Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 47RE won't shift out of 1st. Fixed!

[tking]

This board is an amazing resourse.



A couple mornings, the very first 1-2 shift was delayed and once I had to lift the pedal to get it to shift. After the first shift it was fine. Wednesday it wouldn't shift at all. 1st gear only.



I came to the TDR and started searching. I found a thread by ISBPilot saying that if the problem is electronic, if you unplug the trans relay in the box under the hood you can shift the trans manually. I unplugged the relay and low and behold I could manually shift the trans.



Then I found several threads suggesting the problem could be the governor regulator/pressure switch or the output shaft speed sensor. The speed sensor is external and easy to get to, just behind the pan on the drivers side, so I started there. I found info saying the sensor resistance should be between 600 and 1200 ohms. Mine was open. A call to the dealer and $21 later my trans is good to go.



Thanks to all the good folk at the TDR.



Hopefully this post will help someone else.

 

[John - K5AWO]

I did the same exact thing about two years ago. and the same exact part also fixed my transmission and it was doing the same things as yours..... and, like you, I found it right here!

 

[rotohead]

Not related to a transmission problem... mine was a ABS rear sensor (open... should be 1800)but the point is the same. I can't add up how much this board has saved me in money spent for simple r&r. Additional sources of info to buy spare/replacement parts is another benefit that I could never find in one place like TDR... so worth the membership price. I had a good friend question me why I would spend time on the net for my truck. I knew I'd never get him to understand so I gave up.

 

[Misenheimer]

Hi

Would you tell me where the box is located under the hood? I am having a different problem but would like to check the shifting manually. My 47re will shift from first to third then OD at lo speed. It will seem to hunt if I jump on the throttle and it down shifts. I put in a shift kit and might have raised the line pressure higher than it liked. Under load it shifts good and as it should.

Thanks



98. 5, Super chips on tow safe, 4 inch exhaust, shift kit

 

[John - K5AWO]

It kind of sounds like the TCM does not like the higher line pressures that your shift kit is providing you with. Here are my notes from having installed the SunCoast Valve Body DC487 in my truck. Verbatim with the note:
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mod added to my truck by PJ 8/2007


100 ohm 1/2 watt resistor in series with wire going to pin #31
Should be Orange and possibly with a black stripe?

This is the middle plug of 3 plugs on the TCC (transmission control module) which is located behind the OEM air breather box.

The connector is white. Peel back the back side of the connector to gain access to the wire going to pin #31.

Unwrap the tape from the harness back 6 to 10 inches. Cut the wire, insert the resistor. Solder the connections. Seal with silicone and retape the harness.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FWIW: this fixed my transmission from doing funny shifts after the valve body was installed. Also stopped it from throwing a code complaining about high line pressures.

 

[GDMRTN]

Yep, my valvebody builder did it to mine too. He does it on every one so they don't go crazy over higher pressures.

 

[sgoeing]

I just put down a deposit on a new DTT trans.


Man, for my sanity, I really hope that this doesn't fix my truck tomorrow.

 

[John - K5AWO]

I'm jealous... . a new DTT transmission.

I couldn't even afford what I did by sticking only with the TC, VB, replacing the broken manifold, dead VP and lift pump. Broke the ceiling on my credit card. Gonna be months before I can pay that sucker off!

 

[MCharlebois]

thanks to this thread... ... i changed the output speed sensor last night,the old sensor had a very fine dust all over it... . truck shifted better on a test drive..... THIS SITE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

marcel

 

[Moose Truck]

It kind of sounds like the TCM does not like the higher line pressures that your shift kit is providing you with. Here are my notes from having installed the SunCoast Valve Body DC487 in my truck. Verbatim with the note:

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Mod added to my truck by PJ 8/2007





100 ohm 1/2 watt resistor in series with wire going to pin #31

Should be Orange and possibly with a black stripe?



This is the middle plug of 3 plugs on the TCC (transmission control module) which is located behind the OEM air breather box.



The connector is white. Peel back the back side of the connector to gain access to the wire going to pin #31.



Unwrap the tape from the harness back 6 to 10 inches. Cut the wire, insert the resistor. Solder the connections. Seal with silicone and retape the harness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------



FWIW: this fixed my transmission from doing funny shifts after the valve body was installed. Also stopped it from throwing a code complaining about high line pressures.

I just put down a deposit on a new DTT trans.





Man, for my sanity, I really hope that this doesn't fix my truck tomorrow.

My transmission Guy used DTT's Voltage Regulator to do the same thing, You can get it over the Internet from DTT. However I've seen the Resistor work quite well too. Moose

 

[sgoeing]

Well, I called my transmission guy this morning and told him to try and hold up the DTT ASAP. He caught them, and they held it up. It was due to ship this afternoon.


After work, I got a VSS at advanced for 13. 74 INCLUDING tax, and my truck shifts as "good" as new now. You guys just saved me about 4100 bucks (for the time being anyway, until I blow the sucker). HUGE thanks. With a baby on the way and the wife needing a new car, I really didn't need/want to do this new trans thing right now.


At this point, I feel it necessary to give a big plug to two truly OUTSTANDING businesses. Keith at MCS diesel (www.midwestperformancediesel.com) and the guys at DTT transmissions went FAR above what was necessary with me canceling a transmission order this far along in the process. The transmission was due to ship today, and DTT is holding it for the next order (I just ordered the basic trans which is their most popular). They had already shipped the torque converter. Keith is shipping the torque converter back for me, and NEITHER of them are charging me ANY FEES (other than shipping the torque converter back and forth obviously). That's customer service folks. It's a rare thing this day in age, and it deserves some recognition.

 

[Grinr01]

have the same problem with my '01. (wont shift out of first) pumping the throttle coaxes it to shift eventually after revving high rpm's. . replaced the speed sensor on the trans and did not fix the problem. Today I did try unpluggin the relay in the fuse box, and now the shifting seems to work better. Why is this?
Does anyone know if the relay is the problem, or is it just un-masking some other underlying problem?

 

[mhenon]

For anyone with the ability to use a cresent wrench. . membership in TDR is paid for many times over. Hard to say what i've saved over the years but it's plenty. Great resource!

Mike

 

[Thane Burtch]

I have the exact same problem with my 47re right now. Except the speed sensor didnt help at all. Unplugging the wiring won allow truck to be shifted manually. Stays in first gear beautiffuly! Run the truck up to around 25 and let off throttle and it finally shift, into neutral it feels like! I just put a used trans in because i thot the old one took a dump. Lost all gears except first and reverse. Assumed i had a bad transmission. Put used transmission in and guess what?! Same problem! I am really starting to loose faith in dodge altogether. Ive had this truck for 8 years and never had a problem withj it. Checked the fuses and they are good. Changed the speed sensor. Still nothing. Where do i go from here? Im thinking its not the govenor switch because its a different transmission in the truck. Any help would be awesome!

 

[cerberusiam]

Governor pressure transducer is the usual culprit with that type of problem. Toss the stock solenoid and get the DNC upgrade with a new transducer. While your at might as well replace the VB harness and OD\LU solenoids also as age will cause it to deteriorate.

 

[satmike]

Mine won't shift out of first. I replaced the fog lights and went to drive and now it won't shift out of first. I don't know if I did something in the fuse box when I was in there. The voltage gauge is now acting weird also, It doesn't go up and down after I fire it up and the heater grid cycles and it stays around 10 to12 volts. I have a second gear lockup switch and a jumper wire where the relay goes. I took out the jumper and put in a relay, then
i only had second gear. I don't think it's a sensor or governor solenoid because it just started having problems after playing with the fog lights.
Any thoughts?
Thanks Mike