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Comments
I will keep you posted. The 2009 Ram's are absalutly wonderful trucks to drive (minus the shudder). The comfort zone, the safety features, the power, the pulling power, the driveability puts the 09 Rams in a class of its own.
The computer program and algorithms reside in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), not in the transmission itself, so, yes, in a general way regardless of the fact that the transmission was disassembled and put back together by whoever, is not a reason to reflash. One caveat. Correct operation assumes that the transmission was rebuilt with components that meet the original manufacturers specifications. Unfortunately, many transmission shops will use random aftermarket materials, including some coming from offshore where a part may look identical but may not contain the same material or manufacturing specifications. Many shops are trying to maximize their profit margins by using cheaper kits and individual components.
With respect to computer reflashes, since your vehicle was originally manufactured there have been a number of computer reflashes available, some dealing with long term reliability. Check with your dealer for more information.
I'm unclear regarding your reference to a "cooler pump." The transmission contains a pump which supplies hydraulic pressure to operate the clutches and torque converter. Mopars in general aren't hard on pumps and a lot of shops tolerate signs of use because they seem to hang in there. Pump replacement should be determined by component inspection and mileage. If the pump components are worn to or beyond manufacturers specifications, then a pump replacement is prudent. If you brought a '96 Dodge Ram to me with 100,000 miles and I found the pump gears, reaction shaft, bushing and associated parts showed signs of scoring or wear, I would not complete a rebuild without replacing the affected parts.
Best regards,
Dusty
I do not want to cast aspersions on your transmission technician. Even in the best of circumstances, things can go wrong with an otherwise quality repair. A lot has to do with the technicians personal view and repair process. In my opinion, the real quality shops are obsessed with cleanliness, including using lint-free cloths, submersion cleaning, and clean repair and assembly areas. Trust me. You cannot over clean an automatic transmission!
Regards,
Dusty
Chuck
so, i took it out for the first run and i've got 1st and reverse, but that's it. i checked governor pressure and it's 0psi. i checked the vehicle electrical harness using my old solenoid/sensor leftovers and found that the pcm is properly operating the solenoid/sensor combo, but i still have no gov pressure. before i pull the valve body again to physically check the new solenoid/sensor combo, can anyone tell me how this circuit works? from what i can see, line pressure is fed to the gov. pressure test port and solenoid. the solenoid releases part of this pressure to obtain gov. pressure at the test port. if this is correct, which is what i can gather using compressed air to check, then 0psi at the gov. test port should never happen even with a faulty solenoid/sensor. right?
hope there are some good mopar guys on this forum cause this really has me stumped. everything on the valve body/case looks good to me.
What year and engine do you have?
Regards,
Dusty
Regards,
Dusty
Oh, boy!!!! That problem should have easily been caught by connecting a DRB3 diagnostic scan tool. Did your technician do that?
Regards,
Dusty
help please do i need a rebuild ?
Yes you would think so, however the two different mechanics that I went to both did diagnosic on it and couldnt find a problem in the sensors or wiring. But when I took it to the Dodge dealer again 2 days ago for the same problem ( not shifting into 2 or 3) they ran a test and found the problem in 10 minutes. Because they have all the new updated software that most mechanics dont. He put a computer on it and started it and put it into drive, he said the rpm jumped way too high and was telling my computer on the truck to do all the wrong things.
Also get this! The 1st mech that installed my Jasper Transmission, installed the cooler pump in the wrong location using a zip line, causing my radiator to become damaged and leaking, now I have to have that relocated properly and a new radiator installed and coolants, looking at about 700.00 to 800.00 more. Fun huh? I guess when I get done everything should be new, unfortunately I had to pay for 3 trannys and then some other things that I didn't need either in the process. Ive learned alot about things along the way. And thank you for all your help and advise for steering me in the right directions.
Independent shops most usually have a DRB2 diagnostic scan tool nowadays, but I'm not aware of one that has the DRB3. Dodge dealers will have the DRB3, and this tool has more diagnostic ability. Of course, there are some that may not have the technical ability to understand what the scan tool is telling them.
Making some assumptions, I still find it odd that an open sensor circuit could not have been detected even with an older tool.
The other thing, too, is the unfortunate bias against Chrysler/Dodge in this particular industry. Despite the fact that all manufacturers use an automatic transmission that utilizes some sort of electronic control, Chrysler was the first. Independent shops never liked the fact that special electronic diagnostic equipment was needed and have taken their revenge out on Chrysler ever since.
