I'm a noob posting, but I've gotten great info from this board on some really important issues surrounding my 01 1500 5.2. So after reading the ever popular transmission posts, I still could'nt spot anything quite like what I'm about to 'splain:

Completed a filter / oil change and F/R band adjustment last week at 77k mi. w Mopar ATF+4. Ensured the proper Ram Service Manual procedure was followed for filling. I'm absolutely sure I'm at the MAX level (BTW- when the level was below MAX, whining and groaning and even buzzing all happened through out the filling process. Yikes! Since at MAX, never these noises again).

After a week, it threw a P1740 - TCC / OD Solenoid Performence code. I also noticed now that after morning start up's upon shifting into D, I hear a circulating fluid sound (like a washing machine w only water) for a few seconds. When I give it a little gas, the sound disappears and the truck performs normally throughout all driving ranges. It seems the noise only happens after extended time parked.

So my questions would be are these two issues related? Or separate? What would cause the circulating fluid noise? Any experts here that may have some ideas would be appreciated.

Is your tranny fluid level still good (warm, engine running in neutral)?

It could be your heater core gurgling. maybe a strange coincidence. try searching that. mine does it.

gobell - I believe so, but i'll need to verify this weekend. I'll update after I verify.

seabass - someone else mentioned the heater core too. I did install a new radiator the same work session as the tranny fluid change....hhhmmmmm...it's just that the heater core never gurgled before. Air could be trapped in there...I'll need to research this one.

Thanks for the responses

sounds like your fluid is low. due to the weird angle of the dipstick, the bottom side will read way above max, while the top side can be below max, and have strange voids on one edge of the stick. i fill to where the top of the stick is at max with no voids. this can be as much as 2 quarts over where the bottom of the stick in showing the safe level.

OK, verified trans fluid is perfect at the MAX mark. vaughn-you are correct, the fluid level checking process can be confusing using the dipstick. I must have pulled and wiped that thing 100 times to get it to MAX! I also added 3 qts to get it from "safe" to MAX for a total of 9 qts of Mopar. I'm glad I bit the bullet and bought a case of that liquid gold!

I cleared the CEL a couple of days ago, and it hasn't comeback (knock on sheet metal) yet. It is performing very well, very smooth and timely shifts.

I did research the gurgle noise, and so it seems to be another one of those "oops" Dodge engineering issues. I made the first attempt to purge the cooling system air by parking on an incline and letting it run w/o rad cap. It still gurgles.......so until I can try to confirm the cooling system air as the source of the gurgle, I'll keep from mashing the accelerator.

hey ram, welcome to df. i just noticed your hometown of marietta, home of lockheed and the big chicken. i grew up there a long time ago and went to sprayberry hs, both the old (now Walker) and the new. my mother still lives over there.

air in the cooling system will make a whoosing noise behind the dash, just to the passenger side of center. sometimes it will purge itself.

As an update, I was able to purge the air from the cooling system, and that was the cause of the gurgle noise. She's quiet as a church mouse now. However, the P1740 code has come back after clearing it. Looks like another trip down under to replace the solenoids. Thanks for all the help here, it's a great forum.