I have heard that you can tell what kind of Transmission you have by using the VIN number?

Anyone know a website or how to read the VIN to determine this?

I tried the VIN decoder on this site ( https://dodgeforum.com/forum/vindecoder.php ) , but it did not give me what I was looking for.

I am curious to know what Transmission and Transfer Case my Durango has.

Figured this thread could help others as well, if there are answers to my questions.

Thanks in advance.

 

5.9 = 46re
5.2 = 44re
4.7 = 45rfe/545rfe in 03 (45rfe & 545rfe are identical)

Short of looking for an id tag on the transfer case you can email chrysler with your vin number asking for a build sheet.

 

Thanks for the info.

So are you saying the 03 has the 545rfe? (other years it was the 45rfe?)

I found a "Contact" page elsewhere on the forums, so I will post it in this thread for future reference.

http://www.dodge.com/webselfservice/...ull&category=U

 

Yeah, the 45rfe and 545rfe are completely identical. In 00-02 they were only programmed to use 4 gears sequentially with an extra 2nd gear for kickdown (who knows why), but in 03 they changed it to use all 5 sequentially still with the extra 2nd kickdown gear. So theoretically it could have 6 forward speeds (it did later in some Rams). A lot of people with 01-02 Durangos can swap out their TCM (transmission control module) with one from WJ Grand Cherokee, because they were programmed to use 5 gears like the 03 Durangos were (except the 03 Durangos have the TCM integrated to the PCM).

Here's some more info on the ratios in them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysle...RFE_and_545RFE

 

You can also take your VIN to the dealer and they will print you off a build sheet... In the past i have found that most dealers would be happy to do it, in fact when i took mine they noticed that there was a recall that was never done and ask if i mind saying for a few mins so they could inspect it.

 

Got a reply from the e-mail I sent using the webpage link above.

Some helpful information I learned:

DGES All 5-Speed Automatic Transmissions
DGQ 5-Spd Automatic 545RFE Transmission
DHAP Lock-Up Torque Converter
DH6S AWD Single Speed Transfer Case
DJDS 205MM Front Axle
DMDS 3.55 Rear Axle Ratio
DRBS Corporate 9.25 LD Rear Axle
EVA 4.7L V8 MPI Engine