Got a 1998 Durango with a 5.2 and just over 80k miles. When coming to a stop the oil gauge will bottom out on the low side and the oil light will come on. A second later the light goes off and the gauge returns to normal. The oil level is fine and the motor sounds ok. I have purchased a new pressure switch and will swap it out this weekend. Do you think that will fix it?

I also have a transmission question. It threw a code regarding the 3-4 shift solenoid. The fluid looks good but the transmission is way over full. It still drives just fine but I will also be replacing the filter in it just in case so I can get the fluid down as well. Could the excess fluid have caused the code?

 

Most likely its the solenoid pak inside the transmission that is shot they are common failures. I have also seen this code (assuming its P0783) thrown for bad speed sensors, bad throttle position sensors, bad camshaft sensor and while very rare a bad PCM. I am going to guess that the "way to full" fluid level probably killed them as even the smallest partical can kill them as well.

Since you have to drop the pan anyways i would start with the solenoid pak because you have to drop the pan for it as well. Here is a thread i wrote on how i did it ~~> https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ml#post2944329

 

It could be that because its too full the fluid level while running touches some of the spinnings gears and other parts and it can froth it up and cause bubbles which can make their way sucked into the pump and out into the system where it can cause issues. I'd say get the level right first and then see how it is. But the solenoids can and do go out on these, the good news is that getting the valve body out to change them is done fairly easily and the transmission can stay in the truck, you get to it once the pan is off.

 

Thanks for the info, I will do the filter and I got a drain plug for the pan as well and see if the level change works. It's been two weeks since we cleared the code and it hasn't come back yet. If it happens again I will be going for the solenoid. Nice write up on the process, I will definitely use that should the solenoid turn out to be the issue.

Any ideas about the oil light?

 

that is exactly how mine started... would throw the code once every 5-6 months after resetting then it turned into every 50-60 miles after resetting.

as far as the oil problem it usually is either the sensor or low fluid.

 

Well I got everything done today. Changing the oil switch was a pain, not much room to swing a wrench in there. Unfortunately it wasn't acting up when I picked it up so I can't tell if it fixed the problem. I got the transmission filter changed as well and a drain plug installed in the pan. There was a little bit of material on the magnet but nothing to get excited about. One thing that was annoying is the filter kit stated I would need 4 quarts of fluid....and I had to make another trip into town for 2 more quarts to top it off.

Another question, is the factory pan gasket reusable? It seems quite sturdy like you could use it multiple times. I used the new gasket that came with the filter just in case. I had a 2000 mustang and the factory trans gasket was reusable, it was even printed on the gasket. I put it to the test as I ended up pulling the pan off 3 times in one week.

 

Yes it is.