P0741: Torque-converter lockup — performance or failure to engage

What does this code mean?

In many automatic gearboxes, a torque converter transfers engine power to the gearbox through fluid. Its lockup clutch can make that connection more direct. P0741 means lockup did not work as expected; it does not confirm that the whole gearbox needs replacing.

Locate the reported problem

The lockup clutch is inside the torque-converter system; it is not a manual-transmission clutch pedal. Interpretation requires the commanded state and relevant speed data.

Read it with the other codes

P0715 can make an input-speed measurement unreliable. The workshop should check signal credibility, lockup command and slip behavior before separating electrical, hydraulic and mechanical causes.

Possible causes to investigate

These are possibilities, not a diagnosis or a ranked list of failed parts.

A speed signal, electrical supply or control-circuit issue requiring targeted checks.
A hydraulic or mechanical condition whose diagnosis depends on the detailed transmission codes and data.

What to do first

Save the full report, including the module that supplied each code. Note shift behavior, slipping, temperature warnings and recent service.
Do not add fluid or additives based only on a code. If the vehicle loses drive, shifts violently or overheats, stop safely and arrange assistance.

What the workshop can check

Use a tool with coverage for the exact transmission controller (TCM), retrieve its detailed faults and compare relevant data. Generic OBD access may show an engine-side warning without the transmission detail; absence of additional codes in that scan does not prove the transmission is fault-free.

A useful question to ask

When lockup is commanded, what do the speed and control data show, and what test isolates the cause?

Your vehicle changes the next step

Year, make, model, engine and the complete code list matter. Cylinder layout, test conditions and repair procedures can differ. Use service information for the exact vehicle; a generic code does not establish an exact failed part.

Can I keep driving?

This page cannot decide whether your car is safe to drive. A flashing engine light, severe shaking, overheating, strong fuel smell or major power loss calls for prompt attention. Stop safely when needed, follow your handbook and seek assistance rather than continuing a test drive.

Terms in this guide

These words appear in the explanation. Select an underlined term in the text to reach its definition.

Torque converter and lockup: In many automatic gearboxes it transfers power through fluid. Its lockup clutch makes a more direct connection under certain conditions to reduce losses.
Transmission and TCM: The transmission or gearbox adapts engine rotation to drive the wheels. TCM is its control computer. Reading it may require equipment with vehicle-specific coverage.
Range, threshold and performance: A range is the expected interval; a threshold is a comparison limit. Performance describes whether something responds as expected, not necessarily how much power the engine makes.
Monitor: A check the car performs when particular conditions are met. Here it does not mean a display screen.
Actuator and solenoid: An actuator turns a control command into physical action. A solenoid uses electricity and magnetism, for example to move a valve.
CVT and input speed: A CVT is a gearbox with a continuously changing ratio. Input speed describes rotation on the side receiving engine power, not wheel speed.
Sensor and signal: A sensor measures something such as pressure or temperature. Its signal carries that information electrically to the car computer; a wrong reading does not always mean the measured component is faulty.
Slip: A speed difference between parts expected to turn more closely together when lockup is requested. Interpretation depends on whether lockup was intended at that moment.
Circuit, supply and ground: A circuit includes the wiring and connections carrying electricity. Supply powers a component; ground is its electrical return. A fault in any of these can change a reading.
Hydraulic: Operating through pressurized fluid, as in parts of automatic gearbox control.
Control unit: A car computer that receives measurements and controls the engine or another system. It may also be called a module, ECU, ECM or PCM.

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Sources and scope

Definitions and general OBD context are cross-checked against the references below. Manufacturer documents describe specific vehicles and systems; their procedures and thresholds are not instructions for every make. This is educational guidance, not a vehicle-specific repair procedure.