My 97 Dodge Ram 1500 is driving me nuts. I have a 5.9 liter. It starting not wanting to go into 3 or 4 gear on auto trans. I starting making a whining noise now it is struggling to go over 55 miles an hour. I have had it a two different Trans. shops that ran a scan and drove it but said they see nothing at all wrong and are getting no readings on the scans. They recommended to get a new cat. converter. I had my cat. converter removed and ran straight pipe
it made no difference it still does not want to shift. The engine light came on and I had it scanned at Auto Zone it read a po783 code which said electrical on lock out. Someone told me it was the shift solenoid and someone else told me it does not have a shift solenoid. I have had it to three trans. shops and no one can find out whats wrong. I did change the oil and put new filter and gasket. Oil was dirty put no sediment or rust in it and did not smell burnt. Anyone have any ideas?

 

Welcome to DF. Moving to the correct technical section.

 

There are two solenoids in the trans (well, technically three... but..) One for TCC, and one for O/D. (the third is governor pressure) Sounds like the first two aren't doing their job. Of course, the PCM should set a code for that.....

P0783 3-4 Shift Sol, No RPM Drop at Lockup

Which you are apparently getting. You could try dropping the pan, and replacing BOTH of those solenoids, and adjusting the bands while you are in there. Should take care of that particular problem.

 

Symptom:
P-0783 3-4 SHIFT SOLENOID, NO RPM DROP @ 3-4 SHIFT
When Monitored and Set Condition:
P-0783 3-4 SHIFT SOLENOID, NO RPM DROP @ 3-4 SHIFT
When Monitored: Continuously with the key on and engine running.
Set Condition: This code is set if the expected engine RPM drop does not occur within 4
seconds of the gear change being requested by the PCM. Three consecutive bad tests are
required to set the code.
POSSIBLE CAUSES
TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE (INTERNAL)
TRANSMISSION DEFECTIVE (OVERHAUL)
TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTAMINATED
NO POSSIBLE CAUSES REMAINING
TPS CODES SET
TRANSMISSION 3-4 SHIFT SOLENOID WIRING HARNESS INTERMITTENT DEFECT
TRANSMISSION 3-4 SOLENOID WIRING HARNESS OBSERVABLE DEFECT
351
TRANSMISSION
TEST ACTION APPLICABILITY
938 Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
With the DRB, read trouble codes.
Is the DTC specific Good Trip displayed and equal to 0?
All
Yes ® Go To 939
No ® Go To 949
939 Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
With the DRB, read trouble codes.
Is the Transmission 12 volt Supply Relay Control Circuit trouble code present?
All
Yes ® Refer to symptom P-1765 TRANSMISSION 12V SUPPLY RELAY
CONTROL CIRCUIT in the TRANSMISSION category.
No ® Go To 940
940 Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
With the DRB, read trouble codes.
Is the Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid trouble code present?
All
Yes ® Refer to symptom P-0743 TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH
SOL/TRANS RELAY CKTS in the TRANSMISSION category.
No ® Go To 941
941 Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
With the DRB, read trouble codes.
Is the Transmission 3-4 Shift Solenoid/Transmission Relay Circuit trouble code
present?
All
Yes ® Refer to symptom P-0753 TRANS 3-4 SHIFT SOLENOID/TRANS
RELAY CIRCUITS in the TRANSMISSION category.
No ® Go To 942
942 Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
With the DRB, read trouble codes.
Is the No Camshaft Signal at PCM trouble code present?
All
Yes ® Refer to symptom P-0340 NO CAM SIGNAL AT PCM in the
DRIVEABILITY category.
No ® Go To 943
943 Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
With the DRB, read trouble codes.
Are any Throttle Position Sensor codes set?
All
Yes ® Refer to Symptom list for problems related to Powertrain.
Perform Powertrain Verification Test VER-5A.
No ® Go To 944
944 Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
With the DRB, read trouble codes.
Is the P/N Switch stuck in park or in gear trouble code present?
All
Yes ® Refer to symptom P-1899 P/N SWITCH STUCK IN PARK OR IN
GEAR in the TRANSMISSION category.
No ® Go To 945
352
TRANSMISSIONTEST ACTION APPLICABILITY
945 Ignition Off.
Check Transmission Fluid level, and for any debris.
Is Fluid level OK and clear of contamination?
All
Yes ® Go To 946
No ® Repair as necessary.
Perform Powertrain Verification Test VER-5A.
946 Ignition Off.
Connect a zero to 300 psi Pressure Gauge to the Overdrive Clutch Test Port.
Connect another zero to 300 psi Pressure Gauge to the Governor Test Port.
Start Engine and allow Transmission temperature to rise to normal operating
temperature.
Put Vehicle in drive, with the Parking Brake on.
While observing the Pressure Gauges, select 4th Gear from Governor and 3-4 system
test.
The Governor pressure should rise to above 20 psi. Shortly after this, the OD
pressure should rise to above 40 psi.
Did the pressure act as described?
All
Yes ® Go To 947
No ® Go To 948
947 Ignition Off.
Remove the Oil Pan and inspect for excessive debris and burnt Oil.
Is the Oil burnt or does the Oil Pan contain excessive debris?
All
Yes ® Repair internal Transmission problem.
Perform Powertrain Verification Test VER-5A.
No ® Go To 949
948 Ignition Off.
Replace 3-4 Shift Solenoid.
Connect a zero to 300 psi Pressure Gauge to the Overdrive Clutch Test Port.
Connect another zero to 300 psi Pressure Gauge to the Governor Test Port.
Start Engine and allow Transmission temperature to rise to normal operating
temperature.
While observing the Pressure Gauges, actuate the 3-4 Shift Solenoid with the DRB.
The Governor pressure should rise to above 20 psi. Shortly after this, the OD
pressure should rise to above 40 psi.
Did the pressure act as described?
All
Yes ® Test Complete.
No ® Overhaul the Transmission per Service Manual Procedures. Pay
extra attention to Seals and Clutches related to the OD Clutch.
Perform Powertrain Verification Test VER-5A.
353
TRANSMISSIONTEST ACTION APPLICABILITY
949 The code is in the warm up cycle.
Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
Using the DRB, go to the Freeze Frame screen.
Make sure the 9Caused By DTC9 matches the code on the DTC screen.
Use this info for added diagnostics to help determine the conditions when the code
was set.
Using the Schematic as a guide, inpsect the Wiring and Connectors.
Were any problems found?
All
Yes ® Repair as necessary.
Perform Powertrain Verification Test VER-5A.
No ® Go To 950
950 Ignition On, Engine Not Running.
With the DRB, clear codes.
Drive the Vehicle 0-55 mph with a constant 20% throttle position. Repeat procedure
4 times.
Shut-off Vehicle.
Repeat Procedure.
Did the 3-4 Shift Solenoid, no RPM drop @ 3-4 code appear?
All
Yes ® Repair the Wiring as necessary.
Perform Powertrain Verification Test VER-5A.
No ® Go To 951
951 If there are no other possible causes remaining there is assumed to be an 9intermittent9
problem with a Wiring Harness Connector or Wire.
View repair options.
All
Repair
Visually inspect related Wire Harness Connectors and Harnesses.
Look for broken, bent, pushed out, or corroded Terminals and for
chafed, pierced, or partially broken Wire, respectively. Refer to
any hotlines or technical service bulletins that apply.
Perform Powertrain Verification Test VER-5A.
354
TRANSMISSION