Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) transmission hunting I think

[JamesSimpson]

Last week I ran into what I think is the dreaded hunting transmission problem. I have found that I have a quick 3-4 shift followed by a pulse in speed. I can make this happen only around 40 to 55. Which I hate BC most of the driving I m having to do know is 40 to 55. At any other speed the truck runs great, well good enough for having 97k on the auto. Im wanting to install a new HD unit but I need to make this one last a little longer. Could this be caused by the Govenor press sensor or the solenoid going bad?



Does any one know where I can get a bullet proof auto in the Dallas/ FT worth area?

 

[Stefan Kondolay]

Go see James Northrum(TDRname Inarush76) he's a great builder.

 

[DieselRam30]

Could this be caused by the Govenor press sensor or the solenoid going bad?

Possibly. It also could be something deeper. My stock transmission had the same symptoms. I ended up needing a completely new transmission (the second gear band was way out of whack, tons of metal in the pan, clutch material in the cooler... real pretty). Anyway, if you know of somebody you can trust with your truck (read: not a Dodge dealer) and is familiar with these transmissions take it there and have them look at the trans, drop the pan, and inspect the internal stuff. Otherwise, you could end up replacing the solenoid and not be any further ahead if there are internal problems.

 

[master1578]

Have you tried the APPS reset? Might be worth a try. I had the same type of problem and it worked for me. In fact I have to try it again as mine is beginning to act up again. It's been about 30-35k since I did it the last time. The best part is that it's free... I would give you the rundown on the procedure but I'm afraid that I'll mess it up so you're better off doing a search.



Good Luck.



Brian

 

[JoshPeters]

Wow jump off the deep end already... . Gotta be rebuilt! Wow..... No Diagnosis... . Gotta love it!



Good thing those guys are in TX not MN.



Do a search. There are MANY things that can be attributed to this issue. Master hit on one. Reset the APPS, seperate the TPS wires from the bundle... . etc etc. By the sounds of it, it could be the torque converter locking and unlocking. Depending on where your truck is set the converter can lock at different speeds. From 40-60 as I recall. That is a flash that the dealer can do.



I think a search will lead you in the right direction.



Josh

 

[DieselRam30]

Wow jump off the deep end already... . Gotta be rebuilt! Wow..... No Diagnosis... . Gotta love it!

Yeah, I guess I wasn't too clear. I simply meant that mine required a rebuild; certainly did not advocate a complete rebuild without diagnosis. Just trying to relate my experience. To be perfectly clear, always check the easy and cheap stuff first.

 

[JoshPeters]

Sorry DieselRam..... I wasn't meaning to point fingers. You and Kondolay both chimed in as... . I saw... . rebuild it.



I wasn't trying to offend anyone.



Josh

 

[DieselRam30]

Sorry DieselRam..... I wasn't meaning to point fingers. You and Kondolay both chimed in as... . I saw... . rebuild it.



I wasn't trying to offend anyone.



Josh

I know. I just wanted to be clear about what I was trying to say as well. The brain got ahead of the fingers and "rebuild" came out before the cheap stuff. I guess I should start reading my posts before I post them. :-laf

 

[AFarmer]

I have a seriously solid DTT but the only word I can come up with is Suncoast-- The fastest trucks out there are running them and not DTT. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled with mine but the obvious is certainly obvious.

 

[JoshPeters]

I'm sorry AFarmer... if you want to know the REAL truth about Suncoast... send me a PM. If you aren't a big dog... . You had better have "real" money to play with.



If the obvious is certianly obvious... why isn't everyone running Banks... ... .



I'll leave it at that.



Josh

 

[JLMize]

Could you give me an email address or something for the APPS reset I tried it once, must have done it wrong. Actually read two ways to do it, not sure now. My problem is just the apparent downshift or TC lock-unlock, no slippage pulls great, runs great at any other speed but 40-50 mph. Any help would be appreciated.

Jimbo -- email address removed --

2001 2wd, Cold Air, Straight PIpes, 112K miles

 

[magaliasram]

To reset the APPS. First disconnect the batteries and let them set at least 30 mins. I usually let mine set at least an hour to be sure (until my fix listed below). Second reconnect the batteries. Third turn the key to the on position. Fourth press the accelerator pedal to the floor slowly and release it slowly. Fifth turn the key off. Then start and go should take care of the problem. I went a step further. While the batteries were disconnected I cleaned every ground on the truck as I feel this is the only thing that can deteriorate over time. That worked well for almost a year then it came back (the hunting). So now I have a ground installed between the APPS and the drivers side battery negetive terminal. I tapped the hole in the front of the APPS and ran a 14 guage wire to the negetive terminal. This has been on for about a year and a half and I have not had one problem with hunting since then. I have 108000 on the truck and the transmission shifts like it was brand new still.

Good luck.

 

[w gilmer]

try cleaning grounds. all of them . especially the one between pcm and firewall. fought this problem for two years and have not had aproblem for 18 mounths and 25000 miles good luck.

 

[JLMize]

Just wanted to say thank you, to Magaliasam andWGilmer for their help.

 

[DBazley]

Is this APPS reset procedure apply to Ram Van ?

