I know I totally am a newbie about this but my check engine light came on today and I really don't want to take it in for something useless but if it is a real problem I should. Is there any way to tell before I take it in? I have noticed no difference in any driving and I didnt just get gas and the light isn't blinking.

'01 QC 5.9L 4x4

Thanks

 

heheheehhee- I've three posts here, and this is the second time I've suggested this... too funny, huh? It's my goof though and not yours..

anyway- turn your ignition on without turning your engine over three times fairly rapidly.. watch your instrument cluster.. it will render a code to you.. come in here and search that code for the error..

it really is that easy.. I hope.. or else, I've made a clown of myself... twice.. in three posts.. huh..

 

Thanks Its P1756

 

well, seeing as how I'm on a roll and all, I will rec this too:

swap both those solenoids.. you can do it yourself in no time flat.. might as well swap filters and gasket too..

when it truly goes, be mindful to manually shift your tranny down to first from starts, and then you can pushe her back into drive as she gets some mojo, otherwise that baby will work up a sweat, and heat jus' ain't no good fer 'em..

you're looking at about $200 or so, and an hour or so of your time.. plus another hour getting all that fluid off you and your tools..

 

Only one problem though, I'm 16 I have no idea what I'm doing though

 

ya gotta start somewhere my man, and you're going to dig this- I'm tellin' you straight: DO IT YOURSELF and you'll start to see that this isn't as hard as you are figurin' right now..

here we go: (this is from memory, and clouded by a few beers, but like I said- it's simple)

Go to the parts counter and ask for a pressure sensor and speed solenoid, for your year and engine of truck.. ask for a gasket and a filter too.. and make CERTAIN to get ye ol' MOPAR tranny juice..

crawl up under your truck.. engine looks different from down here, no? right behind the engine is your tranny.. underneath the tranny is a flat pan looking thing with about 16 or so bolts holding it up there.. prepare to get wet..

you can drain that fluid from topside by using a hose and a lil' hand pump, but this is your first job- so it's a right of passage that you wear the fluid.. sorry, jus' sayin...

unbolt the pan..

set that there thing on the ground. there is a plastic tray looking thing in there now, which is 'yern filter housing thingy.. it's held on by several bolts too.. twist 'em young jedi.. until that too, is in your hand..

now look closely at around 1 o'clock inside the tranny, (if'n your engine represents 12), and you will see two lil' wiring housings headed to two lil' sensors that look curiously like those from 'yon part store.. you're going to hafta get to 'em, and if I recall this was the only thing daunting about this job.. there is, in addition to 3/8" hex (memory serving me correctly here) a couple of star set nuts too (#5, again, if memory is correct).. twist em dude- paying close attention to how they are coming out of there..

swap the sensors..

go in reverse order till you get to the filter- swap it.. then continue to the pan you left on the ground.. Capture that fluid in something like the dog's dish (fido needs to poop anyway, right?) and look for your magnet in the pan.. it's a donut shaped thing that will likely be slimy with lil' shavings.. take it out and clean it..

put the magnet back in the pan, affix gasket, button her up...

add MOPAR tranny juice to rec'd level..

fire her up, look for leaks, look for codes, look for Fido to keep him away from his soiled dish..

drive it down the road knowing you just did a job that saved your truck some serious damage, and you did it all by yourself.

not too bad, huh?

 

haha okay ill try it

 

But first, go out and buy a HAYNES manual from Autozone or advance. Maybe a library wil have one.

You need a baseline to go back to. Or at least check to see if you have the right tools.

I have a haynes and chiltons manual. Haynes for tech, and chiltons for wiring (Chiltons has better wiring diagrams).

Pleas, before you do this, get a manual. If you get a manual, you will be able to do anything!!!

--Dan

 

also before you start, download and save the 01 service manual here
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...-gen-rams.html

and look at this (and all other tech articles here). beware - as a dodge owner, you will be doing almost all of these sooner or later... you'll need to learn this, or it'll cost you 1,000's of dollars to pay someone else to do.
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech-article-39.html