I have a Shifter problem

[RonD]

My truck is a 2005 Dodge 3500 4x4 48RE trans. I am currently traveling from the West coast, to Michigan to pick up a new 5th Wheel. When I stopped in Nevada I put it in park, when I started it and took it out of park it was stiff, like a bind, well 10 stops later, now in Nebraska, I almost had to break the shift lever to get it out of park, the other gears are ok, but starting to have some minor binding, I now don't use park, I have 2 more days on the trip, then thought I would locate a decent Dodge dealer to look at it. It is the shifter, or the trans, I can't tell, the truck has 57000 miles, so I guess the trans is covered, the shifter will be on me I guess, anyone ever have this problem?

 

[HBarlow]

I had the same problem with my '06 when it had just under 36,000 miles on it. I was working, pulling trailers in OR when it occurred. By the time I got it home it was out of warranty.

The problem was caused by a cheap little Park position safety switch up under the dash on the side of the steering column, IIRC. I forget now how it worked but its purpose was to require pressing the brake pedal down so it would retract a small locking pin and allow the driver to pull the shifter out of park. I think pressing the brake pedal activated a tiny electromagnet in the switch which retracted the park lock pin. The switch was expensive.

I had a friend who worked for the local Dodge dealer physically remove the switch from its mount but leave the wires connected and simply let it hang under the dash. I secured it with a zip tie. With the stupid safety switch dismounted I could reach up and grab the shifter and pull it into drive, reverse, or whatever without the need to stomp on the brake pedal. After I drove it awhile like that I liked it so well that when I bought the new '08 I had a buddy who is a former Dodge dealership tech disconnect the same switch on my new truck.

There is probably some alphabet letter federal agency that will want to arrest you and confiscate your truck if you delete the park/brake safety switch but after you get over the habit of many years of being forced to stomp on the brake pedal to shift out of park you may prefer it as I do.

 

[Hoefler]

I had a similar problem in my 2005 3500 with the 48re, it turned out to be a bad valve body in the transmission. I had a 40,000 miles on it.

 

[RonD]

Here is the outcome of the shifter problem. I called a Dealer that had been in business for a long time in West Michigan, I took it in, they gave me a free loaner. 4 hours later I get a call, the shift cable is defective, it's not covered under the 7/70 cost $250. eplace it, fine. Later that day, another call, it's better, but still has a problem, may be in the trans, they pulled the trans pan, burnt fluid, metal in the pan, its shot. So the complete job will be covered under the 7/70 and may take up to a week. The trans was serviced at 25000, and at 45000, not driven hard, and towed a 22' boat only, I also have a deep trans pan, are these 48RE transmissions all this way?, I now wonder if I should have bought a 6 speed.

 

[Hoefler]

After the dealer rebuilt mine at 42000 under warranty, I still had a temp alarm going off when I pulled this steep grade on a job I had. We had a trip planned to Mass. and my wife was not comfortable taking my truck because of the transmission. She said I should look at trading it. Oo. I traded for an 08 with the six speed auto. After a few trips to the dealer for flashes, I would not go back. Gotta love this truck!!!!