To reset the APPS. First disconnect the batteries and let them set at least 30 mins. I usually let mine set at least an hour to be sure (until my fix listed below). Second reconnect the batteries. Third turn the key to the on position. Fourth press the accelerator pedal to the floor slowly and release it slowly. Fifth turn the key off. Then start and go should take care of the problem. I went a step further. While the batteries were disconnected I cleaned every ground on the truck as I feel this is the only thing that can deteriorate over time. That worked well for almost a year then it came back (the hunting). So now I have a ground installed between the APPS and the drivers side battery negetive terminal. I tapped the hole in the front of the APPS and ran a 14 guage wire to the negetive terminal. This has been on for about a year and a half and I have not had one problem with hunting since then. I have 108000 on the truck and the transmission shifts like it was brand new still.

Good luck.

Gentlemen: I have the 'dreaded transmission hunting problem', but not on my Ram Cummins truck, but on a 'cousin' the Ram Van B2500, 1996. Same symptoms described earlier, shifts into upper gears 3 or 4, then, apparently, upon attempts to lock-up torque converter, a pulsing/hunting is felt in powertrain. It doesn't occur at all speeds or throttle postitions, but is obvious at a certain combination, ie : uphill, generally 45-60 mph, light throttle.



I guess the question is if this procedure applies to the Ram Van, with 5. 2 V-8 gasser, with 46RE trans.



BTW, trans has been serviced, new filter & 'C+' spec Redline Syn trans fluid.



Trans runs way better after switching to this fluid, but pulsing issue remains.

Thanks for any input you have on this !



David Bazley

 

[magaliasram]

Well, I don't realy know but I don't think it would hurt anything to try as long as it has a APPS it should work.

 

[DBazley]

Super, but admittedly, I'm foggy on what exactly APPS means... ...

The brain to the engine computer ? It does have what they call a PCM, same thing, perhaps ?



Assuming this is so, does this unit control the operation of the 'torque converter lock-up solenoid' ?



One general mechanic (not a trans specialist) did hook up a device to read the computer & input it to a 'test mode', and when it came to the test of the "... lock-up soleniod", it failed the test about 2 of 3 times.



(Method: sitting still, engine running, he hits the button on this device to activate the lock-up solenoid, which should immeditely stall the engine if operative - it only stalled every third time... )



The question then appears, it it's failing to operate correctly, why ? Is it defective, or is it getting wrong signals from the PCM - APPS ?



I did suspect that wrong fluid (dexron or some other non-approved fluid) was put in the trans as it was acting bad in general. Putting in the Redline C+ fixed that aspect, but the 'pulsing' remains.



I'm grateful you mentioned the 'reset the APPS' procedure - it's worth a try, certainly !



If the solenoid is still balky, can you or anyone comment on the procedure of changing it out ? How is it accessed ?



The shop that did the diagnosis I mentioned prescribed changing the solenoid & torque converter for $ 1200, ouch !



This problem doesn't seem like it will strand us on the roadside (or will it ?), but more an irritant - especially to a nut like me who feels every single motion, squeek and input / output on a vehicle ! Kinda hard to pay that much just to scratch an itch... .



Thanks magaliasram, and all other for your wise counsel... .



David Bazley

 

[DBazley]

BTW, I should also add that this is a 46RE trans, as it's a '96 Ram VAN, not a 47 RE that's in a Ram truck. Is it right to surmize that they're closely related as to this aspect of how to diagnose or change out the faulty "torque converter lock-up solenoid" ?



DB

 

[DHawk]

Most likely cause of 46re hunting is throttle position sensor.

Next would be obvious things like brake switch, speed sensor in transmission

since it is a 96.

Failed torque converter.

All the same things apply except v8's don't usually have electronic noise

issues like ctd's.

DHAWK

htstransmissions.com

 

[DBazley]

Most likely cause of 46re hunting is throttle position sensor.

Next would be obvious things like brake switch, speed sensor in transmission

since it is a 96.

Failed torque converter.

All the same things apply except v8's don't usually have electronic noise

issues like ctd's.

DHAWK

htstransmissions.com

Thanks DHawk ! I think you're correct. I'll try the APPS / TPS reset procedure just now. It doesn't sound complex, either.



Do I understand that the trouble shooting order is:



1) Reset APPS/TPS



If that works, fine you may be done - if grounds & battery terminals are cleaned up nicely.



2) Replace APPS/TPS - napa has one now for $ 38, with new unit



3) Failing that, get the DTT noise filter, to quiet the excess voltage spike noise that is causing the problem.



4) Failing that, go inside transmission, solenoid lock up switch, TC, etc.



I've since read a zillion threads on the APPS/TPS, boy is that ever a trouble area for Rams !!



My truck is a '97 CTD Ram, manual trans, so I never experienced the 'auto trans hunting/shudder/tc lock-unlock' problem 'til I got this Ram Van recently - and I remembered all the threads on this topic.....



Apparently the Ram Van is identical in some respects to the trucks, so the drivetrain issues are similar.



How thoughful of Dodge to give equally poor attention to quality control in their various truck, van & car lines - the better for us to become expert problem solvers & un-paid 'owner techs'.



I love my truck & enjoy the van, but if the Japanese ever come out with a truly HD diesel rig, watch out - cause those of us that are sick of pervasive problems (that upper & middle management is aware of, but refuses to fix with years of time to do so... . ) may switch and never come back !



Any how, thanks to all you fine gentlemen for taking the time to comment, this must be the only way we can keep our Dodge trucks (or Vans) running & not lose our sanity - God bless you !