95 Ram 2500 Lt duty, 5.9Z engine. 46RH transmission 4 spd. I am finishing up a 6 month rebuild (ok, took 2 1/2 years!). Took the truck down to the frame for a total backyard rebuild. The tranny shifts good and smooth but the solenoid's fire 2 or 3 times on the 2-3 or 3-4 shift. Does not happen every time but will occur multiple times during a drive when I slow down to turn and the tranny naturally downshifts. I think its the solenoids I'm hearing. Loud enough to hear something engaging over the engine noise. There is a slight grinding noise when this occurs. The truck never loses momentum or hesitates. I tried turning the overdrive off with the dash switch and the problem still occurs. I have read multiple times the procedure for adjusting the TV valve. The lever is all the ways forward. The return spring is in place. The cable fitting lines up with the throttle shaft and both move at the same time. The shifts are smooth. I tried moving the TV cable a few clicks each direction but that only makes things worse.I soldered a new solenoid wire harness connector on as the old one was well used...no change. Checked the engine ground at the block..its good and clean down to bare metal. NO error codes listed. Fluid level is full. A new cooler was installed the last time and the backflow valve was removed. Inspected the flex plate. I don't see and cracks. Bolts are tight. Made sure the converter was full before I installed it and it was seated all the way back. When installed the converter pulled forward slighly as the bolts were installed so it's not pinched.
Now for the embarassing part. I rebuilt the 1st tranny myself with no experience. Seemed to go ok but when this issue cropped up I decided I must have done something wrong. Took the truck to a shop the assured me they had a good tranny guy that could fix the issue. Was told "we don't know what you have done inside (true!) so we have to rebuild the whole transmission". Sigh! Gave the ok. Waited two weeks and the "New rebuild" did the same thing. Back to shop. "We don't hear anything wrong, come get your truck". Warning signs flashing in my head. Picked up truck, same issue, and did a u turn back to the shop to talk to the tranny guy. "Oh, we don't have someone here. We ship them out". Then how can you diagnose my issue. Took one on the knuckleheads for a ride and he verified the noise. Left truck another night and was told my dual exhaust was banging on the frame. Really? Went home and removed dual exhaust and installed a single quiet muffler with no tail pipe. Now the noise can be clearly heard. Gave up on that shop and will not go back.
Still thinking it was the tranny I bought a rebuilt from a exchange place here in Portland that has a good rep. Same issue. The reason I'm explaining all the history is I'm now convinced it's not a internal issue but a adjustment or electric control issue. I mean 3 trannys can't have the same problem inside. I worry that if i keep driving this i'm going to wreck something inside. I know the CPU controls the overdrive and not the switch. I'm thinking the CPU is trying to shift multiple times. I never had any issues before so I don't think the computer is bad. Besides, its the irereplaceable Ram R/T computer.
I read somewhere that the throttle position sensor can cause crazy shifts. Should i replace that or any other sensors i'm not aware of?

 

First let's clear since things up. There is no Ram RT computer. Does not exist. Second your transmission is purely hydraulic (except OD and TCC). I believe you are hearing either something to do with the motor, transfer case, or rear end

 

Computer purchased over the counter at the Dodge dealer. it was offered in their performace catalog for the RAM at that time. It has a different spark curve and allows more advance than stock. Really woke up the engine when installed. Dodge used to offer a lot of parts they labeled as R/T. Don't know if they still do or not.
I will try to record a sound file and upload later this week. It's not the rear end. I suppose it could be the t-case but it sounds like its a gear dragging.

 

Clicking noises from the drivetrain could be u-joints. Does it change when in 4wd ? At this point I doubt it's inside the transmission.

 

There is no RT computer for a Ram. None. I have dealership parts books its not listed. The only RT computer is for Dakota/Durango. Even the S/ST Ram used a normal computer

 

Its listed as a Mopar Performance PCM. They make hens teeth look downright common these days. So far as I know, it didn't come standard in anything, just offered thru Direct Connection, or some such. (mopars high-performance group.)

 

I understunderstand, but nothing I read said it was available for the RAM. :b

 

P5249546 Engine Controller (1994–95 5.9L ATX Ram)
I didn't know those existed either.

 

 

None of them will work in a Ram