Ok, so I got rid of my 24V with headaches, and apparently picked up a 12V with someone else's headaches.. So, out of the frying pan, into the fire.I've been working out some kinks on this '97. I test drove it last friday, and from what I recall, it seemed to be fine.. Unless I didn't notice it (my fault for lack of due-diligence.)At any rate, the issue (for this thread) is the transmission.Story goes: 2 owners ago, dude bought a Jasper trans, installed it, killed it, warrantied it, killed that one, warrantied it, killed it, then Jasper said "this is your last one."so he pulled the 5spd from this '97, installed the Jasper auto in it, and stuck the 5 speed into the truck that he was using to kill transmissions.However, he did a ____-poor job, and sold it to last owner, who killed the poorly/improperly incomplete install in short order. So he took it to a diesel trans guy in MD, who rebuilt the Jasper trans using triple disc TC, red clutches, kevlar bands, HD valve body, etc. (parts from HTS Diesel).Installed a PCM (to replace a non-existant one) and rewired everything, so to speak, or so the story goes.Fast forward to me.. ( I don't need any "I told you so" type stuff, because I know. Believe me, I know.. One word: Wife. )I drove it home last friday, and all seemed well, although I did notice it seemed to rev a little higher to get it moving.. Granted, I'm new to autos, as my '01 was a manual, and the '96 before that, was manual, so I'm somewhat rusty on how they perform/react. Thought maybe the TC had a little higher stall.Last night, my 7 y.o. daughter wanted to ride around the block in the new dually.. Wish granted. That's when I noticed that something wasn't quite right... No low/1st gear engagement. Neither with shifter in D, or if I manually drop it to L (1), nothing, nada.. it seems to stay in 2nd gear or so.. I will add that if in D, at a stop, let off the brake and the truck starts to creep forward.. give a little throttle and drop it into 2nd, it feels to almost 'drop' a gear, as the forward progress seems to be a more positive engagement, but still no 1st. Driving 30mph, slow prepare for a stop sign, drop lever to 2, it downshifts.. drop to 1 from like 10mph, no gear change/drop occurs.. it stays in 2nd..TC lockup and such works, and with the 4.10s, 60-65mph yeilds about 1900-2000rpm.The Coolant Temp Sensor circuit is fubar somewhere, as is the tach in the I/C. The tach does read through the scan gauge, however, so the Crank Position Sensor seems to be operational.I was told this trans has a 3/36 warranty, but getting that info is proving to be a tad on the tough side..Trans looks fresh, complete with gray paint, Jasper stickers, etc., so it was apparently rebuilt in the Jasper case.Help. I need to troubleshoot this as inexpensively as I can, for obvious reasons.

can any of you with 12V autos verify what yours may read under same conditions?

- - - Updated - - -

So I did a little transmission testing after I got home from work..

I disconnected the tv cable from the trans side.. I then took a piece of lace wire and tied the tv arm (on the trans) to about 1/2-3/4 position and took the truck for a spin.

WOW!

What a different truck to drive..

1-2 shift occurs around 10mph, and 2-3 around 25-30mph. More so, both occur around 2000-2100rpm. They are VERY POSITIVE shifts (as to be expected with a "built trans") and the truck flat-out flies. It pulls extremely hard with about 50-75% throttle positions.. You can even feel a positive down-shift when slowing to a stop, etc., rather than feeling just.. well.. mushy..

So, I think the main issue may be a pressure control problem in the tv cable and/or it's operation. I've already tried to adjust it (previously) to no avail..

So now I need to concentrate on that aspect of the transmission issue..

Additionally, with the tv cable disco'd, the throttle response (and ease of pedal travel) is a lot better/easier. The truck pegged 25-30psi easily, as well, which it never did before.

- - - Updated - - -

I have to say, that I am totally amazed that this thread has gotten very little response and/or input from you guys..

I'm not bitchin, more so just surprised..

Maybe no one has experienced the symptoms you are having and therefore, don't have any input to provide.Sometimes the topic isn't of specific interest so people just rush through and don't respond.Seems like the thread has had a fair number of reads. :think:Maybe the tranny specialists haven't been on for a while?Maybe this is a test to see if through perseverance you will be able to identify and solve the problem yourself and thus expand your own personal knowledge and share it with others. Just my .

maybe so, john.. but a sound-board would be nice, once in awhile! lolyou know, to bounce ideas off of?

I own a stock RE bu I'm clueless.

thanks russ. next time you drive it, take not of what rpm/mph it seems to change gears (1-2, 2-3, 3-OD, LU) please..danke

what rpm/mph it seems to change gears (1-2, 2-3, 3-OD, LU) please.. danke

Mine will shift real early if I am not pushing hard on the throttle. Low speed it will shift 1-2 under 10mph and 2-3at less than 20mph and into O/D at 47mph.

