[Mr.N]

Edit ->Root Cause analysis has been competed!
I'll post shortly...
(Hint it WAS NOT the TPS)
/Edit (July 2009)


Given:
2003 Durango, 5.9 46RE
65,xxx miles
7/70,000 warrenty
Tranny fluid was changed by dealer ship @ 30,000

The problem:
In the last 5,000 miles I had..

1. Tranny code, clear it.
It came back, but the light went away. (Kicker is I though this was stored in memory and I can't find the paper I wrote the code down on...)

2. Hauled a 4,000 lbs trailer 260 miles. With OD off I got 8.6 MPG.
(Note I've hauled the same trailer all last summer, I got 10.2 every time. Give or take .1 for wind)

3. Backing up the tailer I need 500-800 more RPM to make it up a steep hill.


So I take it into the dealer. (Charges me 1 hour labor)
No Codes, and computer codes were reset 111 starts ago.
Their test drive was without a trailer (I've never had an issue without the trailer.)
He say nothing wrong other than it's a 1/2 quart low on fluid.
Also said I shouldn't tow in overdrive, said it over heats the tranny and thus my issues. (Note: I NEVER drive in OD while towing! EVER!)

 

[epmills]

Just out of curiosity, why the hell would you pay an hour labor if its under warrenty? You shouldn't pay a dime for warrenty issues.
The only thing I can think of is that the pump isn't creating enough pressure, therfor it slips a little under load until it gets enough rpms to create the pressure to hold the clutches.

 

[Dakudaman]

Sorry but if my vehicle is under warrenty and they tell me to pay I tell them to GO TO HELL!

 

[Fluffy]

Just out of curiosity, why the hell would you pay an hour labor if its under warrenty? You shouldn't pay a dime for warrenty issues.
The only thing I can think of is that the pump isn't creating enough pressure, therfor it slips a little under load until it gets enough rpms to create the pressure to hold the clutches.

I agree..


The fluid disappeared somewhere. The pump may be on its way out. :huh:

 

[DEEZNUTTS]

Thanks for any help!

Given:
2003 Durango, 5.9 46RE
65,xxx miles
7/70,000 warrenty
Tranny fluid was changed by dealer ship @ 30,000

The problem:
In the last 5,000 miles I had..

1. Tranny code, clear it.
It came back, but the light went away. (Kicker is I though this was stored in memory and I can't find the paper I wrote the code down on...)

2. Hauled a 4,000 lbs trailer 260 miles. With OD off I got 8.6 MPG.
(Note I've hauled the same trailer all last summer, I got 10.2 every time. Give or take .1 for wind)

3. Backing up the tailer I need 500-800 more RPM to make it up a steep hill.


So I take it into the dealer. (Charges me 1 hour labor)
No Codes, and computer codes were reset 111 starts ago.
Their test drive was without a trailer (I've never had an issue without the trailer.)
He say nothing wrong other than it's a 1/2 quart low on fluid.
Also said I shouldn't tow in overdrive, said it over heats the tranny and thus my issues. (Note: I NEVER drive in OD while towing! EVER!)

they will try to get out of it anyway they can,,,take that thing back to them and fix it ,or take it too a good trans shop for evaluation and get an estimate,take it back to teh dealer and tell them not only will they refund your money but they will fix it or they will pay for the repairs stating on teh estimate,or legal troublewill ensue...dont give in either..

 

[txlen]

they will try to get out of it anyway they can,,,take that thing back to them and fix it ,or take it too a good trans shop for evaluation and get an estimate,take it back to teh dealer and tell them not only will they refund your money but they will fix it or they will pay for the repairs stating on teh estimate,or legal troublewill ensue...dont give in either..

do this exactly, and also set up a meeting with the chrysler area rep and talk to him about how dissapointed you are about the whole situation... i've seen how its done at my shop...

