My 96 ram 2500 4x4 auto for about the last 6 months has been shiftting funny. at 40-75 is cant desicde if it wants to be in OD or not. it will surge pop in and out real quick then be fine for awhile. Some days its better then others. Had the trans rebuilt last year less then 12k on it only 65k on the truck. no heavy towing since.

6 months ago the RWSS went out and took the VSS out at the same time. while it was in the tranny shop (dealer did RWSS) (tranny shop did VSS) they would hook it up to the computer and see what all the sensors were doing and the trans temp sensor would read -83* F then other times it would read fine. They replaced it no change. They say i need a computer. Take it to the dealer and it wont do it trans temp reads fine. But the shiftting issue is still there. They replace the RWSS and say all is good. 5min from the dealer boom does it again. take it back everything is fine tech takes it out drives fine.

I have been back and forth between the dealer and trans shop too many times and they cant figure anything out.

If i turn OD off its fine..... prolly cause its not in OD duh

advice? TPS? Trans? Computer? Harness? Ground?

Thanks in advance!

-Mike

 

Get a Haynes and an analog volt meter and test the TPS. Also , a blown plenum can cause loss of power and result in gear hunting. Read the sticky about the plenum on top of forum. And what size tires do you run?

 

Read the plenum sticky. I run 265 MT's. IT don't stay out of OD long just in and out in and out real quick.

 

Loss of power can cause that.

 

The PCM prevents engagement of the converter
clutch and overdrive clutch, when fluid temperature

is below approximately 10°C (50°F). Getting a reading
of -83 makes me suspect a bad sensor or wiring. I would
have to guess -83 is the lowest default value, but to be sure,
you would have to unplug the temp. sensor and see what the
PCM thinks the temp. is. I'm thinking the PCM is intermittently
not getting a temp. signal, dropping to the lowest value, which
in turn is keeping it out of overdrive. Since the sensor was already
replaced I would suspect the wiring harness.

 

I agree, but one would think between the dealer and the shop, one of them would see that. Plus I read the OP's post wrong. So you are right about the harness. (interior harness that is). I'd have one of the shops replace the TCC and OD solenoid assembly.
Which when I read originally, my dumb *** thought that that's what they replaced. Sorry.

 

Of course there is also this on the exterior. If that's what you were talking about.

 

I agree with above postings, but do not overlook TV cable adjustment in addition to the items referenced. The PCM has to get correct information, and the mechanical items (such as TV) must be doing correct things at the right time for all to work.

I am assuming that trans fluid level is correct as it had been to dealer and a trans shop, but I would double check - in neutral, of course.

 

All shift solenoids were replaced back in may. I forgot to mention.

My trans shop told me yesturday that there could be a bad wire from the computer to the trans. But they don't have an electrical guy there to do that kind of work and he don't want me to just start throwing money around at parts if he doesn't know exactly what the problem is. Dealer looks are getting expensive 69 bux just to have them look at it and not find anything.

 

I'd look into the plenum issue if I were you. And why not get a cheap multimeter and download the free 96 FSM from the FAQ/DIY section along with a Haynes and trace and test the wires yourself? I'm still thinking you have a power problem (plenum). At least check it and eliminate it as one. And are you sure they replaced the TCC and OD lockup solenoid assembly? Or did they just replace the Governor Solenoid and Gov pressure switch?