Transmission problem - no OD

[Kach]

On Wednesday I was taking off early morning for elk hunting (luckily just a day trip). Pulling on to the highway, the truck seemed to be shifting perfectly normal but would not shift into overdrive. The dash light is working but no amount of feathering the throttle or pushing the button on/off would get it to shift. I got home and added some fluid (it was just a touch low, no change in condition. I went back on the highway and got up to 70 MPH and it did finally shift into OD and seemed to be locked up. I can definitely tell the TC is locking up in 3rd. I have a P0700 code. Trans has never had a shuttle shift or any poor shifting quality - 188k, so I've been fairly lucky. No code reader and nowhere I could find in town has one to pull further codes (am I right that there should be a more specific code with a P0700 that you can pull with a reader?).

I'm thinking about just changing out the transducer pressure sensor, transducer solenoid, and also the Overdrive solenoid. Does this seem like a reasonable fingers crossed coarse of action? I'm thinking of getting the BD Diesel upgraded pressure transducer kit - is this worth it?

I've searched this forum and others until I'm blue in the face - haven't found someone with the same problem who had a definitive fix. Looks like other things could be the problem, but these parts seem most likely since I'll be dropping the pan anyways.

I would appreciate anyone else's input...

 

[p-Bar]

Here's your code P0700 Transmission Control System (MIL Request) . Haven't heard of anyone replacing OD solenoid but the other 2 for sure.

 

[cerberusiam]

Since you have an 03 you need a code reader that will go into the PCM and pull the code. The P0700 means there are accompanying code sin the PCM to read.

The intermittent OD can be traced to a failure of the transducer or solenoid, likely the transducer but the OE solenoid and gov housing is not that great either. The DNC gov housing and GM style solenoid with the BD transducer should resolve a lot of the issues with the crappy OE transducer and solenoid. I would start with those 2 things and a fluid\filer change.

The OD solenoid could also be the problem along with the VB wiring harness. At the age of the unit it would not hurt to get the harness and solenoids to do it all at once.

 

[Kach]

Thanks for the replies!

What is a good code reader that can pull the pcm codes? This problem is killing me and my commuter car is also down right now!

Ordered the BD kit and new borg transducer as well. I will change them and put in a new filter/fluid. I didn't track down an OD solenoid or VB harness yet. Is OEM best for those parts or aftermarket OK? I may just do the transducer and solenoid and see where I'm at. I'm due to do a couple drain/fills anyways.

 

[cerberusiam]

Do it all at once and do a fluid exchange. The VB harness has not been in production for 10 years, not sure OE applies any more. They al seem to be the same except price, the dealer gets way more for the same thing. A trans supply store should have what you need or orde ronline form PATC, Cascade Trans Parts, etc.

 

[Kach]

Well, is the transducer from the BD Diesel kit and the Borg transducer. No change.

Can an anyone recommend a relatively inexpensive scanner that can access PCM codes to figure out the p0700? I don't want to throw too many more parts at it until I get a handle on that.

How specific of a problem am I likely to get from a scan?

 

[p-Bar]

why don't you call a transmission shop they would most certainly have a tool for pulling the codes .

 

[sag2]

You will have a difficult time finding an inexpensive scanner that will read the PCM codes. Most scanners are going to look at the ECM before they'll talk to the PCM. Your best bet is as was mentioned, go to a shop that has a good scanner and it will talk to both modules

 

[Kach]

Does anyone know if an Innova 3160 scanner would read this code from the PCM? I found a couple of reviews that sounds like it would. Or are we talking something more sophisticated/expensive...?

I'm planning on limping the truck to a shop on Monday but I'd rather just get the code read and fix it myself. I'm sure they will try to charge an arm and a leg for that. We live in a rural area so it's going to be a long drive down the highway at 45-50 to get there!

 

[GrantP]

Does anyone know if an Innova 3160 scanner would read this code from the PCM? I found a couple of reviews that sounds like it would. Or are we talking something more sophisticated/expensive...?

I'm planning on limping the truck to a shop on Monday but I'd rather just get the code read and fix it myself. I'm sure they will try to charge an arm and a leg for that. We live in a rural area so it's going to be a long drive down the highway at 45-50 to get there!

I have the Innova 3130 and although it has an option to read transmission trouble codes it doesn't read them, it always says there aren't any. Took the truck into a trans shop where I watched him hook up a Snap On scanner and bingo, trouble codes...

 

[Kach]

Neighbor recommended a competent trans shop so I got it scanned this AM. Came up with code p0123. Also had a couple of cruise control related codes, but mechanic thinks they are related to the p0123.

It it looks like I'm most likely looking at replacing the APPS... is there an option other than OEM now? I found some posts from 06-07, so I guess I'm lucky mine made it this long... should I just buy the part and replace it or is there any fixes out there?

 

[DavidC]

This is what you want.
https://www.genosgarage.com/product/tps98502/electrical-sensors-3

Dave

 

[Kach]

This is what you want.
https://www.genosgarage.com/product/tps98502/electrical-sensors-3

Dave

Purchased the above part and... nothing! Installed per Geno's instructions (very detailed and helpful by the way), but no change in condition. Any other ideas before I just end up dropping off at the shop? Does anyone have the troubleshooting algorithm for P0123?

I got a bit excited at the prospect of saving the $$ on a whole new APPS and probably skipped a couple of steps.

Another thing that happened this past week was 2 different nights my brake lights came on and seemed to be staying on an hour or two after I parked the truck. My neighbor told be about it the first time and then my wife said they were blinking on and off another night. I saw them on a third time and went in and pumped the brake pedal a few times and they went out. The first 2 episodes resulted in a dead battery. I changed out the brake pedal switch and haven't had the problem since - just making sure this isn't somehow related.

 

[grabinov]

On Wednesday I was taking off early morning for elk hunting (luckily just a day trip). Pulling on to the highway, the truck seemed to be shifting perfectly normal but would not shift into overdrive. The dash light is working but no amount of feathering the throttle or pushing the button on/off would get it to shift. I got home and added some fluid (it was just a touch low, no change in condition. I went back on the highway and got up to 70 MPH and it did finally shift into OD and seemed to be locked up. I can definitely tell the TC is locking up in 3rd. I have a P0700 code. Trans has never had a shuttle shift or any poor shifting quality - 188k, so I've been fairly lucky. No code reader and nowhere I could find in town has one to pull further codes (am I right that there should be a more specific code with a P0700 that you can pull with a reader?).

I'm thinking about just changing out the transducer pressure sensor, transducer solenoid, and also the Overdrive solenoid. Does this seem like a reasonable fingers crossed coarse of action? I'm thinking of getting the BD Diesel upgraded pressure transducer kit - is this worth it?

I've searched this forum and others until I'm blue in the face - haven't found someone with the same problem who had a definitive fix. Looks like other things could be the problem, but these parts seem most likely since I'll be dropping the pan anyways.

I would appreciate anyone else's input...

Hey Kach,

Before my '14 I had an '04 - same truck as yours essentially. I also towed a large trailer (still do). I had exactly the symptoms which you describe, and it was the result of a failure of the overdrive piston seal. I had no choice but to rebuild the transmission as the overdrive unit is at the very back of the housing. Sorry for the bad news if that turns out to be the case. That said, I rebuilt the transmission w a better converter and good parts and loved the way it drove for the rest of the time I had the truck.

Good luck

 

[Kach]

Just an update - turned out to be a bad wire between (I'm pretty sure he said..) the PCM and the transmission. Problem solved, have more shiny new parts then I needed, but whatever