Ok guys need some opinions...I have a 2001 Ram with the 5.2 and a little over 160,000. Just bought it a couple of weeks ago and in general its in great shape for the model it is. (Around here most of the 2nd gen Dodge trucks have been RAGGED all to hell). Motor seems to run smooth (have several projects/mods in mind for later) and the tranny seems to be ok (no major noises, shifts good, etc) EXCEPT the OD doesnt work and the Cruise also doesnt work. From my research on here I know that this is an indication of a bad speed sensor (which I have picked up but haven't installed yet due to the weather). I will probably get around to replacing this sometime in the next week. I will also probably replace the governor solenoid and governor pressure sensor at the same time as well as new filter and fluid. I am also thinking about doing the Sonnax Sure Cure at the same time. Question is this: what else should I think about doing at this point? My immediate concern is getting the OD working (and CC) so is there anything else I need to check/change that would affect the OD and CC. Should I replace the speed sensor first and see if that fixes the problem or go ahead and change all three while I'm at it?
BTW the PO already did the check valve delete..

 

Are you getting any codes? Is the O/D Disabled lite on?

Cruise may just be a vacuum problem.....

 

adjust the bands while your at it.

 

@HeyYou
When I first got the truck the check engine light was on so checked the codes. Only one is P0138 for the O2 sensor. Cleared them and then it popped up again so I know I've gotta change the sensor but that is the only code. The OD button on the gearshift does turn the OD light on and off but still no OD...yeah I was thinking the CC might be a vacuum problem too but haven't had the chance to really check it. Only reason I was assuming the speed sensor was from research on the forum.
Update: drove the truck this evening and the CEL light went out. Drove about 45 mins 30-50 mph and light never came back on. Jumped on interstate for about 4 miles but still didn't kick into overdrive. (I didn't figure it would.)

 

My 96 5.2l auto had problems going into OD. I spent the money to have it looked over by a trusted tranny shop. The guys there told me that new fluid and filter solves a lot of tranny problems, and it fixed my issue!

 

Well I changed the trans fluid and filter and pulled the governor pressure sensor and solenoid and cleaned them up. There was some shavings on the magnet but nothing too awful bad. I did find a small piece of a snap ring which I hear is common for these trannys. Adjusted the bands also. Still no overdrive so I'm thinking its probably the overdrive solenoid. Gotta check and see if theres anyway to test it but if not then time to buy a new part I guess. Everything else seems to be ok tranny wise. Changing the fluid and filter helped with a slight whine I had in the tranny and it seems to shift a little smoother but didn't really have any problems before other than no OD. From the looks of it the PO wasn't the greatest as far as maintenance is concerned and with the broken piece of snap ring it kinda makes me worry a little. I'm kinda thinking about buying a tranny that a guy has for sale near me for a reasonable price and getting a rebuild kit and rebuilding that one to put in my truck at a later date. Still tossing the idea around anyway. Gotta look around and find a decent priced rebuild kit for it though. I can't afford one of those kick butt performance kits so I will probably try to find something cheaper and closer to stock. I don't really abuse my tranny any (not a lot of towing just minor stuff and not a whole lot of off roading) so I'm hoping that a cheaper rebuild kit will be ok. I will probably do the Sonnax Sure Cure also. I've been searching through the posts trying to find a good cheap rebuild kit but seems like most guys are beefing theirs up during rebuild. At the risk of getting something thrown at me I have a question for you tranny guys, What would you suggest as far as a rebuild kit for a poor boy like me? I would like to keep the cost of the kit under $300 if possible but the cheaper the better. I've done searches myself but in all honesty I don't know whats good and whats not as far as tranny kits. Suggestion?

 

Check out wittrans.com. They will have everything you need. Go a bit better than stock though..... if you are going to do it, do it once, do it right, and then don't worry about it for quite some time.....

Picking up another trans to rebuild is an excellent plan. That's the route I plan to take as well.... (soon as I can afford it....)

On page six of montec's trans thread, he has a list of parts for a member that tows a 7k pound trailer. Just get the basic stuff from that list, and leave out the beefy hard parts, and the GM governor solenoid conversion. (get the heavy duty bw feller instead.) Probably run a bit over your 300 dollar target, as the sonnax sure cure is over 200........

 

Thanks HeyYou. Appreciate the info. Will check out the post in MonteC's corner. I've been reading that thread quite a bit but wasn't sure which parts would be right for me. I totally agree about going a little better than stock because I don't want to have to do this again. Lol. I feel like I am a capable enough mechanic to do the rebuild, especially with all the awesome info I have found here, but when it comes to looking at/ choosing parts it makes my dang head spin looking through all the info when I don't have enough experience at tranny work to know what is "econimical" and whats JUNK.
Yeah I'm hoping to work out a deal on this tranny soon. Since my truck is my daily vehicle then I can't afford to have it down that long so I figured this route would be my best bet for the least amount of downtime.
I think I could handle a little more than the 300 budget I mentioned, just can't afford to put major money into it like I would like too. Guess for now I will just have to check out the parts sites and drool...

 

sonnax sure cure kit is $140 shipped for our transmission from stores on ebay... borg warner uprade soleniod is under $60..(I bought one there a short while back.) as well as a new borg warner 02 sensor for $20...
My question is what happens when you hit the od button? do the rpm's change at all? Is the torque converter locking up? I wonder if there's just a loose plug or vacum hose going to the tranny... the OD soleniods themselves rarely fail.... you may have more serious issues... (they are under $60 for an oem replacement too on ebay and you can get all three things overdrive soleniod gov pressure sensor and soleniod as well as a gasket I believe in a kit for like $200....just search "46re" on ebay...
And is it possible your getting the 02 sensor code because the po gutted your cat? may want to try swapping the two 02 sensors around and see if the issue goes away permenantly...

 

Although it is possible, I am doubting the OD solenoid is faulty....I would have a scan tool attached and look at some data......Look at engine and transmission temperatures specifically and also brake switch data..An open brake switch will definitely knock out cruise and tcc operation......