Howdy all, my name is Randy and I live in Southern Illinois. I am having problems with my 2001 Dakota. It won't shift into drive.
If any one has any ideas and maybe a diagram of the trans it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks; Randy

 

Welcome to DF
Hi Randy, Leonard here. I maybe able to help. first what engine do you have in your truck? That will give me an Ideal what transmission you have.

 

Hi Leonard, it has the 4.7 V8, 2 wheel drive, clocked about 126,000 miles.
A friend of mine told me it might be an electrical spike, so I'm going to unhook the battery. He is a die hard Mopar guy so I'll try it. I'm really stumped on this one.

Thanks

 

Welcomee to Dodge Forum!! Enjoy the site!!

Dusty

 

Randy
Your truck has the 45RFE transmission and you should have some stored codes in the TCM module. Did you have any work done on the transmission? And do you have reverse? Just so you know, I will be moving your post to the dakota section.

 

I haven't had any work done to the truck. Have owned it since 2004 and it has performed fine. Reverse and the rest of the gears work fine, it just won't shift into drive. Auto Zone did the diagnostic and the code came up as P0733; incorrect third gear ratio.
Probable causes
1, low trans fluid. Check and ok.
2, Poor electrical connection. Don't know where to start on that.
3, transmission failure.

I'm just trying to check everything I can before I have to take it to the shop.

 

Thanks dusty, I'm hoping I can find what I need on here.

 

Did autozone clear the code for you? Does 1st and 2nd gear work if you manually select them? I would drop the pan change the fluid and filter and look around to see if you can find metal shaving or something thats broken.

 

Yeah, they cleared the code, the truck will shift just fine til you get to drive. The new filter and fluid are next, just have to have the time and weather to do it.

 

I've read up online on this and they say driver side is a plastic part that breaks and causes this. They say repairing the part will make it like new again. I hope it works out for you.