02 ram 1500 4wd. I'm suspecting the range sensor, (I'll call it nss for typing ease, I'm kinda stranded with my phone) but it was replaced not long ago.Well, 2 years, but maybe only 5000 miles. However, it's replacement didn't solve the issue at the time of a weird wiring short, which was resolved. Also however, the dash gear indicators weren't accurate or consistent with either the old or new nss. The connector looked horrible, but it was a ****ty shop I guess and they didn't replace it. It was oily inside when I bypassed it last night by splicing and using female connectors direct to the tabs, to rule out the connector. (Pigtail harness) I don't see an issue with doing that, hopefully there isn't? I'm thinking now perhaps the dirty connector fried the sensor. Is that possible? Also since the nss was replaced, we rebuilt the transmission because it failed. Could that have killed the sensor? Is it easy to change? I don't want to lose all my fluid. I'd be doing this roadside, away from home. Idk how to diagnose the nss with certainty... through this process I also discovered yesterday how to reset the nss, easy peasy. I discovered the problem with NEUTRAL because the truck wouldn't shift in or out of 4 low consistently. One little adjustment underneath and everything worked, twice. Then back to the same problem. Could the nss have worn badly if it was never set properly after the rebuild? And then it worked just a couple times then back to failing? I can't even get it to adjust anymore or shift in/ out of 4 low. So I've also suspected what they call the insulator or detent arm which reads the sensor within the tranny... brother, long text. Thanks for any help, or pointing to where I might get help!

 

Changed Range sensor, all good now. Harness seems fine. I could see wear on the sensor plunger.