Loss of 1st & Reverse Gear

The Cause

A few months after completing the break-in period on my new build, I experienced a sudden loss of 1st and Reverse gear. The transmission CEL appeared, the car would skip 1st from Park and grab 2nd with zero throttle response, and Reverse would flash on the dash — again, no throttle.

My COBB AccessPort was showing CEL P2715: Pressure Control Solenoid D – Stuck. This is a known failure point on the GT-R’s GR6 transmission, typically pointing to a faulty solenoid. However, upon inspection, all solenoids checked out fine.

What I did find were tiny metal chips in the transmission fluid. The 1st/Reverse Shift Fork also had small scrapes on it, which likely generated the debris. Those metal shavings made their way into Solenoid D, causing a blockage that triggered the P2715 code — not a solenoid failure, but a contamination issue caused by a worn shift fork.

The fix: replaced the damaged fork with a DMS Heavy Duty Billet 1/R Shift Fork, a stronger aftermarket unit designed to handle the stress that the OEM fork couldn’t.

Temporary TCM Bypass: How to Get Home

When P2715 triggers, you essentially lose gear engagement and throttle response — the car won’t move. But there’s a way to temporarily bypass the code and restore normal operation long enough to drive short distances safely.

The GT-R’s TCM runs its diagnostic check whenever the transmission is in Park — at startup or anytime you shift back into P. By avoiding Park during startup, you can prevent the TCM from reading the fault codes.

Here’s how:

1) Turn the ignition to “ON” (keep your foot off the brake)
2) Shift from P to N
3) Start the car in Neutral, then drive

All gears should engage and function normally. This is a temporary workaround — not a fix. Use it only to get yourself to a shop or back home safely. The underlying issue still needs to be addressed.