Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Torque Converter locks up at all speeds

[JackStone]

I have a 95 4x4. When this happens it has been locking up the Torque Converter and goes into D3 intermittently at any and all speeds. It does not seem to have a pattern. I drove it over 100 miles with one stop and no problem. Then drove around town doing some last minute things getting ready for a trip into Baja. It did it again. It has done this when it is cold and when it is at normal running temp. To day I thought it had corrected its self. It will unlock if I put it into D1 or D2. Today when it locked up I did not to have anything change on the dash. When this has happened in the passed the check engine and the trans temp lights start flashing like mad. It seems that if I turn the truck off it goes back to working perfect.

I have put a rheostat in to replace the TPS. It works great. I have it set at 1. 75 volts. All the gages seem to work just fine. The other thing this truck has been doing intermittently is the o/d light will come on and will not react to pushing on the switch. This causes no overdrive and no locking up. This also seems to correct if I turn the truck off.

 

[rattle trap]

I have a 95 4x4. When this happens it has been locking up the Torque Converter and goes into D3 intermittently at any and all speeds. It does not seem to have a pattern. I drove it over 100 miles with one stop and no problem. Then drove around town doing some last minute things getting ready for a trip into Baja. It did it again. It has done this when it is cold and when it is at normal running temp. To day I thought it had corrected its self. It will unlock if I put it into D1 or D2. Today when it locked up I did not to have anything change on the dash. When this has happened in the passed the check engine and the trans temp lights start flashing like mad. It seems that if I turn the truck off it goes back to working perfect.

I have put a rheostat in to replace the TPS. It works great. I have it set at 1. 75 volts. All the gages seem to work just fine. The other thing this truck has been doing intermittently is the o/d light will come on and will not react to pushing on the switch. This causes no overdrive and no locking up. This also seems to correct if I turn the truck off.

Do you still have a trans temp sensor or has it been replaced with a 1Kohm resistor?

 

[JackStone]

I did try the 1k ohm resistor. Then I put in a different sensor. These did not seem to make any differance.

 

[rattle trap]

sounds like you will need to VERY carefully inspect the harness and connectors.



I have never had a forced downshift and converter lock simultaneously but I have lost both before, only to find a loose plug at the solenoid connector.

 

[LandShark]

What codes are you getting? Does the 'wait to start' light work normally?

 

[JackStone]

When the check engine and trans temp flash together it seems so fast that I count the flashes. The 'wait to start' light DOES WORK normally. The only time I noticed that any other dash light or gauge seemed to act strange was the speedo may have seemed a little higher than normal. This could have been an alustion, this was the last event when the it locked and NO engine or trans indicater light came on.

 

[LandShark]

So you can't get any codes by doing the key on-off-on-off-on thing? If that is the case, my guess is the PCM is bad.

 

[JackStone]

Tell me about the codes by doing the key on-off-on-off-on thing?

 

[tp0d]

Since the TC locks up on a grounded signal, its very possible you have a rubbed-through wire on a harness somewhere. I would check every wire you can, and all pinch points. Same thing happened to me, my running lights would keep blowing fuses. Found the grounded and chafed wire between the exit of the intercooler boot and the frame, of all places. I started looking in the back, with no luck. Relocated and taped the wire, no more problems.

As for the key on codes, you can check for them like so-

Turn on and off the ignition switch 3 times, but do not start. On the 3rd cycle, leave the ignition on, and your check engine light will start flashing. There are a series of codes the PCM will relay to you, ending with a 55, which is the end code. You have to count the flashes, with a 1 second pause between each number, and a 3 second pause between codes. I`ll see if I can find a link to the error codes. I dont think thats your problem though.

good luck

-j

--edit

Heres a generic code listing, should help some. .
1980/90s Chrysler, Plymouth, and Dodge computer fault codes

 

[LandShark]

Code definations are here: https://www.turbodieselregister.com...1996-2001-generic-obdii-code-definitions.html

 

[rattle trap]

Code definations are here: https://www.turbodieselregister.com...1996-2001-generic-obdii-code-definitions.html

Those don't work for OBD1 2 digit flash codes.

 

[LandShark]

Those don't work for OBD1 2 digit flash codes.

Why would you say that??? If you actually read the post, it has a procedure to get codes for 1995 and 1994 RAMS.

This test procedure does work and is documented in the 1995 Facory Service Manual, pages 14-116 thru 14-118.

 

[JackStone]

I took the truck on a 900 mile trip (down and back) into Mexico over the holidays. The truck did great all the way down, even on dirt roads. I went on a little outing, about 100 miles round trip. We started on our way back from this little trip it was fussy. The check engine and trans temp lights were flickering. I stopped and restarted the truck a number of times and then it was back to being perfect. It did great on the way back up Baja till we got to the border. After spending An hour and 1/2 in line waiting to cross the border the overdrive light came on and no number of starts and stops would turn it off. So I drove the last 20 miles at 45 mph. I think the next time I drive it, it will proably work just fine. I will report after I drive it the next time.

Thanks for everybodys help. Happy New Year

 

[tp0d]

You have some serious wiring issues, man. I would investigate it before it starts shorting things out and really costs some $$$.

-j