Update:So Friday, I fooled around with the tv cable and stuff..I looked at the cable, and the IP end of the cable has a plastice clip/tube thingy. That end of the cable has a steel ball on the end. I found that with all the stack adjustment taken out, the throttle linkage will move about 1/2" before it would pull the tv cable. So, I took some SS lace wire and wrapped around the steel cable (behind the ball-end) to make a spacer, of sorts. I made this about 1/2" long, re-installed, then adjusted the cable. It now pulls the tv cable about 1/16" after the throttle is moved; this is a good thing.Now, the trans will shift about 17-1800rpm, or around 15mph, from 1-2 gear. 2-3 gear change also occurs around 1800rpm, or ~24-25mph. OD and LU still occur around 40mph, though, so this still needs attention.I'll continue to toy with this setup to 'fine tune' this to my liking.Also, I installed the cruise control servo, but I've got nothing.. it doesn't even power on. Also appears there are some pins missing from the PCM to control this, but the schematics are quite confusing..

On Post #59 you stated that "the tv cable is rather new, by the looks of it and the parts tag is still nice, clean, and intact". Have you checked the part number to make sure the TV Cable is the correct part number?Good Luck

to be honest, I haven't even found a tv cable for sale to compare it to. LOL

I'm running a manual, so I haven't any advice, but I admire your tenacity at getting to the problem. Excellent play by play, I would have had it in the shop bleeding dollars to repair it.

I'm broke as a joke, so I have to fix it

This is how I got a little extra adjustment out of my cableDidnt have anymore adjustment ran into the problem when I installed my built trans out of my 00 into my 98.5. The ziptie just puts alittle more tension on the cable to get the shift points a little lower like you mentioned in earlier posts

I tried that with a spring, and it just didn't really seem to help much, in my case, anyway..

I havent kept up very well with what you have/havent tried, but I do know when swapping my trans from my 00 to my 98.5, I had to change valvebodies out. I dont know the differences specifically, I just took it to my tranny guy (who is a friend) after I dropped it and he put the trans up on his bench and swapped out valvebodies. I know the p.o. swapped from a manual to an auto, hopefully he got the right stuff in there for the year of the truck. Ive been more than a little spoiled, any issues Ive ever had hes resolved for the cost of the parts, including when he built my trans. He really knows his stuff when it comes to Dodge transmissions. If theres any questions you may have I can certainly try to pick his brain.

So, yesterday I ordered a new steel line for my transmission. Yesterday (after), my trans line blew apart again, and dumped 2 gal. of fluid down the street..

:banghead:

99% of my problems with this !@#$% truck revolves around this transmission. I'm so sick of this thing. I can't afford to fix it, and I cant afford to replace it. So I'm sorta stuck.

It's been really cold here the past week, highs in the high-teens..

I noticed Tuesday that it started doing something 'new'.. It shifts okay, for awhile. Then if I come to a stop and sit for a minute or so, it doesn't seem to want to engage 1st gear.. even manually, it doesn't want to do it.

If I cycle the ignition, it seems to start using 1st again. I'm at a friggin loss with this damned thing...

- - - Updated - - -

I havent kept up very well with what you have/havent tried, but I do know when swapping my trans from my 00 to my 98.5, I had to change valvebodies out. I dont know the differences specifically, I just took it to my tranny guy (who is a friend) after I dropped it and he put the trans up on his bench and swapped out valvebodies. I know the p.o. swapped from a manual to an auto, hopefully he got the right stuff in there for the year of the truck. Ive been more than a little spoiled, any issues Ive ever had hes resolved for the cost of the parts, including when he built my trans. He really knows his stuff when it comes to Dodge transmissions. If theres any questions you may have I can certainly try to pick his brain.

I'd love to pick his brain for about 10-15 minutes..

Do you know what year truck the auto trans came out of? I can call him and try to get some ideas from him but I know thats one of the first things hes gonna ask.

all i can tell you is that it is a 47RE (early) due to the governor solenoid and pressure sensor style that is in it..

It's supposed to be a built trans, but I've no way to know that for sure.

The PCM looks to be a replacement, and the local trans shop charged me $100 to tell me he can't access it since the VIN used to code the PCM is unknown...

Eastern Diesel Performance in Westminster, MD is who built the trans and did the PCM, wiring, etc.. One google search will explain why I'm having so much trouble with it..

and no, they don't return any calls.

I've replaced the gov. solenoid, pressure sensor, filter, fluid (3 times now since July, one was on purpose LOL ) and checked/verified/fixed some of the trans wiring. I've also replaced the Output shaft speed sensor.

I can PM you my number if he is interested in calling me..

- - - Updated - - -

I just pulled codes on it and got P1757

mind you, I replaced this last summer with a BW HD governor...

Send me your number and I will call him later tonight

I've got a new trans line coming from Rock Auto. Supposed to be here tomorrow..

Been playing phone tag with Dean. He called last night but I was already in bed had to be up at 4am for work and wasnt feeling good. I will try calling him a little later this morning.