2004 48RE control problems

[MelvinPierce]

I have a 2004 2500 with a 48RE. The TC went south, so I had a "new" transmission and TC built by one of the companys frequently mentioned here as a very good company. It is built heavy to handle my 40' 5th wheel.



Had it shipped here, and installed by my local shop. Small town, but the mechanics are good, and have known and dealt with for over 30 years. Not transmission specialists, but good wrenches. It was just a "plug and play" install of the transmission and TC.



Now, the shifting is all screwed up.



1. The tow/haul function is different. Used to just be a OD lockout. Now, it seems to be the tow/haul function, of shifting down for deacceleration, etc. Some say can be changed in programming to do that, others disagree.



2. The TC locks up. Put in drive, and sit there not moving. About 3-5 seconds later, the TC locks up, and moves you ahead. It shifts gears at a real low speed, ie into 4th by 25mph. And, locks the TC up. Coming to a stop, need to pop into neutral, because the TC is locked up. Drive 30 mph, and kick the foot pedal down to the floor, and it will not come out of OD lockup.



Took it to a larger town with an ATRA approved shop. Good rebuild, etc. shop. They did not have much time, but after checking it out, they said the mechanical condition of the transmission and TC is fine, the problem is in the elec. control by the pickup. I have an appointment with them for July 7 to look into the elec. end of it.



When I drove it the 70 miles home, it seemed to shift perfectly. Ran up to speed in all the gears, downshifted correctly, etc. However, the tow/haul still did not function as a OD lockout, but seemed like the newer tow/haul function.



The next AM, I went out to do some fencing, and all my TC lockup and very low speed gear advancement issues returned.



Does anyone have any experience with these symptoms, and what cured them?



Also, should I keep my appointment with the good transmission shop, or get one at the Dodge dealer in the same, larger town. Who can look into the elec. control problems in the pickup better, the independent transmission shop, or the dealer?



Thanks a lot.



MP

 

[p-Bar]

Call the company you bought it from and troubleshoot it with them.

 

[MelvinPierce]

Call the company you bought it from and troubleshoot it with them.

I have, a LOT. And they have been very helpful.



However, the independent shop, who neither built nor installed the transmission, say the problem is in the wiring or controls in the pickup. NOT in the transmission itself.



So, how does the transmission rebuilder diagonose a problem not related to the transmission itself, do that from 800 miles away?



MP

 

[HBarlow]

That is one of the challenges involved in having the aftermarket builders build 47 or 48RE automatics. Only the builder knows how he built it and how to set it up.

It is usually best to let the builder install and set it up in your truck.

I would follow p-Bar's advice.

 

[p-Bar]

There are no computer controls to a 04 only 04. 5 and up . Check the TV cable

This was from another thread: TH on the 03-04 trucks is just and OD off, nothing more. There is no way for the ECU to control holding shifts longer because shifts points are basically controlled by the TV cable and wheel speed.

Need to have an 05 or newer with enough electronic controls and ECU memory to add better shifting and lockup controls.

AFAIK, there is no flash for the older trucks to do anything more than tune the lockup and shifting a little better. You get one program for shifting and lockup and thats it. The TH just locks out OD until it is turned off again.

 

[JJPage]

Read the 8th and 9th post of this thread, it will show how to adjust the Throttle Valve cable on 03/04 trucks with an engine mounted APPS:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ions-2003-2007/224368-jerky-transmission.html

 

[cerberusiam]

2. The TC locks up. Put in drive, and sit there not moving. About 3-5 seconds later, the TC locks up, and moves you ahead.

Clarify that a little better. Does it ease into moving or jerk and the brakes either own't hold it or it kills the Engine?

It shifts gears at a real low speed, ie into 4th by 25mph. And, locks the TC up. Coming to a stop, need to pop into neutral, because the TC is locked up. Drive 30 mph, and kick the foot pedal down to the floor, and it will not come out of OD lockup.

That sounds like you engaged a lockup switch. Are you getting any codes?

 

[Prairie Dog]

I can't figure out how anything in the truck (besides the TV cable) would be bad if that end of things worked before the new trans went in

 

[MelvinPierce]

Read the 8th and 9th post of this thread, it will show how to adjust the Throttle Valve cable on 03/04 trucks with an engine mounted APPS:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ions-2003-2007/224368-jerky-transmission.html

I adjusted it so that there was no slack when my son used WOT in the truck, per the transmission makers instructions. He was on the phone with me at the time, telling me how to do it.

 

[MelvinPierce]

Clarify that a little better. Does it ease into moving or jerk and the brakes either own't hold it or it kills the Engine?







That sounds like you engaged a lockup switch. Are you getting any codes?

It is kind of inbetween. Does not bang in to Lockup, but does not "ease" in either. You definitely feel it go in and you start to move. Does not kill the engine, as it starts to move, it will go in and out of lockup. Shifts up in gears VERY soon. ie into 4th before 20.



The only code I get is one for fan speed. Several sources say that should be having no effect on the transmission.

 

[MelvinPierce]

Any sugestions on if it is better to go to a transmission shop, or back to a Dodge dealer to look for problems? The independent transmission shop said the transmission itself was OK< that it was in the electronics controlling it.

Not sure why some say it has no elec. controls. There are two wire attachments on it, with lots of wires. .

 

[cerberusiam]

For reference, there 3 components controlled by electronics. TC lockup, OD, and governor pressure.



Shifting of 1-2 and 2-3 is all hydraulic and influenced not controlled by governor pressure.



TC lockup and OD are totally electronic and controlled by the ECU.



The ECU is reading 2 things from the transmission; governor pressure and fluid temp. The governor pressure readings are feedback so it constantly adjusts the the gov solenoid.



Since you have no codes and this seems to be intermittent at times my guess is you have a hard parts problem in the transmission, probably the TC. Its will likely cost you about $100 but you can go to the dealer or a shop that has a mobile scanner that can be hooked up while you drive it. The scanner will be able to tell if the ECU is demanding lockup or OD early and why.



Its possible a wire on the harness was pinched during install and it is feeding false info to the ECU. A scuffed wire will foul up the readings but not enough the ECU thinks its a short. Its just as likely there is an internal problem with the TC or VB. A scanner test will tell you if the electronics are working correctly and point the way.



The output speed sensor can throw some strange events into the operation. As can a bad connection to a battery post or a bad ground. However, since this sounds like it started when you installed the trans the connections are maybe not as likely. Also, make sure that the round trans control harness plug is dru where it plugs into the trans. Those can and will seep fluid in there and cause weird behaviour.



Good luck.

 

[LBARTLETT]

if you by chance have a Goerend I would take it to the nearest approved Goerend installer to let them trouble shoot or the shop you mentioned and have them on the phone with Dave



I would not take an aftermarket transmissoned truck to a Dodge dealership anywhere



Just my $0. 02