Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) my transmission hates the cold

[CBrabec]

I don't know if it's just my truck but when the temps start to get into the 30's and my truck sits outside all day while I'm at work, when I leave to go home the transmission won't go into OD until the trucks engine temp gets up to operating temp. This is very annoying and has almost caused me to get into many accidents because I can't go faster than 45mph and people have about rear ended me because I was going so slow. From my house to my work I have to take a freeway & the speed is 65 so that's why people have almost ran into me because I can't go any faster. With a cold engine I don't like the rpm's in the 3K+ range and my boost above 10 but this is what it does. I have talked to 3 other friends of mine with 12v's and none of them experience this. Is it just my truck? It's worse & takes longer when the temps get real cold. Anyway, I have replaced the transmission sensor thinking that was it but nothing, same issue. I'm thinking this must be some sort of safety issue dodge did to protect the transmission but it sucks. Is there anyway I can do to try to fool the transmission into thinking its at operating temp even when its cold? Now I don't drive like crazy on a cold motor or transmission but I've stopped driving my truck when it gets cold out because this bothers me so much. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Chris

 

[Missouri Mule]

The 47rh is more manual than the 47re.On the 47re the PCM keeps the trans from shifting into overdrive if rpm is to low or fluid tempature is to low.
Can you take a slower route for a few miles to let the trans fluid warm up, then get on the highway.

 

[cerberusiam]

That is pretty typical for the SBEC controllers on those trucks. When they cold soak a broken solder joints pulls apart, once it warms up things all work correctly. It not so much it hates the cold, its just getting old. Since you already replaced the sensor it is likely the controller that is the issue.

You can easily bypass the controls and manually control OD and lockup with a simple set of switches. OD and lockup is control by just grounding the sense wire on the solenoids. The control harness has a 3 wire plug on the trans just above and in front of the rear cooler line. One wire will have 12 volts on it when the key is on, the other 2 are the OD and lockup sense circuit. Scotchlock a single 18g wire to each non-powered wire and run them into the can to convenient switches, a SPST switch works fine. On the opposite side of the switch wire in a 30-33 ohm 1 watt resistor and ground the other end to a chassis ground.

Voila! Instant OD and lockup on demand that won't interfere with the existing controls and won't melt things if the power circuit ever shorts out. Just don't forget to turn them off when you come to a stop, you get a bucking bronco ride under about 30 mph. If you care to go a little fancier, a couple of digital relays and tapping the brake switch wire will disconnect things as soon as the brake is touched enough to activate the lights.