So status update. My compression was good. I replaced all the plugs with the same NGK Platinum plugs because I had them already and they were brand new. I reinstalled the stock ignition coils that I swapped out. I cleaned all the grounds, fired her up. She runs much stronger. Valve train is still silent. No strange ticks so I don't believe this is a misfire. Whatever it is to reiterate because I can duplicate it on command now by doing the following -
With my foot lightly on the gas pedal at cruising RPMs so between 1500 and 2200 I will feel a jerking / tapping / bucking through the steering wheel / gas peddle / truck ,- it will feel flat and hesitate to maintain and accelerate unless I stomp the gas pedal to the floor literally it's as if a full 1/2 of gas pedal motion is dead space then RPM rise and it accelerates sometimes tapping stops sometimes it continues hesitates and feels flat / weak again zero codes from transmission about torque converter solenoid sensor ! I'm still working today to try to get the O2 sensor free and replaced I also found a small pin sides hole in weld near cat that I will patch temporarily but don't see that being cause of the issue I'm lost and I'm desperate need of direction this is a real tricky one and I am beyond able to just throw parts and money at it now . I'm going to perform a pcm reset but doubt that's the fix because I've done it before I even had TCM relearn done by Dodge dealer maybe a gas peddle relearn if that's possible for the 03?

 

I would still be tempted to put some copper plugs in there, and see if the problem goes away...... I have seen these same symptoms on the 2nd gen trucks, they just don't seem to like rare-earth plugs.

 

after I get this O2 sensor situation straightened out today I’m gonna run it with my scanner watching live data for the torque converter hopefully my scanner is quick enough to pick it up when it’s happening I really hope I didn’t just sell out all this money for my transmission to be rebuilt just to have to swap out the solenoid pack

 

Several things influence TCC, throttle position being right at the top of the list there..... A flaky TPS or Pedal Position Sensor can cause TCC bounce....

 

I replaced the TPS with a cheap aftermarket one which is testing within spec. Both closed and wide open, but I do have the original stock one that I could swap back in easily. I'm curious about a pedal position sensor. Granted the gas pedal is very responsive except for when I'm in that one specific range. Under those circumstances it is something I'm going to look at. I know this model has no EGR valve and it's also cable not throttle by wire. Is there a relearn process for the gas pedal sensor?

 

Output from TPS is just a modified 5 volt signal, something south of 1 volt at closed throttle, and something north of 3.5 volts at WOT.... If the signal bounces AT ALL within that range, the PCM gets confused.... a digital meter doesn't react fast enough to catch that though, and older analog meter will though.

So you have an actual cable going from the gas pedal to the throttle body? Is is throttle opening controlled by the PCM?

 

I just see a regular steel braided throttle cable. I haven't traced it back yet so far after installing the new upstream O2 sensor cleaning all the grounds installing the plugs during the test drive tonight. I did not feel that strange misfire shuddering feeling, which is fantastic, but I'm not celebrating yet because there's been times in the past few days where it hasn't done it and then started doing it again. What I am noticing now is this complete flat spot in that same area? If I step on it the RPMs jump and the truck pulls forward like normal I was considering. Is it possible that my original transmission was a 45 and now I have a 5:45 but to my knowledge, both transmissions are physically identical and the only difference is in the TCM, specifically the programming. For the additional gear, it would make sense to me if that additional gear is the reason why I have this strange hesitation after 3rd, but I would have to believe somebody else would have mentioned that already. And I did take the truck to Dodge to have the relearn process done which only really resets the clutches according to the technician at Dodge

 

Ok, I would skip changing the map sensor for now, and go for the throttle position sensor instead. When mine was failing, even the SLIGHTEST movement of the gas pedal would cause TCC to bounce...... I used an aftermarket sensor, but, if you have the scratch, I'd see if I could find a mopar sensor......

 

i used a delphi on my 4.7, never had any issues, i dont remember why i replaced it, i think it was reving without my foot on the pedal, and sometime unresponsive when pressing the pedal, new sensor cured it

 

I don't know who the OEM manufacturer is, but, I would be at all surprised to learn it was delphi.