Prior to the A604, transmissions would just be taken apart, parts inspected, and anything that looked bad was replaced with little or no actual diagnosis performed. Many would not be fixed right the first time and need to be taken apart again. Some shops would take pressure readings that could help determine the problem source, but many shops would just say the tranny needed a rebuild and leave it at that. Of course, there's more money in it for the shop if they do a rebuild rather than just clean and maintenance a valve body or adjust the bands.
I hope your truck is now, at least running fine for you. Good luck and Happy Easter.
Best regards,
Dusty
Dusty
*Throttle Position Sensor
*Low hydraulic pressure; clogged filter or low transmission fluid. If this is a V8, there are two filters.
*Bad connections at the transmission or PCM electrical connectors. Check for signs of moisture or corrosion at the terminals.
*Bad battery
Regards,
Dusty
*Overdrive circuit fuse is open
*Open O/D electrical circuit to the PCM
*Rear Wheel Distance Sensor in the differential is defective
*Defective Throttle Position Sensor
*Bad electrical connections at the transmission or PCM. Check for signs of moisture or corrosion at the terminals
*Low hydraulic pressure; clogged filter or low fluid level
*Weak or defective O/D solenoid; Overdrive Piston stuck
*Valve body dirty; stuck valve(s)
Regards,
Dusty
First, thanks Dusty for your time, I greatly appreciated reading through this long thread and finding the many avenues to pursue.
1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 46RE Transmission, 177k miles, never rebuilt.
I bought this truck last week, the previous owner said it would not drive in 1st gear, he took it to an independent shop that changed the Governor Pressure Solenoid and valve, put a new pan and gasket in, and they got 1st back but 2nd shift started coming very late and 3rd-Overdrive won't shift at all unless you put it in neutral while you're going 50-60 mph, wait until the RPM's die down, then put it back in drive and watch it "gear hunt" for a few seconds. This does not always work, it does one day, all day, then the next day nothing.
Ran the codes, it gave me Transmission Speed Sensor and Clutch Lockup Solenoid. Replaced the TSS first, did a lot better for a short time, the nothing. Rather than continue to throw parts at it, I took it to the dealer here in Nashville.
They're telling me that it is only getting 3 psi out of the governor pressure port on the test machine. They tell me it's the PCM, that it's not commanding the valve to open.
How likely is this diagnosis, before I throw $700 in parts and labor at a PCM?
Thanks,
Rich
My beef with this is, first, none of that gets credited towards the repair cost and second, that if there is still a problem, I just shelled out $1,000 and didn't even get a rebuilt transmission in the process.
I can do a PCM removal and installation, I already pulled the plugs to check for corrosion, it's not a difficult fix, I just don't want to throw hundreds of dollars at a problem unless a dealership is going to guarantee it will fix the problem OR they will credit the ENTIRE amount towards a transmission rebuild if it doesn't.
This is my first trip to a Dealership in 7 years for ANY car, and this is exactly why. I want them to 100% stand behind their diagnosis with a money back guarantee or I'll take it elsewhere... They don't seem to want to do that, hence the question to see if someone who wrenches on these thinks this is reasonable with the symptoms or if I'm likely to do the PCM swap then still have problems, especially since the 1-2 shift is a MECHANICAL shift and it's coming very late, sometimes not at all unless I put it in Neutral first and the last 2 days I can't get it into 3rd or higher at all...
Thanks,
The Pressure Solenoid is not putting out more than 3 psi. This is caused by a bad solenoid and/or valve (which were both just replaced), a bad Valve Body, or the PCM not commanding the solenoid to remain open until sufficient pressure is obtained.
Guess the only thing to do is to find a used, good condition PCM to put in the truck to test before I go tearing out the pan and replacing the valve body...
Any other ideas?
I'm having an issue with my auto transmission not shifting out of 1st. Tranny was rebuilt at 40,000 after a front pump failure.
Now at 88,000, all I have is 1st and reverse. It won't shift up from 1st, just revs up like theres no other gears there.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob
So much for the STEALership, there's a reason I didn't go there for ANYTHING for the last 7 years, and why, likely, I won't go again for ANOTHER 7 years. Or more. I'd have just thrown $700 away and not solved my problem.
Good luck to the rest of you. With this many transmission problems, I am now of the opinion that Dodge cannot be trusted with their automatic transmissions. Manual shift from now on with Dodge or buy a Ford.