Just installed shift selonoid on my sons 2000 ram 1500, 5.9 L, 4x4 truck. We did this cause it didnt want to shift out of first gear and also pulled code for shift solenoid. Put it back together, test drove it, no difference. Same things happened. He says that it does this and then the next day it will be fine. WTF. I did notice some vacuum lines not connected, but couldn't tell where they went either. THey were green and white. By the way, this truck has been worked on for a while by some very unfit mechanics. There is wrong stuff everywhere. I am leaning towards this tranny being shot, there were a lot of shavings in it. Might get a rebuild kit and redo it. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

A lot of shavings? It's a goner. Sludgy friction material detritus is normal enough, but shavings mean hard parts are eating themselves. They're usually from the torque converter, which means that to get to the pan they had to pass through the cooler, and the bigger pieces have hung up in there. No bueno.

Green and white vacuum lines are almost certainly to/from the transfer case/central axle disconnect. Those lines tend to get brittle with age so it wouldn't hurt to check for that and replace them if necessary.

If the truck is otherwise a keeper, the best bet is to give PATC a call. I could have a really bad case of confirmation bias, but I think their Mega Viper with their billet converter is the very best way to go. And also a remote filter, plumbed in where the anti-drainback check valve is removed, should be considered an essential upgrade. With that in there, the ATF cooler that you're going to clean the ever-lovin' shavings out of will remain squeaky clean for the rest of time, and you get a check valve in the deal, too, which will serve the same purpose as the factory unit that's known to be problematic.

 

I agree, tranny shot. But as far as the green and white vac lines go, they do go to the transfer case. The green one is just a vent, but the white/grey one is the supply vac. to the TC switch.

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/repair/..._engagment.htm

 

Hey guys, Thanks for the input. Tranny was leaking this morning, dont think it would keep it from shifting. Problem with this truck is he bought it from a someone that had no clue how to do anything right to it. Makes my job harder. I'm not sure if the tranny is worth rebuilding, the truck in my mind is not worth paying for a rebuilt one, but my son would disagree. I might order a rebuild kit. I have never rebuilt a tranny, but have worked on cars my whole life, seems like a rebuild would be straight forward. I dont plan on getting into the valve body. If you had any info on seeing if the tranny is the correct one for the truck, would appreciate it. Wish me luck. I hate working on other peoples problems.

 

If you have debris in the pan, you will HAVE to go into the valve body. Otherwise, you will still have problems.

There are a LOT of good resources here, and elsewhere on the web for rebuilding the 46R? transmissions. Check in the DIY forum here, for the trans thread by J415. There is a collection of links there to some walkthrus for just what you have in mind.

Also, several members here, that had never been inside an auto trans before, have successfully rebuilt their transmissions, and are still driving on them.

Check out MonteC's trans thread as well. On page six, he has a 'suggested' parts list for a member that regularly towed a 7K pound trailer. Pick up some of the upgrade parts on that list, and you will have a nice, bullet-proof trans.

Don't skimp on the torque converter. Don't skimp on the torque converter. Don't skimp on the torque converter. (yes, that bears repeating, either that, or someone needs to thump me upside the head.....)

 

It just so happens that a member posted a thread today with a video for a 46re.