Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Mystery lock-up

[td96ram]

My trans on my 96 2500 auto will hunt in and out of lock-up mainly around 60mph,it did it a couple of months ago and then it was fine,i did a search on this and saw the trans temp switch might be the problem so i got one from my dealer but i cant locate this switch on my truck. The switch they sent me almost looks like a coolant temp switch so im not even sure its the right one.

I dont have a factory service manual and the Hanyes manual dosent get into that much trans detail. Can anybody give me an clue as to were i might find it.

Thanks in advance.

Tim

 

[DonFitzwater]

Possible fix

Some guy in Florida sells a kit that is supposedly designed to fix this common problem. I have the same problem occasionally but haven't done anything about it other than research it some. You can usally find it on e-bay under "dodge cummins"

 

[td96ram]

Has anybody else this kit on e bay he claims it solves the lock up problem,but i want to see if anybody else used it or am i just waisting my time with it

Thanks

Tim

 

[Joe G.]

If it's the set up I think it is then it does not always work. If might so if it does not cost too much you might try it. The problem usually is a dirty TPS. Sometimes it can be cured by hosing down the shaft with contact cleaner and working the throttle linkage back and forth. For some reason the '96 is especially prone to TPS problems. If cleaning the TPS with cleaner doesn't work try pulling the TPS wires out of the wire loom. You may have to replace the TPS. The temp sensor you purchased is probably for a 47RH transmission that was used in the '94 and '95 trucks. If you have some electronic knowledge you might try using a large capacitor for a filter between ground and the signal wire from the TPS to the PCM.



My advise is to throw the Haynes manual away and get the service manual from Dodge. It would be a bargain if it cost twice as much. The wireing diagram section alone is bigger than most after market manuals. It won't take long for it to pay for itself.

 

[td96ram]

Thanks for the info Joe,i will try cleaning it first and go from there,the kit on e bay is 55. 00 so i will try some other things before dumping the cash on a fix that "might" work. But i will use the cash on a factory service manual

Tim

 

[CarlJensen]

Do a search on TPS. It can be a dirty TPS, which is easy to fix, or it can be interference problems in the wire harness. All you need to do is pull the TPS wires out of the original harness and route them by themselves. Don't waste your money on a "kit" yet as most problems can be fixed pretty easily. Don't forget to use dielectric grease on the connector when you hook the TPS back up. Junk gets in there pretty easy and it's a low voltage system that can be screwed up by a little crud.

 

[DieselMinded]

Here some info



http://www.dodgedieseldatabase.com/mystery_switch.htm



DM

 

[td96ram]

I cleaned the tps last night it was full of rusty grit on the back side and i cleaned the connector and put dielectric grease on it,i didnt have time to reroute the wires for the tps last night but i will do it. What does this mystery switch do? isint taht what the od switch on the dash is for?

Tim

 

[Joe G.]

The socalled mystery switch has nothing to so with the TPS. It also has little to do with OD. It allows manual control of torque convertor lockup. There are two versions. One for the 47RH ('94 and '95), the other for the 47RE ('96 and later). It forces the torque convertor clutch to stay locked once it has locked.

 

[td96ram]

So is this a worth while mod to do once i have my tps problem taken care of?

Also where do they show how to wire it for the 47RH trans

 

[td96ram]

Sorry i ment the 47RE trans for the 96 and later

 

[LLeaton]

the kit on ebay works i have had it on mine for atleast 5,000 miles and it hasn't done it since.