46RE rebuild....any advice before I start?
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Fountain Inn, SC
46RE rebuild....any advice before I start?
Hi Yall,
I’m new to the site and this is my first post but I have been reading and reading and reading more since the start of my problems and just want to start off with a big thank you for all of you and the help you have provided me with my truck issues.
I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport truck 2 wheel-drive, my issues started out being the typical transmission slipping, fluid levels where good so let’s replace the governor sensor and transducer. Good to go for awhile, right on!
About 6 months later drive to work on the highway and the truck didn’t want to move but RPMs where super high. So I park it and get a ride to work and come back afterwards. The transmission line that I later find out that has the check ball in it has blown off the radiator and practically empties the transmission of fluid. I fill the fluid back up to where it needs to be and the transmission acts better but not where it needs to be, so another governor sensor and transducer the trans is running beautiful again.
Almost a year after that the same thing happened again but I wasn’t driving the truck nor was I even in the truck (Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo!). I do another governor sensor and transducer replacement, fill the fluid back up and my local dodge dealer recommends a speed sensor replacement. The old truck runs better but still slips every once and awhile and at a complete stop the I start to drive off and it’s like the transmission is in natural and at about 2000 - 3000 RPMs there would be a big jerk and I could move again.
After a week of this I pull up to a gas station ready to run the truck off a cliff, I decide to just check the trans fluid again and low and behold there isn’t any fluid on the stick. (SON OF A @#$^%!!!!!!). I make a run to the Auto parts store up the road and grab like 4 Qt’s of ATF +4. Fill that sucker back up and everything is golden. I start making sure I look under my truck and everywhere for leaks to see where all that red golden they call ATF +4 went to and I can’t find a thing.
Another week or 2 goes by and the transmission starts acting up again, Slipping in and out of gear acting like it’s in neutral. Right away I check the fluid and yet again it low but this time not as bad. After the refill everything is good. Super pissed off, I decided to just go home and spend some time under the truck looking at everything.
After spending a good hour under the hood and under the truck I finally found the culprit. At the end of the overdrive unit on the belly of the truck is a line about 5 to 6 inches wide going from passenger side to driver side of the truck and the tail of the trans and the universal joint yoke is damp with ATF. (WONDERFUL!!!) So after investigating it a little further it looks like the rear seal is going but it only happens when I’m driving.
During all of this I have been on the forums looking and ready and went ahead and ordered one of the ATSG manuals for the 46 - 48 RE’s. After finding MontC’S corner and Rocky_Mtn_Rams’s 46RE transmission rebuild thread, I started feeling more and more confident about doing my own rebuild.
So granted I’m not a mechanic at all but my grandfather was a mechanic for almost 40 years and my Dad growing up in and around shops due to my grandfather’s profession knows his way around cars and then I come along and my family being the way it is I could not help but pick up some info too but never much on transmissions. With that being said I have no problems trying some new or difficult as long as it’s not morally or legally wrong.
With all this said and all the parts almost here. Does anyone have a recommendations, words or advice or warning before I start on my journey to conquer the infamous dodge 46RE?
I’m new to the site and this is my first post but I have been reading and reading and reading more since the start of my problems and just want to start off with a big thank you for all of you and the help you have provided me with my truck issues.
I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 Sport truck 2 wheel-drive, my issues started out being the typical transmission slipping, fluid levels where good so let’s replace the governor sensor and transducer. Good to go for awhile, right on!
About 6 months later drive to work on the highway and the truck didn’t want to move but RPMs where super high. So I park it and get a ride to work and come back afterwards. The transmission line that I later find out that has the check ball in it has blown off the radiator and practically empties the transmission of fluid. I fill the fluid back up to where it needs to be and the transmission acts better but not where it needs to be, so another governor sensor and transducer the trans is running beautiful again.
Almost a year after that the same thing happened again but I wasn’t driving the truck nor was I even in the truck (Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooo!). I do another governor sensor and transducer replacement, fill the fluid back up and my local dodge dealer recommends a speed sensor replacement. The old truck runs better but still slips every once and awhile and at a complete stop the I start to drive off and it’s like the transmission is in natural and at about 2000 - 3000 RPMs there would be a big jerk and I could move again.
After a week of this I pull up to a gas station ready to run the truck off a cliff, I decide to just check the trans fluid again and low and behold there isn’t any fluid on the stick. (SON OF A @#$^%!!!!!!). I make a run to the Auto parts store up the road and grab like 4 Qt’s of ATF +4. Fill that sucker back up and everything is golden. I start making sure I look under my truck and everywhere for leaks to see where all that red golden they call ATF +4 went to and I can’t find a thing.
Another week or 2 goes by and the transmission starts acting up again, Slipping in and out of gear acting like it’s in neutral. Right away I check the fluid and yet again it low but this time not as bad. After the refill everything is good. Super pissed off, I decided to just go home and spend some time under the truck looking at everything.
After spending a good hour under the hood and under the truck I finally found the culprit. At the end of the overdrive unit on the belly of the truck is a line about 5 to 6 inches wide going from passenger side to driver side of the truck and the tail of the trans and the universal joint yoke is damp with ATF. (WONDERFUL!!!) So after investigating it a little further it looks like the rear seal is going but it only happens when I’m driving.
During all of this I have been on the forums looking and ready and went ahead and ordered one of the ATSG manuals for the 46 - 48 RE’s. After finding MontC’S corner and Rocky_Mtn_Rams’s 46RE transmission rebuild thread, I started feeling more and more confident about doing my own rebuild.
So granted I’m not a mechanic at all but my grandfather was a mechanic for almost 40 years and my Dad growing up in and around shops due to my grandfather’s profession knows his way around cars and then I come along and my family being the way it is I could not help but pick up some info too but never much on transmissions. With that being said I have no problems trying some new or difficult as long as it’s not morally or legally wrong.
With all this said and all the parts almost here. Does anyone have a recommendations, words or advice or warning before I start on my journey to conquer the infamous dodge 46RE?
Legend
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX
+1. Also might want to consider double checking TV cable adjustmsnet. The manual you paid for is OK, but not any better that the fre one you can download in the FAQ/DIY section here. I printed the trans section and put it in plastic sheet protectors to have on the bench. Consider installing a Sonnax Sure Cure kit to valve body. Improves shifting.
If you rebuild, you will need access to apress as the OD unit has an 800# spring in it.
