I'm new to the forum so bear with me. I love my Durango and other than the right side door locks going out it has been a real sound truck.

I've been having problems with my transmission in my Durango lately.

First, the problem was that on occasion it would have trouble, or whatever you want to call it, with shifting. Seemed to take a little higher rpm to properly upshift. This was rare and the shifts weren't hard so I didn't worry about it. It would be months apart when it happened. Now, it's having lots of problems.

When in D, it starts out in 2nd and I have to hit about 5500 rpm for it to shift into 3rd. It will not shift into 4th. It also will stay in 3rd. It won't downshift into 2nd or 1st (unless I turn it off and start over again). If I shift it into 2 manually, it will go into 2nd, or if I shift it into 1 manually, it will go into 1st.

Took it to Autozone and the reader gave me 4 codes.

1. P0551 - Power Steering Pressure Switch (this doesn't excite me as my pump leaks)

2. P1794 - Speed Sensor Ground Fault
3. P0720 - Output Speed Sensor
4. P0715 - Turbine Input Shaft Speed Sensor

The power steering is what it is, but the speed sensors are my main question. This would explain the shifting problems at different speeds, but is there possibly some problem that is common to all three sensors? I guess it's possible all three are bad, but has thinking that maybe another issue is giving me a fault code for each of the three. The TCM maybe? Are these internal sensors or maybe something semi-external?

Could a bad throttle position sensor affect these?

It's got about 145,000 miles on it. Is this the 45RLE? Are these trannies sound as a whole?

Also, someone told me that there might be a wiring connection or harness going to the tranny somewhere close to the power steering pump that could get sprayed on by the leaking pump. Any ideas on this?

Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

ok lets start, im going to go out of order here so bear with me

1) the 45rfe (rle doesnt exist) is an electronically controlled transmission which is able to handle the hp/tq of the new (at the time) 5.7 hemi, it is almost completely bulletproof behind the 4.7

2) if you find the ground problem in the transmission wiring harness that might fix all of the tranny codes, so its time to start tracing wires, unfortunately there is no other way to find it except a pair of eyeballs and a multi-meter.

3) power steering switches are known to leak and drip into the o2 sensor connectors, but not the transmission sensors, unless the fluid is being sprayed all over the place and then everything is fair at that point and contact cleaner will need to be used liberally.

4) yes those sensors are the ones that control shifting, get the lights taken care of and ill bet your shifting straightens out.

 

Thanks for the info. I'm sure I'll have plenty other questions for you.

 

This is for code P1794.
Symptom:
P1794-SPEED SENSOR GROUND ERROR
When Monitored and Set Condition:
P1794-SPEED SENSOR GROUND ERROR
When Monitored: The Tdn gear ratio is monitored continuously while the Transmission
is in gear.
Set Condition: After a TCM reset in neutral and Nt/No equals a ratio of input to output
of 2 to 1.
POSSIBLE CAUSES
INTERMITTENT WIRING & CONNECTORS
INPUT SPEED SENSOR GROUND CIRCUIT OPEN
OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR GROUND CIRCUIT OPEN
INPUT SPEED SENSOR GROUND CIRCUIT SHORT TO GROUND
OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR GROUND CIRCUIT SHORT TO GROUND
INPUT SPEED SENSOR GROUND CIRCUIT SHORT TO VOLTAGE
OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR GROUND CIRCUIT SHORT TO VOLTAGE
TCM - SPEED SENSOR GROUND CIRCUIT
TEST ACTION APPLICABILITY
1 NOTE: Low fluid level can be the cause of many transmission problems. If
the fluid level is low locate and repair the leak then check and adjust the
fluid level per the service information.
NOTE: Always perform diagnostics with a fully charged battery to avoid
false symptoms.
With the DRBIIIt, read the engine DTC’s. Check and repair all engine DTC’s prior
to performing transmission symptom diagnostics.
With the DRBIIIt, read Transmission DTC’s. Record all DTC’s and 1 Trip Failures.
NOTE: Diagnose 1 Trip Failures as a fully matured DTC.
Using the wiring diagram/schematic as a guide, inspect the wiring and connectors.
Repair as necessary.
Perform the Shift Lever Position Test. If the test does not pass, refer to Symptom test
for P0705 Check Shifter Signal.
For Gear Ratio DTC’s, check and record all CVI’s.
Most DTC’s set on start up but some must be set by driving the vehicle such that all
diagnostic monitors have run.
Note: Verify flash level of transmission controller. Some problems are
corrected by software upgrades to the transmission controller.
NOTE: Check for applicable TSB’s related to the problem.
Perform this procedure prior to Symptom diagnosis.
45RFE AUTO
TRANS
Continue
Go To 2
254
TRANSMISSION

 

Thanks for the detailed info. That's pretty in depth...wow.

 

Hello raven5, This was a while back for you I know, but do you recall what fixed this problem? Just so happen to have all these exact codes on the same vehicle. thanks!