Loudon03307

My 1996 Dodge 2500 V10 auto will start in second gear whether cold or warm unless reverse is first engaged and then the lever is moved to the 1'st gear position. Reverse then Drive is no good. A scan at an independent shop gave a code 37 and flagged the transmission temperature as -83° after driving several miles.
Any thoughts before I visit the Dodge dealer?

j-fox

There really needs sto be a STICKY on the transmissions!!!
It is in limp home mode.
most likely the gov. pressure sensor and transducer. I'm not sure what code 37 is.

Loudon03307

My owner's manual doesn't mention "limp home mode", can you give me any more information about how it works? I understand that the PCM monitors the transmission and stores error codes, so I'd assume that the PCM would activate limp home mode.
When in limp home mode how does the transmission operate? Is O/D disabled? O/D works okay in my truck when first gear is missing.
Engaging reverse gear seems to "fix" the problem; would this be part of limp home mode? I've also read that cycling the ignition key will also reset limp home mode, true?

BTW: Code 37 seems to be set for several problems, one is the governor pressure sensor.

MAX340

Yeah, why would you go to Dodge instead of a good trans shop?

Your trans doesn't do "limp home" its a 47RH, and has no electronic control. 97and up had electronic control. If it starts in second gear, you have a neutral safety switch malfunction. If it drives in any gear other than second, its not in limp home.

To be honest, from what you say, I have no idea exactly what you are experiencing. If it starts in 2nd gear on the column, the NS switch is bad. Is the transmission operating oddly other than this?

TIMMY22

That's funny, my 96 has a stock 47RE in it.

Loudon03307

Let me be more clear; when I say "starts in second gear" I mean that the transmission doesn't engage first gear with the shifter in the "D" position, not that the motor will start while the shifter is in any position other than neutral or park.

I do think that 1996 Dodge pickups have electronic control of the transmission as part of the PCM.

dozer12216

Believe has a real governor. If governor sticks at above 3 psi it will probablly pull out in second and may upshift normal from there. Can you pull shifter into low and it take off in low and upshift when you move lever? There is a gov. pressure port at right rear (high) on main case. pressure should read 0 psi at stop and gradually increase to over 50 psi by 40 MPH. If electronics control the governor pressue, the psi should read about the same. Don't worry about reading -83 degrees. It should read correctlly when moving.

Loudon03307

Yes, if the shifter is moved from Neutral/Reverse to the "1" position the transmission engages first gear, and will then upshift normally when the shifter is moved to "2" or Drive. If the selector is initially moved to the Drive position the transmission engages second gear, and stays there even if the selector is then moved to the "1" position. You must move directly to the "1" position for first gear to work.

I've been told by a Dodge "expert" that this behavior is not "limp home mode".

Fred Swanson

It's probably your gov transducer or the gov solenoid. A test gauge on the gov port will give a quick answer if the pressures are above 0 at idle. if they are, drop the pan, and replace the 2, they are right there in plain sight.

Loudon03307

The transmission is now shifting normally. The governor solenoid (($113) and the governor transducer ($93.45) were replaced, and a fluid replacement done. Two hours of shop labor were required. I was told that this is a common failure.

Thanks to those who responded to my question.

BTW: I do have a 47RE transmission in my 1996 Dodge 2500, which does have electronic transmission controls in the PCM. I still don't know exactly how "limp home mode" works, but maybe it's better if I don't find out.