Let me start by saying this issue started in my first month of ownership of my Durango. My transmission keeps throwing code 0700 & 0750. Took it to my dodge dealer and was told that the valve body solenoids were bad. They replaced them and changed the fluid and filter. all for the bargain price of $865.

Within a week the check engine light was back on and the codes were the same. Needless to say I returned the vehicle to Dodge. After 2 days they called my up and said the solenoids they replaced must have been bad and they were replacing them again at no cost. I thought great, what quality control. Three days later I picked up my car and all seemed fine.

One week later the car was in limp mode. it seemed to start in 2nd gear and didn't want to shift. the when it did shift it seemed to be fine for the next day or so. Then pulling out from a red light shifted really hard in 2nd and on came the light. Again the codes ere 0700 & 0750.

Took the car back for a 3rd trip to the dealer. I told him that I didn't think the solenoids were the issue. I told them to thoroughly inspect my transmission as something else had to be the culprit. They called me several days later to give me the bad news. If you guessed that it was the valve body solenoids again you would be correct. I asked to speak to the mechanic and asked if if he thoroughly inspected the tranny. He told me the tranny was in outstanding condition and there was nothing else wrong with it and we just had bad luck with a bad batch of parts. But since he is now out of the solenoids he will have to order them. Shaking my head in disbelief, I again left my car in their not so capable hands.

A week later I picked up the car and as soon as I started it the engine light came on. Didn't even have to leave this time. Well they finally decided to replace the valve body assembly. I picked up the Durango this past Friday and this morning it went into limp mode again and the check engine light is back on.

So after replacing the:
fluid and filter
valve body solenoid 4x
valve body assembly

I'm still no closer to getting this fixed. As I said, they thoroughly inspected the tranny and have yet to find anything. The vehicle only has 88K so it is low milage for a 2003. Should I bother taking it back or should I just accept the lost $960 dollors worth of repairs and start on my own. I've done plenty of engine work in the past just never tore into a tranny.

Any thoughts or Ideas where I should look next would be appreciated.


2003 Dodge Durango
4.7
RWD
Automatic O/D
88K miles

 

In my 55 years experience as a licensed driver and diy mechanic for the family fleet, two vehicle things are pretty certain.

One, the dealer is about the last place I'd go for service.

Two, trying to find a cheap way to fix transmission issues is folly. A full rebuild at a reputable trans shop is the only one-and-done way to fix things.

 

I fix cars for a living and always get a reman unit when trans starts screwing up. It's just not worth the headache nickel and diming them.

 

I fix helicopters for a living. After calling around and talking to a few other transmission mechanics. I asked one, if the PCM could be causing the issues. He said it absolutely could. He told me that a customer came to him about a year ago and asked him to replace the tranny. he was having similar issues. The transmission was replaced and the issues remained. It ended up being the PCM. Being that $164 is much cheaper than a tranny and I felt all along it wasn't a mechanical issues. I decided to go for the pcm. If it didn't work, it was only 164 extra. I figured if I paid for the tranny after already paying over $900 for the valve body and it ended up being the computer, I would really be pissed off.

So I found allcomuterresourses.com and found my pcm there. It is re-manufactured and comes with a life time warranty. Provided my vin and mileage for the flash and received it within a week. Transmission works perfectly and engine light hasn't come back on. The computer, flash and shipping came out to $164.

My only regret is having to pay Dodge +$900 to not fix the issue.

 

I replied to Jeeper making the point that being a tech, I think it's dumb to patch a transmission on a 15 year old $hitbox. I never replied to you. I didn't misdiagnose your truck either. Why are you replying to me trying to make some sort of wise point?

 

Hmmm... When you and Jeeper replied to the thread and both pretty much saying the same thing, I took it as a general consensus that you both thought the wise decision was to replace the tranny. I also feel most people would have interpreted it the same way. If my reply offended you, it wasn't meant to

A 15 year old $hitbox? Really??? That's a little insulting... You haven't seen the overall condition of this vehicle. Yet because of it's age it's a $hitbox. It is in very good condition. You can tell by looking at it it was very well taken care of. No faded paint, the leather seats are soft and supple with no cracks, wear or discoloration. Dash and door panels show no sign of sun damage. I bought it with only 88K. The motor, if taken care of, should last another 90k. The only signs of wear are some dry rotting of a few rubber seals and bushings. All easily replaced.

While I'm not a car mechanic by trade, I was a aircraft engine mechanic in the Navy for 10 years and a aircraft maintenance contractor for the army going on 24 years. I like older vehicles and am fairly confident that other than a few items (internals of the tranny for instance), I can fix pretty much anything that will go wrong, as long as I can figure out what is wrong. This was the reason for coming here. To bounce around ideas and get differing opinions on what could be wrong.

I only posted what fixed the durango and where I got the part so others with the same problem may not have to do as much foot work or waste as much money as I. I spent $950 on repairs not needed and would have been very grateful if I would have been able to find this info somewhere before hand.

So if you're butt hurt over my post, I'm sorry.

 

I Think it's Dumb to have Someone as a Moderator that acts like he's Above the forum he's posting in.. $hithead