Hi all,
Im new to these forums but have always enjoyed fixing my own car until now. I have a 1998 dodge dakota 4x4 with the 318 automatic transmission 129000 miles 1 owner.
I have been for awhile not shifting properly and assummed it was transmission issues. I wasnt ready to tackle. Until i noticed the speedometer and the transmission were shifting at high rpm 3200 rpm. The speedometer would then catch up from zero to match the gear. For the longest time i would have to go from 1st to 3rd then back to 2nd and then into third again. I could time it and make the transmission do this. However it shifted hard or with a jerk when it caught. After much research and alot of good ideas from the dodge forum.
I changed the transmission output sensor and like magic it was shifting into 2nd 3rd just like i would expect problem solved. Until i drove it for and 45 min trip and it started not wanting to get out of first. Limped home with check engine light on. Next day while cold worked like normal. Went and got the code read got p0720 again after i just replaced the output sensor p0740 tcc unlocked for 10 secs and p1756 governor pressure not equal to target value. They went away shortly after. I have since replaced the governor sensor solenoid and transducer, new transmissio filter and fluid and replaced the sensor in the differential. Also put new plugs wires rotor and distributor to take care of misfiring cylinders.
I have no lights on. Check engine, abs, brake, all off.
The problem is i can no longer shift out of first. Park reverse and drive in first is all i have. What am i missing??? Any help greatly appreciated.

 

Page 1504 of FSM. This is from the 42RE section but it's verbatim to the 46RE.

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As i sit here letting the car heat up. Reverse is now taking a few seconds to catch and whinning when put into that gear and given gas. Test drive indicates issue still there. All gears feel like neutral occasionally one will catch. Note: turning off the engine and back on then jumping into drive gets me a few hundred feet before it stops responding.

 

Thanks magnethead i will check the possibles the fluid was a bit high might drain some and see if that helps.

 

As i sit here letting the car heat up. Reverse is now taking a few seconds to catch and whinning when put into that gear and given gas. Test drive indicates issue still there. All gears feel like neutral occasionally one will catch. Note: turning off the engine and back on then jumping into drive gets me a few hundred feet before it stops responding.

 

the only common circuit I see if a governor electrical fault. But that should throw a CEL.