What this code means
P0796 may indicate that the ECM/PCM is not seeing the expected response from CVT pressure control solenoid valve C or the related hydraulic control system.
What the vehicle may do
- The vehicle may have CVT engagement or driveability concerns.
- The condition may be intermittent and may only show up under certain operating conditions.
- The code may return during a controlled shift sequence if the fault is currently present.
Possible fault areas
- Possible CVT pressure control solenoid control concerns.
- Possible valve body or hydraulic control concerns.
- Possible intermittent operating-condition-related concern.
Diagnostic path
Opening context
On this 2010 to 2016 Honda CR-V with the 2.4 gas engine, P0796 is pointing us toward the CVT pressure control solenoid valve C circuit or hydraulic control area. In plain language, the control module may not be seeing the pressure control response it expects. The vehicle may have engagement or driveability complaints, it may feel like the CVT is not applying smoothly, or it may only set the code under certain operating conditions. The broad areas in play are the solenoid control side, the valve body and hydraulic control side, and possible intermittent conditions. For this code, the diagnostic path is mainly about duplicating the failure cleanly before making the call.
Set up and clear the code
Start with the vehicle in ON mode. Then clear the DTC with the HDS. The point here is to reset the fault memory so the next check tells you whether P0796 comes back during the controlled operating sequence, not just whether it was stored from a previous event.
Try to duplicate the fault
Next, start the engine with the transmission in P. With the brake pedal applied, shift to N, then shift to D, and wait for at least 30 seconds. After that, turn the engine off and repeat that same shift operation again. This is the duplication routine for the fault, so keep the sequence clean and do not skip the wait time.
Read the result
Now check Pending and Confirmed DTCs with the HDS. If P0796 is indicated again, the failure is duplicated. In this diagnostic path, that points to a faulty CVT clutch pressure control solenoid valve, and the supported repair direction is to replace the lower valve body.
If the code does not return
If P0796 is not indicated, treat it as an intermittent failure and the system is OK at this time. If captured operating data is available for this DTC, try to reproduce the failure under the same captured conditions. If you cannot duplicate it, pause, recheck the earlier diagnostic path, and avoid guessing.
Verification and takeaway
After the repair direction is completed, verify the repair and confirm the code stays gone. The takeaway is simple: for P0796, clear the code, run the exact shift-and-wait routine, then let the scan tool result decide whether the fault is duplicated or intermittent. For more diagnostic training, visit stepdiagnostics.com.
Final check
This diagnostic is built around clearing the code, reproducing the operating sequence, and using the HDS result to separate a duplicated failure from an intermittent one.
For more guided automotive diagnostics, visit STEP Diagnostics.
