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Dodge Dakota Transmission Problems

1024 messages,  Last post on May 07, 2013 at 9:14 AM

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Messages Page 91 of 103

#895 of 1024 Re: 1999 dodge dakota shifting problems [dragavona] by carverman

Jul 07, 2011 (2:57 pm)

Replying to: dragavona (Mar 16, 2011 11:22 pm)
I have the same problem with my 1998 Dakota 5.2L (318 V8 (105,000 km)
and with the overdrive transmission. It seems to get worse if the transmission is heated up after a 30-40 minute highway drive. The shifting is delayed and the tach goes up to 3000 rpm and the shift is hard to second and also to 3rd.
Overdrive (once in) seems to be fine.
 
According to my Haynes manual, there is something called a throttle valve cable that may need some adjustment and it is a critical adjustment because it will
govern the shifts. If the cable is too loose, it will upshift to early and may be
accompanied by slippage. If too tight the upshifts will be late and
downshifts during part throttle operation will occur too soon.
It would seem to me that this could be the culprit.

#896 of 1024 1998 Dakota 5.2 L (318) V8 tranny problems. by carverman

Jul 08, 2011 (2:08 am)

My tranny problems appear to be occuring when the engine/tranny is heated up after a highway
drive. Upshifting is delayed. Tach goes up to 3000 or 3500 rpm before a hard shift which BTW
I discovered is helped out if I EASE OFF on the gas pedal a bit.
My Haynes manual mentions a throttle shift cable..but someone on this forum is saying that
the 98 Dakotas don't have this throttle valve shift cable and the shifts are electronically
controlled by the PCM and the Throttle position sensor (TPS) is somewhat responsible for that
and should be replaced on speculation of the shifting problem.
 
The Haynes manual says the the the throttle body shift cable can cause erratic shift symptoms on
cold engine/trannys.. or when they are heated up ...as in my case.
I'm going to get an aftermarket TPS and install it as that is an easy and inexpensive fix,
but does anyone on this forum have any ideas?
 
From what I have read so far..changing out the TPS in some cases did fix the delayed shifting
problem. As mentioned, mine seems to occur more so when the engine is heated up.
Being a temperature related symptom, it would make more sense to me that the TPS
may be temp sensitive at this point?

#897 of 1024 1998 Dodge Dakota 5.2 V8 tranny shifting problem by carverman

Jul 08, 2011 (3:32 pm)

Consulted my Haynes Durango/Dakota 1998/99 Repair manual. This book has saved me tons of
cash, both in "Check engine" diagnosis and troubleshooting electrical and electrical sensor problems.
I highly recommend this manual..it is a worthwhile investment if you are capable of doing some basic repairs yourself.
The manual mentioned that there is a shift cable that connects the throttle at the air horn (located on the other side of the TPS sensor) for the auto tranny used on the 5.2L V8 years (98/99).
(Don't know about other years and engine displacements though.)
 
It mentioned that on this cable LENGTH adjustment is CRITICAL to proper up/down shifting of the tranny.
Some people (here) mentioned that the shifting is done electronically by the PCM sensing the position of the TPS sensor, but there is a cable that is directly related to the shift control Throttle valve in these transmissions too. If it is too long (stretched) or too tight, it will affect the downshifts/upshifts when the transmission is either cold or hot.
 
My symptom was when it got hot..and this was because the Throttle valve cable was stretched somehow with 13 years of use. It was about 1/4 inch of too much slack at the air horn, where the cable attaches to the throttle valve shaft (the air horn).. on the same shaft that the TPS senses.
 
Rather than crawl under the truck and do the complicated procedure to adjust the cable, I decided in trying a quickie fix by inserting a spacer between the cable "ball end" and the bracket which attaches the cable it to the throttle shaft. I decided to use a plastic spacer (end of a tooth brush handle..which is about a 1/4 inch thick) to take up the extra slack in the cable and I could work from the top of the engine, rather than have to jack up the truck, stands,
and then have to try to adjust it lying on my back.
 
I was curious to see if it would solve the delayed shifting and not be misled by
the transmission shops or the dealers into selling me a complicate repair if
it turned out not to be the TPS sensor that I can replace myself.
I fashioned a roundish spacer by drilling out a hole and cutting a slot in it so that it would fit onto the cable end and not pop off.
 
Took it out for a trial run, engine heated up and the tranny shifted just like new. Ok, this is a Rube Goldberg solution..but it works and cost nothing to implement.
I'll order a spare TPS sensor, but so far, my fix seems to be working quite well.

#898 of 1024 dodge dakota parking pawl/ reverse issue by tim684

Jul 15, 2011 (10:51 pm)

I just got done replacing the shift selonoid pack in my 2004 dodge dakota with the 42 rle. The issue is that now when i put it in reverse and go backwards it clicks like it is part way in park. Is there any way to corect this with out tearing it apart again? Tim

#899 of 1024 Re: dodge dakota parking pawl/ reverse issue [tim684] by carverman

Jul 17, 2011 (4:02 am)

Replying to: tim684 (Jul 15, 2011 10:51 pm)
Interesting question. I have the 2001DodgeRam manual and it describes operation and service of the 42re. Which solenoid did you change or by
"shift solenoid pack" did you change all of them?
 
