P0808

Clutch Position Sensor Circuit High

P0808 is a generic OBD-II powertrain diagnostic trouble code: Clutch Position Sensor Circuit High. It is logged by the engine control unit when the powertrain monitor detects that a specific fault threshold has been exceeded — typically resulting in the malfunction-indicator lamp (MIL / check-engine light) being illuminated.

Code
P0808
Group
Powertrain
System
Powertrain
Severity
Warning (MIL on)
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What P0808 means

P0808 is stored when the engine or transmission control module reads a voltage from the clutch position sensor circuit that is higher than the highest value the manufacturer considers physically possible. It is the mirror image of P0807 (circuit low). The module is testing the plausibility of the electrical signal, not the mechanical condition of the clutch, so a signal pinned at the top of the range for longer than the calibrated time is treated as an open circuit, a short to a voltage supply, or a failed sensor.

The sensor involved is the clutch pedal or clutch actuator travel sensor, normally a potentiometer or hall-effect device on the pedal box or on the actuator of an automated manual or twin-clutch gearbox. Its signal feeds start inhibition, cruise-control cancellation, stall and idle protection, shift strategy and, where fitted, clutch engagement control. An open signal wire is a very common cause because most of these circuits are pulled up towards the reference voltage when nothing is connected.

With no trusted clutch signal, the module substitutes a default value. In practice that means the interlock may not let the starter turn, cruise control will not engage, and automated clutch engagement can become rough. P0807 and P0810 come from the same sensor and circuit and often appear together over time.

Common causes

Most-frequently reported root causes when P0808 is logged.

  • 1
    Open circuit in the sensor signal or ground wire, which lets the input float up to reference voltage.
  • 2
    Failed clutch position sensor with an internally open resistive track or output stage.
  • 3
    Signal wire shorted to a battery or reference voltage feed inside the pedal-box harness.
  • 4
    Disconnected, loose or corroded sensor connector, or a terminal pushed out of the housing.
  • 5
    Broken sensor ground return, or a poor control-module ground shifting all pedal sensor readings.
  • 6
    Wiring chafed or pinched where the harness flexes at the clutch pedal pivot or firewall grommet.
  • 7
    Sensor knocked out of its mounting so it never reaches the pressed-pedal end of its travel.
  • 8
    Faulty engine or transmission control module, which is rare and only after the wiring tests good.

Symptoms drivers notice

Check engine light on, often with no change in how the car drives.
Engine refuses to crank, or cranks without the clutch pedal being pressed on cars with a start interlock.
Cruise control will not set or cancels unexpectedly.
Harsh, slow or jerky gear changes on automated manual and twin-clutch gearboxes.
Stalling or a stumble when pulling away or stopping.
Stop-start, hill-hold or launch-assist functions stop working.

How to diagnose P0808

A typical diagnostic flow when this code is present.

  1. 1
    Read all codes and freeze-frame data, noting any companion clutch, gearbox or start-interlock codes.
  2. 2
    Watch the clutch position sensor value on live data while working the pedal slowly, looking for a signal stuck at the top of the scale or jumping to maximum.
  3. 3
    Locate the sensor on the clutch pedal box or clutch actuator and check that it is properly mounted, undamaged and correctly aligned with the pedal stop.
  4. 4
    Unplug the connector and inspect both halves for corrosion, moisture, spread or pushed-out terminals, then reseat it and see whether the reading changes.
  5. 5
    With the ignition on and the sensor unplugged, verify the module supplies its reference voltage and a good ground at the pins named in the wiring diagram.
  6. 6
    Check the signal and ground wires for continuity end to end and for a short to any voltage supply, flexing the harness at the pedal pivot and bulkhead to provoke an intermittent fault.
  7. 7
    Only once the supply, ground and signal wiring are proven good, compare the sensor's output sweep against the manufacturer specification before replacing the sensor or module.

Related powertrain codes

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with P0808?

Short trips are usually possible because the clutch itself is not damaged, but the engine may refuse to restart once you switch it off if the car uses the clutch sensor as a start interlock. Treat it as a fault to fix soon rather than a long-term condition.

Will P0808 fail an emissions test?

The code is not itself an emissions fault, but a lit check engine light fails the visual part of most inspections. The circuit needs repairing and the light clearing before the vehicle is retested.

What is the difference between P0807 and P0808?

They describe the same circuit failing in opposite electrical directions. P0807 means the signal is stuck too low, typically a short to ground, and P0808 means it is stuck too high, typically an open circuit or a short to a voltage supply.

Is P0808 expensive to fix?

Usually not. A broken wire, a corroded connector or a clutch pedal position sensor are all modest repairs on most cars. Costs rise only where the sensor is integrated into the clutch actuator of an automated manual or twin-clutch gearbox.

Disabling P0808 in software

RaceTune can permanently disable P0808 — and any other OBD-II diagnostic trouble code — on every ECU family we support. The monitor is disabled inside the ECU itself, so the fault stops being logged: the warning light stays off and the engine never enters limp mode for this code. The change is tied to your exact software version.

Permanent
The monitor is disabled in the ECU itself — not just cleared. It cannot return.
Tailored to your file
Each patch is matched to your specific software version — never a one-size-fits-all file.
Reversible
The original file is always preserved. Reflash the stock to return the ECU to factory state.

ECU families we can disable P0808 on

We hold the DaVinci A2L disable definitions for these families, so the exact P0808 path and mask addresses are mapped. verified marks a confirmed disable definition. We support many more — upload your file and our identifier will match it automatically.

  • Bosch EDC17C66 verified
  • Bosch EDC17CP57 verified

Software modifications affect emissions compliance and are not road-legal in many jurisdictions. RaceTune service files are intended for motorsport, off-road, and export use.

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