 

[Mr.N]

they will try to get out of it anyway they can,,,take that thing back to them and fix it ,or take it too a good trans shop for evaluation and get an estimate,take it back to teh dealer and tell them not only will they refund your money but they will fix it or they will pay for the repairs stating on teh estimate,or legal troublewill ensue...dont give in either..

do this exactly, and also set up a meeting with the chrysler area rep and talk to him about how dissapointed you are about the whole situation... i've seen how its done at my shop...

Thank guys!
I paid because they said nothing wrong...


FYI, I've rebuild Ford C4's so I know my way around an auto tranny.
Kicker is...

 

[Mr.N]

meeting with the chrysler area rep

Any hints on how to find the rep?

Going into the Dealer again tomorrow... same issue.

I was told the Torque Converter was plugged, and has to be replaced.
This was by a Dodge mechnic I talked to about the issue, he said it was common on the 46RE

 

[hskrRT]

When I bought my truck, it supposedly had a fuly built tranny with HD parts, and a Mopar 2400 stall. The tq converter never locked up on it. When i dropped my new motor in, I replaced the TC thinking it was just a bad Mopar TC. With the new TC, it now will lock up until the tranny gets up to temp, and then it will only lock up if I granny the throttle while accelerating. Anything over 1/4 throttle and it will not lock up. Talked to Danno, and he said it was probably the TCC solenoid on the valve body. Just haven't gotten around to buying a new one and swapping it out yet.

 

[Mr.N]

Talked to Danno, and he said it was probably the TCC solenoid on the valve body. Just haven't gotten around to buying a new one and swapping it out yet.

Thanks!, I'll do some research on that...

 

[caulk04]

Check out the factory service manual, specifically the trans wiring connector.

You can very simply apply ground to the correct wire and it'll lock the TC clutch. It'll stay locked till you kill the ground. You could use that to test whether it is a mechanical issue or not as well as to keep the TC locked when towing to keep down on heat generation.

 

[Mr.N]

Check out the factory service manual, specifically the trans wiring connector.

You can very simply apply ground to the correct wire and it'll lock the TC clutch. It'll stay locked till you kill the ground. You could use that to test whether it is a mechanical issue or not as well as to keep the TC locked when towing to keep down on heat generation.

Thank you!

Check to library tomorrow to see if they've a copy.

Just took it for a 20 minute test drive. :woot: Brang along the digital camera to record the drive, It didn't unlock :cussing:
However it is leaking tranny fluid right out of the bellhousing. Not a lot but enough to notice.


It always does this on long highway drives.... always now.

 

[caulk04]

There are FSM's available online, links in one of the forums here.

My 02 FSM states that the wire you need to apply ground to (I recommend doing it in at least 2nd gear first) is orange with black tracer. Pin 11 on connector C2 of the PCM. Pin 7 on the plug at the transmission.

 

[Mr.N]

Engine light is on!
Run codes: Get 1740
P1740 A rationality error has been detected in either the TCC soleniod or overdrive solenoid systems.


I had the 7/70,000. Just turned 70800 miles when the code started (3rd time). :rant:

Called the dealer and have it going in for a look. They said no charge (yet) and honoring my Tranny issues from the last three visits. Which they never found anything wrong, not even the code above that cleared it self.

Hoping for the best.
How do I plan for the worst?

 

[Mr.N]

Dealer replaced the TCC soleniod and overdrive solenoid.


ALmost 1,000 miles later I've the code (4th time)
P1740

Going back on Monday. (Don't trust the weekend techs...)

 

[Bad_banana]

damn man, thats horrible.

 

[Mr.N]

Good News?

Dealer called me today

They called the Chrysler tech line... they said to replace the converter and pump.

Right now it's a much as I could hope for, I just hope there is not metal doing damage in the tranny...

 

[Bad_banana]

the mechanics wern't able to tell you that in the first place?

 

[R/Tdurango02]

That why i hate the dealers, they useually dont no any more than we do, they just work on the stuff more often and use the same dam manuals we do

 

[PETE]

Tell the dealer theres a TSB for this I dont know if it would apply to your condtion but here it is TSB 21-11-00. If you dont know what a TSB is (Technical Service Bulliten) Good Luck...