Transmission woes

[en_shua]

I've got a 99 Durango. It's got 140,000-some miles on it. Two months ago, I had to have the transmission overhauled. However, I continue to have tranny problems. For example, during moderate acceleration from a stop, whenever it tries to shift into 4th, it goes into 4th for about one second, downshifts, then immediately shifts back into 4th. It doesn't do this all the time (just about 60%), which is why I think my mechanic is having issues fixing it. Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix it?

[rockadaous]

sounds like it might be the TPS (throttle position sensor) grey plug on the throttle body. $30 fix. durango's are famous for this going out. along with the speed sensor, but usually your speedometer will go out too. hope that helps.

[en_shua]

I replaced the speed output sensor last week (the check engine light came on for this one). I'll try replacing the TPS and see what happens. Thanks!

[en_shua]

Wish I could say that replacing the TPS fixed it. Any other ideas?

Thanks.

[rockadaous]

think maybe the transmission guys messed some'n up? did they give you a warranty on they're work?

[en_shua]

It's got a warranty, and I've been going back and forth with them maybe 4 times now. They've been real good about trying to fix it, but I'm getting tired of going back there. It's just hard to go to the mechanic and say "I think you might have messed up the rebuild. Do it again." But, that's basically what I'm going to do soon.

I'm starting to think it's something mechanical (that is, the rebuild itself and not a sensor). For instance, when coasting downhill, the transmission is supposed to shift to the next gear if speed warrants, right? Well, it doesn't do this correctly, as it feels like something is keeping the engine back until it finally does decide to shift.

Also, it does the weird shift that I described from gears 3-4 as well as sometimes from gears 2-3 (but less frequently). The only time the mechanic got it to do this weird shift is when he was test driving it at a low acceleration rate. He said that it's supposed to do that, or that it was normal. Whatever. It didn't do it before. Ugh!

[durango_98]

mine does something simular to yours. When im crusing in 4th it will shift into 3rd than back to 4th...etc just like yours is doing. Mine does it like 10perc of the time if that.

[en_shua]

Well, if and when I ever find out what fixes mine, I'll post it here. So far, I have even replace the valve body (I think that's what it's called), but that didn't help. The next step is to have the tech ride with me, with the reader stuck in the computer port. That way maybe he'll read something. (Yes, that means that it never does it for him when he drives it.) I'm leaning to think that it's either the torque converter, or the friction pad associated with the torque converter. But, I know nothing.

[en_shua]

I am nearing my wit's end on this one. I've replaced the PCM (that's the computer that's in the engine well, right?). I've flashed the PCM. I've made sure that it had the correct tire size in there. Heck, we even calculated how many times the tires will rotate in a mile and entered that number into the PCM. Still, this crazy shift continues.

[durango_98]

Mine doesnt seem to do it anymore since i took of my tb spacer. Maybe it has something to do with the tv cable needs to be adjusted, if you havent already?

[en_shua]

Mine doesnt seem to do it anymore since i took of my tb spacer. Maybe it has something to do with the tv cable needs to be adjusted, if you havent already?
If you would, remind me one more time what the tv cable is and what it does. I'm fairly certian that we tried adjusting it, though.

[Bamboo]

Based on what you described and the things you've done to try and fix it I'd say you got screwed on your "overhaul". They didn't do it correctly or maybe completely. Mine was just rebuild and they replaced just about everything including the torque converter, all new clutch plates, valve body, all new sensors. Been driving it a couple months now and it's absolutely perfect now after 71K miles of being freaking erratic from the factory.

Good luck.

[en_shua]

Kind-of what I was thinking. If everyone around me was going to charge close to $3000 to rebuild the transmission, and I chose someone who was only charged $1400, then I got what I paid for, right? Oh well. I plan on going to the dealership next week and have them take a look at it.

[Bamboo]

My rebuild done by a local guy was also close to $3,000. I wouldn't take it to the dealer only because they will automatically tell you it's f-upped and want to replace the whole thing. Find a good tranny shop (recommended by co-workers, friends or neighbors) and find out what the tranny really needs to make it right. I also checked the BBB (Better Business Bureau) web site to make sure the guy who rebuilt mine didn't have any claims against him.

Dave and his sons did an awesome job.

HTH

[en_shua]

Unfortunately, my transmission was rebuilt by a recommended mechanic. But, since he's lost money on doing this rebuild because of everything he's replaced and has run out of ideas, I just want to go to someone that should know everything about Durry transmissions.. I know some of the guys at the dealership. Been to their house. So, I don't think that they'll do me wrong, I just know they'll charge a lot of money for it.

[Bamboo]

That sucks. I wish you the best of luck!

[studlybilly]

The 46Re's are not to complicating of trannies. The symptoms you described can lead to 1 of 100 things to be honest (hence the dis-advantage of an electronic tranny over a hydraulic one). First and foremost have you tried disconnecting the battery for about 10 minutes to reset the computer? This would help in narrowing it down to a electronic shift problem. Also are there any check engine lights on the dash at all? ABS anything? This also helps narrow it down to electrical. As far as it being mechanical, it could be anything from the band now tightened enough to your overdrive clutch pack not engaging properly, and as said earlier this can range from a lot of stuff. It sounds like the transmission is confused and doesnt know what gear it wantst o keep itself in or possibly its not keeping up enough line pressure and falls out of OD. I'd try resetting the computer, if that does not fix it we can go back through your symptoms and try to narrow down the/a internal problem.

[Legalize_murder]

Its the TV cable. Adjust it to your driving style; might take a couple tries to get it right.

