Slipping transmission 1998 Dodge ram 1500 with 96 trans. Changed rear abs speed sensor to get the speedo and abs working. Then did the governor pressure solenoid and transducer. Worked good for a little bit. Got worse.Then I did the trans speed sensor. A little better. Froze twice when it was below zero where it wouldn't go into overdrive and now it is back to slipping and no cruise control. So I tried a new computer because 0601 code came up with memory error. That didn't change anything. Now I just did the overdrive lock up solenoid which seems a little bit better but still slipping and no Cruise. I'm at loss of what else to do I re read the codes and got 71and 62 something with abs. Still memory check sum. Ive got good voltage and no blown fuses I can find. I really like my truck and have put a lot into learning all the aspects of the vehicle. It seems like I'm so close and I'm running out of ideas. I did notice that one of the o2 sensors was lower voltage by at least a volt. I disconnected the downstream and nothing different. If anyone has figured this out please help I wanna prove the Dodge haters wrong!

 

I can't find a listing for ABS codes...... What does your reader say they are about?

 

Didn't some things change with the 46RE transmission starting in 1998? If so, using a 1996 46RE transmission in a 1998 truck with a 1998 PCM may turn into unsolvable issues, unless at least updating the 46RE transmission's electronics...

 

electronic control unit read only memory check sum error is 72 and 71
ECU random access memory read write. Doesn't sound good but I tried a new flashed computer and it did the same thing so flashmasters was fast but it's 25 percent of the unit to try a computer again. My next guess is the abs controller? New sensors around so far that would cause problems. I'm stuck now driving my 99 Dakota 5 speed for backup rediculous that keeps saving me from this dog. **** the tranny should be clean as a whistle by now I've emptied it three times cus it was bad when I bought it.

 

Yeah I dk I do know 98 made like three different Laramie or some **** there's like small differences which are just to frustrate I swear. I have a 2002 Dodge 1500 4.9 blew a rod out the oil pan after I had it two weeks. After looking the truck over really I was disappointed I shouldn't have bought it in the first place. Too many chincy things and too small of a motor for a full size truck.and with the transmissions no wonder so many problems in same years because of trying to fix beginning mistakes in production.

 

Also when I drive and just let it ghost ride per say it lopes at idle now too like it keeps engaging kinda why I thought maybe the o2 sensors because one had a bit lower reading for voltage. I had to unplug them one on my 99 to get it to stop dying and such. Totally messed with the fuel Injection.

 

2 or 4 wheel ABS??

There are some minor differences between the 96, and 98 trans, but, the electronics didn't change until late 99/early 2000 model year. Mainly, the lugs for the t-case shifter went away, (as it was now mounted to the body of the truck) and the VSS went away from the tailshaft of the trans, or t-case, depending on number of drive wheels.

Was the trans you installed rebuilt? Or just pulled from one truck, and stuffed into yours?

 

I'm not sure all dude said was it's got new used tranny. Come to find out when I went to do the filter and such it's a 96 tranny and I'm pretty positive it's the 46re 4x4 transmission. The truck has ran fine besides the always slip in takeoff and it gradually got worse and got slightly better as I've added solenoids. and it froze 1 more time and slips horribly and has no cruise. Plus when I'm just idling along its lightly lopeing along. It's gotta be a sensor or something small somewhere. As far as I can see voltage seems to be fine throughout but I've never really in depth had to run down electrical through the entire vehicle. I believe 4 wheel because I did the rear abs speed sensor to get the speedometer working before I hit 35 mph plus that also made the cruise not work but my speedo is fine still.

 

You have more than one problem. If the speedo works, then the cruise should as well. The servo, however, is under the battery, and frequently is destroyed by the battery outgassing, and eating it up. It also has it's own separate vacuum source.... If you don't have vacuum, you don't have cruise. If the light in the dash is coming on when you push the button, then vacuum, and the servo itself is where I would be looking. Also note, that a vacuum leak will give you an unstable idle as well. The whole 'used trans' thing doesn't bode well.... No telling how many miles on it, or what it's life was like before you got it. If you have already changed the governor pressure sensor, and solenoid, and it's still slipping, you are likely looking at rebuild time.

 

I just bought a 96 Dodge ram 1500 4x4 5.2 basically the exact same truck with 130000 miles. Night and day by far. The cruise on this one had to be disconnected for the 4 wheel to work something with the vacuum. So I'm still going to troubleshoot the 98 because it's gotta be something with the codes. And it's now a spare part truck if needed. Its almost certain there's wear in the transmission but Im convinced the slipping is the attempt at safeguarding the transmission because of the read error. Whichever module is having the issue is what I need to figure out. The codes come up under abs so I'm next going to check abs sensors and the module. If the abs isn't registering right I could see that automatically make the cruise not work. The light doesn't come on. At the moment I'm trying to figure out every electric line that has any affiliation with the trans.