Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) DTT Smart Controller verses SNOKING

[SnoKing]

Well I have had this intermittent torque converter issue off and on for years when towing the 5th wheel(two transmission builds and two torque converters). The original DTT 47RE controller did it and the Newer 47RE/48RE controller that Bill installed that was suppose to unlock of a second during shifts did it. The problems was the pulling grades the torque converter would unlock some times and not other times. The DTT Smart controller has a setting to allow for heavy pedal use that is adjustable, which was designed to protect the original single disc lock up torque converters by unlocking it. I have a triple disc one now that the transmission had to be rebuild again a year ago. Which is another story!

Coming home from Arizona last week it was the worst it has ever been. A manual lock up switch would over come this unlocking or turning the smart controller off would cause it to stay locked. So I became committed to trying to fixed it before junking it and buying a ATS controller. Which most likely would have caused me to loose 2nd lockup. So I opened it up to find that the manufacturer had potted the whole back end so that the circuit card could not be easily removed and the adjustment pots and LEDs and their circuit card is potted to the front cover. So cancel detailed inspection of the main circuit card or trying to replace a pot.

Plan B after studying the wiring diagram was to cut the APPS lead to it, figuring that it was just there to trigger the adjustable circuit for unlock. AND plan B failed, even without the APPS signal it unlocked under heavy throttle.

Plan C was a result of studying the wiring some more. The torque converter circuit at the PCM (Orange/Black) wire gets cut and the DTT's grey wire comes from the PCM side to the controller and returns via the blue wire to the transmission side. So inside the DTT Smart controller these wires Grey and Blue are combined to lock the torque converter and my manual lock up switch was grounding the blue wire going back to the transmission Orange/Black wire that goes to the lock up solenoid in the transmission. So with a bit of noodling I decided to jumper the grey and blue wires (which is what the provided emergency plug does) and what happens when the controller is off. So the question was will the DTT Smart controller still command a lockup and will it stay locked when the unlock circuit triggers (controller has a LED for signally this)?

Road test!!!! Torque converter still locks up at speed set on lockup pot and the unlock LED can turn on AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER REMAINS LOCKED!!!

I would call and tell Stefan, but that is no longer possible! RIP Stephan and DTT!

SNOKING

 

[Sticks]

Wait, what???!!!

DTT - out of business, or turned to crud? That is the first thing I would do is call their tech support.

Second thing I would do is make sure there is never anything purple ever mounted to my truck - no matter what.

 

[SnoKing]

#ad

 

[Sticks]

I'm slow. Help me out here with your response.

 

[SnoKing]

I'm slow. Help me out here with your response.

We all know that there were a fair amount to complaints about DTT support over the years and they lost focus on the business verses racing. So your "call tech support" was tongue and cheek! Last time I talked to them about the controller they said go buy someone else's we no longer support our controller. GREAT, you controller was designed to go hand and hand with your special valve body and you not longer support it!!!!! When my DTT transmission failed around 80K on it and I asked some questions about it for my new builder, they said sorry we can not give out info that is proprietary to us.

Stefan was shot and killed in his home last year in case you did not hear that. I can only speculate as to what was behind his death, money to feed their racing addition had to come from somewhere with the waning transmission and performance business. I google search shows no updated info on the case of his death. SNOKING

 

[Sticks]

I was unaware of the issues with DTT. I don't have a slush box (until now), so I rarely if ever got involved in that aspect of it.

I would still advise against anything purple. They have had a crap reputation since 2004, and being in the same city as them as a shop mechanic, I have seen first hand the problem children they have spawned.

Unless they have done a radical change in their business practices and quality in the last 5 years....

I don't suppose Bluementhol could be of any help?

 

[RonaldLarson]

lockup

Well I have had this intermittent torque converter issue off and on for years when towing the 5th wheel(two transmission builds and two torque converters). The original DTT 47RE controller did it and the Newer 47RE/48RE controller that Bill installed that was suppose to unlock of a second during shifts did it. The problems was the pulling grades the torque converter would unlock some times and not other times. The DTT Smart controller has a setting to allow for heavy pedal use that is adjustable, which was designed to protect the original single disc lock up torque converters by unlocking it. I have a triple disc one now that the transmission had to be rebuild again a year ago. Which is another story!

Coming home from Arizona last week it was the worst it has ever been. A manual lock up switch would over come this unlocking or turning the smart controller off would cause it to stay locked. So I became committed to trying to fixed it before junking it and buying a ATS controller. Which most likely would have caused me to loose 2nd lockup. So I opened it up to find that the manufacturer had potted the whole back end so that the circuit card could not be easily removed and the adjustment pots and LEDs and their circuit card is potted to the front cover. So cancel detailed inspection of the main circuit card or trying to replace a pot.

