooting steps can be different according to model year, brand, and transmission configuration.
As we already established, if your vehicle has stored a P0810 code, it indicates that the PCM has found a malfunction in the clutch position control system. Generally, this code only appears on vehicles with a manual transmission. The clutch position sensor supplies an extra safeguard function that keeps the engine from starting when a gear is engaged. This is normally a two-position switch that operates when the clutch pedal is in the up position and locks when it is pushed in. Clutch position sensors are usually located under the dash on the driver’s side in the clutch pedal pivot arm bracket.
The TCM can be a separate unit, but mostly it is built into a single housing with the ECM. The PCM calculates input from the transmission input speed sensor, output speed sensor, and vehicle speed sensors so it can determine the desired position of the clutch pedal position sensor. When there is a malfunction on it, the P0810 code appears and the MIL illuminates.