48RE is in Drive, but acts like it is in Neutral???

[ACerf]

My 03' 3500 has 88,500 miles on it. I have not had any transmission problems as of yet. I have Mag Hytec trans pan, and change the fluid regualarly. The problem is, that every once in awhile when the truck is in Drive, and I am going very slow. The trans acts like it is in neutral and does not move. If I put the trans in neutral or in park, then back in drive it works fine. This has only happened three or four times over the past couple of months. I have pulled my trailer and have no problem with slipping, and I have not noticed it ever slipping otherwise. It appears to have good solid shifts. What could cause this problem???

 

[MoparDave]

Does this happen when you put it into gear for the first time? Mine TQ converter does this just about ever morning. I just start the truck in neutral and let it fill backup

 

[ACerf]

Does this happen when you put it into gear for the first time? Mine TQ converter does this just about ever morning. I just start the truck in neutral and let it fill backup

No, I can have this happen anytime. The last time it did it I was just going very slowly, about 5 mph. As I pushed on the pedal to go faster it did it. I stopped, put in park, back in drive and it was fine. I don't notice any strange slipping or shifting.

 

['strokeThis_'07]

2 weeks ago mine did this, except Id have to pull over and sit and rev it and move the shifter through the gears until one grabbed then hit it and coast until I had to pull over and do the same... not sure what the problem is but Im gettin ready to order a full-race HTS billet trans...

 

[ACerf]

No, I can have this happen anytime. The last time it did it I was just going very slowly, about 5 mph. As I pushed on the pedal to go faster it did it. I stopped, put in park, back in drive and it was fine. I don't notice any strange slipping or shifting.

I think if the truck is still under warranty I would get Dodge to repair. Mine is, and I fiqure if I can get them to fix the problem at no cost to me, why not!

I can upgrade the next time it need work done to it.

 

[F-15I Ra'am]

Have you checked for codes? My Dad's 01' would act similar, thought the transmission was going out, turned out to be a bad injector pump.

 

[ACerf]

Have you checked for codes? My Dad's 01' would act similar, thought the transmission was going out, turned out to be a bad injector pump.

I never thought of the injector pump. But isn't the pump in the 01' models different in the 03' and newer? Not that it is not possible that the this could happen. As I remember the Gen 2 models had a problem with the injector pumps. I am going to take the truck to the dealer after the new year. I don't have a code checker. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[F-15I Ra'am]

To check your codes turn the key on and off 3 times [like your gonna start it, but dont start it] leave it on the on - run position the third time, any codes will show up on the odometer after a few seconds.

 

[PKnoerzer]

You might check if it really is in neutral. The cable shifter is easy to adjust at the column. My son was driving the other day and the truck started to rev up when he hit the gas - I reached over and nudged the lever and he didn't have it all the way in drive because he is used to a Chevy truck.

 

[ACerf]

To check your codes turn the key on and off 3 times [like your gonna start it, but dont start it] leave it on the on - run position the third time, any codes will show up on the odometer after a few seconds.

Thanks for the tip. I did what you said and came up with P0603. Looking this up it says it is "Control Module Long Term Memory Reset". I think I may have gotten this code because I disconnected one of the battery terminals that had some corrosion on it.

 

[ACerf]

You might check if it really is in neutral. The cable shifter is easy to adjust at the column. My son was driving the other day and the truck started to rev up when he hit the gas - I reached over and nudged the lever and he didn't have it all the way in drive because he is used to a Chevy truck.

This crossed my mind. But everytime this happened, I wiggled the shifter and it did nothing. Putting it in Park or neutral and back into drive it was fine again.

 

[ACerf]

Thanks for the tip. I did what you said and came up with P0603. Looking this up it says it is "Control Module Long Term Memory Reset". I think I may have gotten this code because I disconnected one of the battery terminals that had some corrosion on it.

I must be blind! I misread the code, it is P0633. But I can not find out what this code means.

 

[magothy1]

My '03 with the 48RE has a different funny habit, it won't upshift every now and then, nothing I can connect it to except it's usually in town after 30 min or more of driving. It doesn't slip, fluid level looks right, color is ok, it's a very random thing, anybody else seen this one ?

 

['strokeThis_'07]

I must be blind! I misread the code, it is P0633. But I can not find out what this code means.

P0633-SKIM Secret Key Not Entered



I have no idea what that means...

 

[ACerf]

My '03 with the 48RE has a different funny habit, it won't upshift every now and then, nothing I can connect it to except it's usually in town after 30 min or more of driving. It doesn't slip, fluid level looks right, color is ok, it's a very random thing, anybody else seen this one ?

I think that I have had that problem. But I just thought it was because the trans temp was not up to operating temp.

 

[CharlesHoward]

I have the same problem in an 05 with 40K miles.
From "Park" after driving to the storage lot and opening the gate (a get out and unlock operation), often if won't go if put directly in Drive. Putting it into neutral momentarily first, fixes it. Same thing happens when parking or unparking the trailer. I've learned to put in Nuetral and apply the parking brake...
Is this normal?
Thanks!

 

[ACerf]

Confused transmission!

Since I wrote the original question. I have since taken the truck to the dealer. The dealer could not find a fault code (I knew they wouldn't) and the test drive did not reveal any problems. And I have had this happen once since then. I have to scratch my head on this one!

 

[cerberusiam]

Since I wrote the original question. I have since taken the truck to the dealer. The dealer could not find a fault code (I knew they wouldn't) and the test drive did not reveal any problems. And I have had this happen once since then. I have to scratch my head on this one!

I suspect you have a misadjusted shift cable and/or range sensor that is causing it. Just becase the light on the column says it is in D does not mean the actual linkage on the VB has moved to the point where it will engage correctly, or, it is only partially engaged and when you try to accelerate it kicks to neutral.



Mine is the other way, I periodically get D when the lights indicate it is between neutral and drive. Park does not always engage correctly either and cause the "stupid alarm" to activate.

 

[Tom W]

I have had this happen on occasion for years but now it is happening more frequently, about three times a week. I will start, idle for fifteen seconds, back out of my garage, drive 100 feet to the street, stop, drive 1/4 mile shifts normally, stop, drive another1/8 mile stop at light, start again and then it will shift from 1st gear and act like it is in neutral. I then have to shift manually thru the gears several times and it will engage. I have tried waiting several minutes when it is acting like it is in neutral and it doesn't do anything until I shift manually. I think it is something sticking in the valvebody. This always happens in the morning but I don't think it is because of converter drainback as it shifts normally several times and as much as four minutes after starting. Any ideas?

 

[cerberusiam]

I have had this happen on occasion for years but now it is happening more frequently, about three times a week. I will start, idle for fifteen seconds, back out of my garage, drive 100 feet to the street, stop, drive 1/4 mile shifts normally, stop, drive another1/8 mile stop at light, start again and then it will shift from 1st gear and act like it is in neutral. I then have to shift manually thru the gears several times and it will engage. I have tried waiting several minutes when it is acting like it is in neutral and it doesn't do anything until I shift manually. I think it is something sticking in the valvebody. This always happens in the morning but I don't think it is because of converter drainback as it shifts normally several times and as much as four minutes after starting. Any ideas?

Sticking shift valve in the VB.