Hey guys I have a 97 dodge 1500 sport 4x4 with the 318 and a 4 speed with OD tranny. Just recently my after warming up I drove my truck and it would not go into OD, I put the truck in park and let it idle for about 10 minutes then it worked fine. After driving and shutting off a lot that day I then took a 7 hour drive and about 6.5 hours into the drive it would not go into overdrive. I shut the truck off for about 10 minutes and then it worked fine. Other than that the transmission was acting fine, any ideas? It was also about zero degrees for the entire day/drive.
Thanks guys

 

Possible failing solenoid. Are you getting any trans codes? (Not sure if they will set the CEL on their own....) Wouldn't hurt to plug in with a code reader, and see what the PCM thinks is going on.

 

You have symptoms of a failing overdrive solenoid possibly. In experience, if you still have first gear when it does that, then your pcm will disable overdrive if the trans is overheating. I suspect you might be running low on fluid or ur cooler is malfunctioning. If all is well fluid wiseover aim towards replacing the OD solenoid. But as heyyou has stated, check codes prior.

 

Is that solenoid a bitch to replace?

 

I hope you checked your fluid level. Ya it is a bitch. You have to drop pan and remove the valve body to access the sensor on the side of it.

 

Also when driving in that cold of weather, I'd recommend letting ur truck warm up a bit before driving it if you haven't already

 

Yes the first time it occurred was after the truck had warmed up for atleast a half hour, when I started it that morning it was about -10 during my 7 hour trip it was probably 0.

 

Alright well your most likely going to have to replace that sensor. If your confident enough, you might wanna replace a few other things in there as well while you have it open. Really depends upon how well its shifting besides that.

 

Shifts good, just don't wanna dump any money into it now because I'm doing a cummins And a 5 speed swap soon, just need to make this 7 hour drive 3 more times before I do it

 

well then just a new $80 sensor and some new atf4 oughta do it