P0440 is the EVAP system. It could be as simple as a loose/bad gas cap or you have a leak in the plumbing.

P0700 is a transmission fault. The "good" news if there is any is that there is a fault code stored. Any dealer or transmission shop should be able to pull a specific code to narrow down the problem. Ordinary code readers won't read transmission codes, neither will the key dance.

 

Thanks, I did see a small hose that was broke off from a "canister" to the rear of the transmission, I suspect the broken line is from the gas tank. It'll be a challenge to fix, it's broken off clean at the canister. I'll get it to somebody that can read the stored code, that's 25 miles away and it'll probably be Thursday. Thanks 00DanDak and magnethead, I'll keep in touch and let you know what happens. I'm also going to go over all the wiring connections in the transmission area and clean them real good, I'm in the Texas Hill Country and this truck is carrying a lot of caliche (limestone dust).

 

Been checking out all the transmission places to have the code checked tomorrow, Dodge Dealer too, all of them charge about $100. I'll have $250 ($93.50 for the first check, $100 for the upcoming check and filter/fluid) in this thing if I do that. A junkyard in San Antonio gets $400 for one with 87,000 miles and 90 day warranty. Might just go long as I can on this one, then do the junkyard thing. I'm going to check with the mechanic that charged me the $93.50 and see if he can retrieve the code and what he'll charge me again. Any thoughts? I still haven't cleaned the connections and tried that (wishful thinking).

 

Well good luck if it's the P1740 code, I've had my 3.9L (90,000 miles) to the Dodge dealer twice for the code. First time had the selonid (A31 on paperwork) replaced along with filter and fluid ($475). Three weeks later the light came back on, another stall test of transmission and they came back with a bad PCM ($1300 quote). I replaced the PCM with a rebuild for $160 and the light came back after 400 miles. Have been driving for over year with the light on and really don't see any shift problems, or RPM over reving. All the articles say it's the Torque Converter that needs replaced. Autoparts stores list it for @250. Nobody can pinpoint the actual item that needs replaced, they all just say to rebuild the whole transmission for @$1800. Let us know what you find out.

 

You can get new Vapor Canisters on rockauto around $80

 

I cut a small piece of steel brake line, stuck one end in the canister and the other end in the hose. Applied 30 second epoxy from a syringe to the whole thing and rednecked it real good! Took about 20 minutes and used scrap material.

 

I'm in DFW, where you at out in Hill country?


If the clutch in the convertor goes like mine did, you will KNOW the second you take the pan off because it will be full of clutch dust making the fluid look and feel like molasses.

 

magnethead, I'm about 25 miles West of Kerrville in the middle of nowhere. I'm new to the forum and I've gotta update my profile and add some pics yet. My other truck is a 2000 Dodge 3500, 5.9 diesel, automatic, duelly. I bought it new in '99. It's about as clean as they come, I've taken real good care of it, the inside is in "showroom" condition. It has 268,000 miles on it and runs like it did when I bought it. Before that I had a '97 1500 Dodge Ram and my wife had a '97 Dodge Dakota, I bought them new in '97. This '04 is her truck. I'm redoing a '53 GMC five window and I'm looking for a Dodge 3.9 or 3.7 for a donor, I like the HP and MPG of the V6 and I need to get down the road at 65 or 70 MPH. The GMC drive train is dead.....dead. Back to the tranny problem, I wish I had paid more attention to the pan "sludge" it might have been that dust you mentioned.

 

Went to town today, got a new gas cap and the P0440 code went away. Still got the PO700 code. Have decided I will drive until the transmission stops working, then replace it with a remanufactured one. (junkyard stuff is a gamble, do it once... do it right) Sounds like I'm headed down the road bigclubs went. Still haven't checked out the TCC RPM test per magnethead, but drives okay and shifts great. Off to the next project (new brakes) pedal is pulsing pretty good. Bought new rotors and pads today, will be putting them on this afternoon or in the morning. Hard work makes my Beer taste better!! Also I bought an OBD II, will be learning how to use it.

 

be VERY careful with the slide pins. They strip out very easily because there is no unthreaded lead. Do EVERYTHING you can with hand tools.