[airplane1]

Hi, I have been following this post to see if there is a fix for the shift problem cause i`m having the same.
It first apeared when driving on highway at 65-70mph when going up slight grade it would downshift for a few seconds then go back into OD, I thought that was strange cause at the speed the engine would have enough power without shifting.

But now it does it even on the regular driving I do. on level road at 55-60mph if I hit slight bumps in the road and my foot just moves ever so slightly the trany down shifts for just a second, but this keeps happening all the time while driveing it goes up and down and up and down from drive to overdrive.

should I take it to a dealer? I am going to disconect the battery tonight for 10min. or so and see if that helps,I just bought it and the warentee just ran out.

Then I will try to adjust the shift cable if it has one but it did`nt do this when I baught it so why would this change? can some one explain the adjustment to me?

this is causing my milage to go down and with gas going through the roof I need to get this problem fixed.

Thanks very much in advance,
Roger

:help:

[Bamboo]

Roger, the dealer is the last place you want to go if you're out of warranty. Ask around and get a recommendation for a good transmission shop. Many times the dealer will "farm out" their tranny work because they don't know what to do unless there's a DTC (diagnostic trouble code) in the system. The fix could be as simple as changing the fluid out.

It almost sounds like your motor is losing some power. When was the last time the spark plugs, distributer cap and rotor were changed? When was the throttle body cleaned of excess carbon deposits? Sometimes running a good fuel injector cleaner like Red Line SR-1 or a bottle of Chevron Techron will help.

You can see there's a lot of variables here. HTH

[airplane1]

Well I have the Durango a year and never changed anything, it has 72000
miles on it and is a 2001, I dont know if the used car dealer I bought it from did a tune up or if the people that owened it befor me did either.maybe they are original sparkplugs and all.

I do my own tune ups on my 82 dodge D150 3.7 slant 6 and 89 geo spectrum but I never tried to tune a newer vehicle, Is it pretty straight forward? what is a good brand of tune up parts to buy?

I will try the tune up first befor getting into the tranny, If the tune dont work then I will start looking at the trans.

[This name is al]

That blew me away. When I put a stroker motor in my D, I'm going with the Fastman (http://www.thefastman.com/transmissionComplete.asp) complete tranny, it is $1500!

[airplane1]

this is strange, my tranny shifts in and out of OD the first time I drive it that day. if I drive it in the morning it takes forever to shift into OD, when it warms up it will shift but then it`s in and out my whole trip to work or were ever. then after work or the second time or more I drive it of the day it shifts good and seems to stay in OD better but not 100%. I tried disconecting the batt but did`nt help.

Anyone have any more ideas or should I just take it to a tranny shop and get fluid changed and every thing adjusted?

Anyone use Amsoil tranny fluid in there Durango, good/bad idea?

Roger

[rimfire,22]

think maybe the transmission guys messed some'n up? did they give you a warranty on they're work?


rockadaous,

I wonder if they put the wrong tramsmission fluid in the trany?


rimfire,22

[rockadaous]

rockadaous,

I wonder if they put the wrong tramsmission fluid in the trany?


rimfire,22
if they used anything other than mopar aft 3 or 4 it's wrong.

[en_shua]

Wow...I should have kept up with this thread.

I finally took my Durry to the Dealership this week. (I know...I'm slack.) The head transmission guy took a look at it. After talking with me about what the other shop had done, it didn't take too long for him to figure out what was wrong. From what I understand, there is a bar between the throttle position sensor and the transmission (or something like that). Well, when the other shop was putting the transmission back into the Durry, apparently that bar got bent. So, no matter what tuning they did to whatever, it still wouldn't dial in the proper torque settings for the torque converter. That is why the transmission would sometimes switch to a lower gear for a brief second during acceleration.

Something a lot like that at least. The receipt doesn't show what work they did as the description of the problem was so long, but I think that was the gist of what they told me.

But, as far as I can tell, my Durry's transmission is fixed. (knock on wood)

[thunderchild]

Congrads!! :clap2: I know you are pleased about that! How much are they going to charge you for the seemingly simple repair?

[en_shua]

Congrads!! :clap2: I know you are pleased about that! How much are they going to charge you for the seemingly simple repair?
He only charged me for half an hour's work. So, roughly $40. Not bad, I think.

[rimfire,22]

Unfortunately, my transmission was rebuilt by a recommended mechanic. But, since he's lost money on doing this rebuild because of everything he's replaced and has run out of ideas, I just want to go to someone that should know everything about Durry transmissions.. I know some of the guys at the dealership. Been to their house. So, I don't think that they'll do me wrong, I just know they'll charge a lot of money for it.


en_shua,

Real bummer dude! I think you backed in a corner and the only way out is to take it to a new place or take it to your dealership. Either way your gonna have to spend money to fix it. Sorry.


rimfire,22

[en_shua]

en_shua,

Real bummer dude! I think you backed in a corner and the only way out is to take it to a new place or take it to your dealership. Either way your gonna have to spend money to fix it. Sorry.


rimfire,22
Yeah, pretty much. The dealership was going to charge me $2600 to rebuild the transmission. The mechanic was going to charge me $1400. I went with the cheaper, and I got what I paid for. But, you get repaired what you can afford. For a jack-of-all-trades, I think the mechanic did pretty well. It seems to have worked it's way out in the end at least, and I came out on top as the mechanic put in all those other parts (like the computer) without charging me any more.

In hindsight, I should have bought a crate transmission. :)