New Suncoast valve body and now NO overdrive!

[BBowers]

Just had a new Suncoast valve body installed by the local dodge dealer today after they botched a "yeah this is the problem" repair job by replacing the pressure transducer to clear up erratic 1-2-1 shifting at part throttle combined with lurching like someone dumped the clutch too quick on a manual transmission vehicle. I am at my wits' end. I have spent a fortune on a new valve body WITH new electronics on the valve body and though the shifting problem is fixed, now I get no converter lockup in 2nd and no overdrive. Help! Will suncoast be of any assistance? DOdge says it's a bad valve body now. Dodge put the suncoast body on for free since the transducer didnt fix the prob. Oh yeah, it's a 48re on a 2003 4x4 quad cab ctd.

 

[grabinov]

I had the same problem this weekend. Put in a Dunrite vave body about 6 months ago. Truck ran great. Now, no overdrive. The rest of the transmission seems to work fine. Did you ever figure out what was wrong with yours?

Greg

 

[TCDiesel]

Its the C1 and C2 Connections on the PCM,I will walk you through the Fix, I hope this does it or its a whole NEW Harness or PCM, if everything Checks OUT.

 

[BillGotthelf]

Since when did a 03 have a 48re? I though they started in 04's.

 

[TCDiesel]

2003 H. O mandatory 48re. Early 03 S. O 47re, Both use same electronic in 03, 04 went to TCM integrated in ECM, 48re only 04 to 07.

 

[grabinov]

Latest Update: I spoke to Tony at Dunrite about the problem, which it sounds like is probably electronic and not mechanical - in other words it is not directly related to the valve body, but may have to do with a solenoid nearby (I am not a trans expert).

I add this update because Tony has a buddy in SoCal (the guy who installed my Dunrite Valve body) who is taking a look at my truck now in order to try to find the problem, and DOING IT FOR FREE. I don't know enough about the problem to know what caused it (I tow a heavy 5th wheel), but you can't beat that kind of service. I'll update this post as soon as the problem is diagnosed and corrected...

 

[grabinov]

Ok - Checked the Powertrain Control Module. It is sending signals to the trans to shift to OD. Checked the valve body and solenoids. They are receiving the signals and sending fluid to the OD unit to cause a shift. But no OD shoft occurs.



Pulled the trans - apparently the 48re OD unit cannot be serviced from the back despite being bolted to the back of the trans. It must be accessed from the front, in other words pull out all the components from the trans housing on the way to the OD unit. Conclusion: the OD unit is "smoked" - burned clutches and warped bands.



So I asked why and how. Apparently the belief is that the OD unit stopped getting fluid at some point, overheated and burned up. According to the guy working on the trans, this is probably not the result of a valve body malfunction, and not the result of the weight I am towing (although this may have accellerated the failure). It is more likely the result of an internal leak within the transmission.



Is anyone aware of a problem in the 48re which causes this type of failure? FYI - you'll see from my earlier posts that the remainder of the trans: TC and gears 1 - 3, were working fine, just no OD shift.

 

[Stefan Kondolay]

There are no bands in OD, just clutches and steels.

 

[grabinov]

Thanks Stefan - I am learning as I go.

I saw the ruined parts today. OD clutches were black and burned, steels were purple and blue from overheating. Apparently the overdrive piston seal failed, causing the overdrive to (at first) engage, but only partially, until it finally failed to engage all together. By that time the clutches were fried and the steels warped and overheated from who knows how many miles of partial engagement.

By that time the piston was not moving at all, meaning fourth (OD) would not engage and third would not disengage (same piston does both things), hence an otherwise perfectly functioning trans which will not go into OD.

I am back up and running again with a newly rebuilt trans from the guys at Dunrite, including TC, Flex Plate , Valve Body and heavy duty replacements for the factory clutches, steels, etc.

Let's hope this one lasts. It sure drives nice...