Did you replace the (electronic governor) pressure solenoid..the one that is controlled by the PCM for upshifts/downshifts?
 
  If so that is a linear actuator attached to a valve in the valve body, which has several internal valves (depending on what operation it is doing), and controls the front clutch, rear band and direct clutch for reverse operation.
 It also has a governor pressor sensor which feeds back governor pressure to the PCM to control the governor. Operation is complicated and it would depend on the parts you replaced.
 
 My Haynes manual also mentions a "Variable force solenoid" which is , 3->4 shift solenoid, TCC (Torque convertor clutch) solenoid (4th gear), pressure sensor and temperature sensor. (Not sure how many apply to the 42re).
 
There is a manual valve inside the valve body that is operated by the manual gear selector and a parking sprag that locks the parking gear on the transmission output shaft to the transmission case,
 so possibly the sprag may not be completely disengaging when going from Park to Reverse making that clicking sound.
I presume when you go back to D, the noise goes away and the transmission
shifts normally?
 
Was this symptom there before you changed out the solenoid(s)?
What was the reason the solenoid were changed(s)?

#900 of 1024 Re: 2005 Dakota shifting problem [grumpymike1] by walt37

Jul 17, 2011 (8:18 am)

Replying to: grumpymike1 (Jun 25, 2010 7:30 pm)
I also have the same truck as you and I am having the same trouble,when cold even in the summer put it into gear and the truck will sit and not move for 10sec then it seems like the trans builds up some pressure and starts to move with no problems the rest of the day unless it sits all day.
 
Did not know if you found a cure for the trans trouble?

#901 of 1024 Re: Transmission Problem [dawg6] by carverman

Jul 20, 2011 (4:21 pm)

Replying to: dawg6 (Jan 16, 2008 9:34 am)
That is not entirely true. The transmission has to warm up to a temperature
that the temp sensor inside the transmission sends back a signal to the PCM
that the temp is within acceptable range for the overdrive to kick in.
I live in -20C temps (which is well below -4f) and my 46re tranny will kick
into overdrive once the engine has sufficiently warmed up.

#902 of 1024 Re: long shift points [cabreco] by carverman

Jul 20, 2011 (4:36 pm)

Replying to: cabreco (Mar 27, 2008 12:27 pm)
I also have delayed shift from 2-3rd. I put a spacer in the throttle valve cable
going down to the transmission at the throttle body. It help somewhat but
it's still abit slow from 2-3 (around 3,000 rpm). I checked my TPS sensor
output and the Haynes manual mentioned that the reading on
(closed throttle)should be somewheres from 0.5 volts,
 to 4.5 volts at full open throttle.
My original tps sensor read 0.66 to 3.77 volts.
 
I ordered an aftermarker TPS sensor and it was worse..the PCM flashed a
check engine code (P-123) which indicated the voltage was out of range.
Rpms shot way up and the tranny shifted crazy. Engine would not idle
once I put it in gear and moved..rpm would drop off right down to 0
and engine would die on me.
 
Check the aftermarket sensor and it read 2.5 volts to 4.75 volts, so it was
defective! Glad I the old sensor was still working, so I put it back on and sent
the defective TPS back for exchange. Probably should have paid more and
got it from the dealer. Sometimes it is better to check them out before
attempting to drive off.

#903 of 1024 Trani problems by fedup25

Aug 05, 2011 (5:33 pm)

I have a 2001 dodge dakota sport, 4x4, automatic tran, 3.9L. If i drive more than 20 minutes the overdrive off light will come on and the tran will shift down to 3rd. five minutes after that the red TRAN TEMP light comes on. The wierd thing is, when i start the truck (wheter the engine is cold or not) and put it in drive right away it will start in first gear but wont shift until i get up to 4 or 5 thousand RPMS. If i wait at least 7 or 8 seconds to put it in drive after starting then then trans will start me in 3rd gear making for a very slow acceleration. There is enough Transmission fluid btw. All 4 gears work but its just not shifting right and it seems to be overheating(i know it is becuase i can smell it burning when i stop. there are no unusual noises coming from the trani. Please help !!

#904 of 1024 Re: Trani problems [fedup25] by circuitryder

Aug 06, 2011 (4:51 am)

Replying to: fedup25 (Aug 05, 2011 5:33 pm)
Could be a blocked anti- drainback valve in the cooling line, which will destroy a trans if it is blocked. If you have a 46re, the torque converter could be going out, and sending debris through the trans. The shift solenoid may be clogged with the debris, causing the shift problems. The solenoid can be cleaned with brake cleaner spray. I removed my anti drainback valve when I replaced my converter.

Messages Page 91 of 103

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