Hello guys,

I got a 1999 dodge ram 1500 5.9L with an automatic trans. The trans temp and O/D OFF lights come on after a few minutes of driving and don't seem to cause any issues besides not being able to shift when going about 60+ .The person I purchased it from said they replaced the transmission from a 2001 dodge ram 1500. I was doing a bit of research and it seems the newer model transmission works off a higher resistance than the older sensor, which if the computer reads the wrong resistances, it will immediately throw the trans temp, and od off. I'm guessing why it won't upshift is due to not being able to go into overdrive. I have checked the trans temp after the lights come on and it is cold to the touch.

My question is: can I simply install an older sensor( ) to fix this issue?

thanks

 

Correct sensors are indeed the fix, however, how they are held in also changed at the time. The retainer is different, and you need the correct one for things to work properly.

Also, the harness inside the trans, the connectors are different between 'new' and 'old'. Best bet is to visit a junkyard, grab the rest of the pieces you will need, THEN change everything out. (with the new sensor/solenoid...)

 

That is what is puzzling, if the sensors and harness are different then how could the connectors fit. On the drivers side portion of the transmission, there is a harness that goes into the trans and that is plugged into the stock harness.

How could the 99 harness fit into the 01 trans without the "older" style connectors?

When I go to the junkyard, I'll be looking for the governor sensor retaining clip, and the harness inside the trans (guessing its on the valve body that the other solenoids use)

 

I had this same issue happen when I had my 46RE transmission rebuilt. The rebuilder had installed the late model governor/sensor and the trans temp light would come on after less than 10 minutes of driving, along with shutting down overdrive. Once I informed the rebuilder of the issue, he replaced the parts with the correct pieces and solved the problem.

 

Did he just replace it with the "older sensor" or the harness as well? The way I see it, the parts i'll need are those pertaining to getting the "older" style sensor hooked up properly(harness, clip). I'll hit the junk yard tomorrow

 

Pretty sure replaced it all, as the assembly he brought had wires, governor, retainer, etc. He installed the later model stuff, since I needed the transmission back quickly (truck was stuck tying up a friend's lift) and he didn't think it would matter, but found out later that those later model parts indeed caused an issue.

 

What vehicles will have the correct parts? Anyone know if a durango of the same year will work?

 

96-99 will have the correct parts. The harness connector to the main truck harness is the same, it's the internal harness that is different. And I think it is only the pressure sensor that is different.... (round on the older, rectangular on the newer.)

 

Should be able to check to see if the Durango of that year takes the same part as the Dodge Ram of that same year. I'd suspect that they are the same, but it would be good to check. Also, a V-8 Dakota might work, too. That's what my used 5.9 motor came out of.

 

great, thanks for all the help boys.