VSS Sensor destroyed? 48RE

[Yo Hoot]

2004 305/555 Goerend 48RE

A week or so ago I noticed something leaking under my truck. Touching the fluid it appears to be ATF. I was thinking some seal back there.

Also started noticing a strange shift behavior.. first to second sometimes drug out. Felt like a loss of power. Then mostly OK after warmup. I was thinking fluid low.

Went to check fluid level at Park, I think that's what Dave Goerend recommends. Unfortunately I could not get a reading as all I got was foamy deposit on the stick. Did the check in neutral. Added 2 quarts.

Test drive yielded no change but I knew I was going to be doing a fluid change and wasn't looking forward to pulling the transfer case to look at a seal issue at the same time.

NO CODES ever during this entire episode.

So I take an up close look and discover the fluid is leaking from that sensor at the back of the overdrive unit (back half of the trans).

Bought a new sensor. Yesterday I did a full fluid/filter change.. even drained the TC using the "Hoot Method" LOL If you don't know what the Hoot Method is google it. It was actually named after me years ago when I had my Duramax.

Then I removed the sensor. Only takes a 1" deep socket and it's practically only hand tight.

Here's what I found...


#ad


Installed the new one and did the fluid change. Everything seems great now.

My question is, did something happen inside the trans that wiped out the tip of this sensor that I might need to be concerned about? Has anybody seen this before?

#ad


Also get a load of this. Guy pulls the sensor out of this trans and it looks just like mine!

Dodge / Jeep Output Speed Sensor Info - YouTube

Thanks!
Mike

 

[DonFitzwater]

I would think you've got a problem coming down the road sometime soon. Hopefully someone more experienced than me comes along and says different!

 

[Wayne M.]

I've changed that sensor in my 'ol '92, and my Durango. Also when I did the fleet of Dodge B vans. I've never seen it hurt like that. Any noises or gear whine? Are you sure it's a 48RE or an RH?

 

[cerberusiam]

An RH doesn't have one of those sensors so it doesn't apply.

The sensor runs pretty close to the parking pawl cogs so if the plastice that holds the magnet breaks in is going to suck it out of line after some time. The build of metal on the end doesn't help any. Looks like it was reused instead of replaced unless you have several 100k on the rebuild.

If that happens to a new one THEN start worrying about an OD rebuild.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Thanks all.

I think there is around 75,000 on this Goerend. No unusual noises. Right now looks like it's fixed.
I think that is a separate magnet stacked on the rod and incapsulated in plastic. It's possible that machine tolerances had this one riding a bit closer.
I guess it's also possible the sensor plastic just blew out just enough to have it make contact... then off with the head!

I have a call in to Dave to see if he's seen this before.

Mike

 

[Yo Hoot]

Thanks all. Replaced the sensor and change the fluid and filter.
Everything seems great now.
Talked to Goerend... they said they don't see how anything could be that bad to wipe that tip out and not effect the trans.
Personally I think the tip blew out from years of heat. Once the plastic moved, it probably touched the park pawl gear and shattered it. Being there is a loose magnet in the tip it's easy to see how the destruction of the tip could have happened.