Plan B after studying the wiring diagram was to cut the APPS lead to it, figuring that it was just there to trigger the adjustable circuit for unlock. AND plan B failed, even without the APPS signal it unlocked under heavy throttle.

Plan C was a result of studying the wiring some more. The torque converter circuit at the PCM (Orange/Black) wire gets cut and the DTT's grey wire comes from the PCM side to the controller and returns via the blue wire to the transmission side. So inside the DTT Smart controller these wires Grey and Blue are combined to lock the torque converter and my manual lock up switch was grounding the blue wire going back to the transmission Orange/Black wire that goes to the lock up solenoid in the transmission. So with a bit of noodling I decided to jumper the grey and blue wires (which is what the provided emergency plug does) and what happens when the controller is off. So the question was will the DTT Smart controller still command a lockup and will it stay locked when the unlock circuit triggers (controller has a LED for signally this)?

Road test!!!! Torque converter still locks up at speed set on lockup pot and the unlock LED can turn on AND THE TORQUE CONVERTER REMAINS LOCKED!!!

I would call and tell Stefan, but that is no longer possible! RIP Stephan and DTT!

SNOKING

The ATS controller absolutely locks up in second gear, and lock and unlock speeds are fully adjustable. MIne and their triple clutch are going on 15 trouble free years.

 

[Sticks]

The ATS controller absolutely locks up in second gear, and lock and unlock speeds are fully adjustable. MIne and their triple clutch are going on 15 trouble free years.

You got lucky and got them when they were still young and had quality on the top of their list.

2003-2004 is when it became all about the $$$

 

[SnoKing]

I was unaware of the issues with DTT. I don't have a slush box (until now), so I rarely if ever got involved in that aspect of it.

I would still advise against anything purple. They have had a crap reputation since 2004, and being in the same city as them as a shop mechanic, I have seen first hand the problem children they have spawned.

Unless they have done a radical change in their business practices and quality in the last 5 years....

I don't suppose Bluementhol could be of any help?

You lived in BC Canada? Snoking

 

[Sticks]

ATS Diesel was founded and as far as I know, is still in Denver (Arvada) CO.

How many transmission shops are called ATS that specialize in the Diesel Automatic Transmissions, and have a patented triple lock torque converter, and their own controller?

 

[SnoKing]

ATS Diesel was founded and as far as I know, is still in Denver (Arvada) CO.

How many transmission shops are called ATS that specialize in the Diesel Automatic Transmissions, and have a patented triple lock torque converter, and their own controller?

Have you confused DTT (Diesel Transmission Technology) in BC Canada with ATS in Denver Co. You sure have me confused on what you are saying!

BTW, both were good in the very beginning and then went down hill on customer service.

SNOKING

 

[Sticks]

ATS - Denver - turned to garbage in '04

DTT - I did not know where they are/were. I just knew that at the time when I was actually paying attention to aftermarket options to the POS Dodge 1st and 2nd gen autos, DTT was the best option.

Now days, after reading this, I have no clue who to recommend for a reman 2nd gen auto.

Back to your problem...I got nothin'. My suggestions are hitherto pointless, so hopefully someone will chime in with some knowledge and experience with the controllers.

 

[SnoKing]

DTT transmissions were very good and most people loved them. The problem was when one had a problem and the finger pointing started! Mine was great except for the torque converter unlocking for many years, but not that many miles (Around 80K), when the front drum pressure plate broke into many pieces. When I taked to Bill, he said my torque converter was toast at 80K based on the one of the last single disc ones that they installed. So I was looking at another complete rebuild. The outer of the front drum pressure plate was machined down to get a extra friction and steel plate in the drum pack. Lock to lock shifts I believe are what did it in. DTT uses a switch on the transmission linkage to lock the torque converter in second gear if you manually placed the selector in second. Was great to descending steep grades. When one moved the shift lever back to third it created a violent shift. I learned to switch the smart controller off before making this shift. I have the smart controller and Banks Exhaust brake power on an old style head light switch on the floor(gives my left foot something to do once in a while)! It does not lock the torque converter in second gear in normal driving.

With the triple disc TC now, I am not as concerned about protecting it with the DTT Smart Controller unlock feature under heavy pedal. So as noted in the original post, I found a work around! We will be towing the trailer to it summer location in another month of so. So I will have a chance to test it more.

SNOKING

 

[Bob Wagner]

15 years here on my DTT transmission and still works great. Stefan was scheduled to testify in an upcoming court case before he was shot/murdered. RIP Stefan