Tranmission starting in second gear
 

Hi every one this is my first post on the forums and i am hoping for some direction on my problem. I recently purchaced my first dodge truck. it is a 2001 dodge ram 3/4 ton diesel. Every thing has been good for the last 3 months that i have owned it. Now when i drive and stop the transmission starts off in second gear instead of first. It only does it intermitenly, and if I put it in first gear then it starts fine. I am wondering if there is a modulator or somthing that would make it act like this. The motor and everything on the truck is stock and no engine lites turn on. If any body has a idea of what is going on it would be appriciated.

Thanks alot
Todd

First off welcome, you'll come to either love us or hate us.

This is known as "limp mode", and is usually caused by a bad governor pressure sensor or solonoid in the tranny.

Tranny codes usually don't turn on the light, or show up if you do the key on/off/on/off/on code retrieval,
but the trouble codes might show up with code scan.


phox

Bummer of a way to get your first post. [eyecrazy]



Been there, Done that, Got the T-Shirt. :(

Usually the Valve Body electronics are the culprit.
Have you had the codes pulled yet?

Depending on the mileage, your wallet, and your future BOMBing (power enhancing) plans, you might want to think about an Auto Tranny upgrade.
If the $$$ ain't there for an upgrade at this time, having the Temp sensor, and the Pressure soleniod changed out will usually correct the problem.

Welcome to the DTR family. :cool:

Thank you everybody for the help. No a transmission upgrade is not in the budget for right now. I am a thrid year apprentice electrician and can bearly afford the truck. You guys mentioned the temp sensor or pressure sensor as a possible problem. Do you know where those are located, inside or outside the transmission. I have done auto tranny work before such as shift kits and servos and am wondering if you would reccomend me taking this on myself or go to a good transmission shop. Also do you have any idea on PRICE that this will cost me a good ballpark figure would be great.
Thankyou again and i hope to get this fixed so i can ask more fun questions.

Todd

Gov psi transducer and solenoid. The parts counter guys at the dealer should be very familiar with the part numbers needed.

Governor pressure sensor and solenoid cost around $200 - dealer only items.
They are easy to replace once you get the transmission pan off. They are bolted to the bottom of the valve body - just remove three or four bolts and an electrical plug. You need to do this because 2nd gear starts will damage your trannie and cost a lot more. The hard part of this is removing the pan because it is full of oil and you will spill it all over yourself. You should also replace the filter while you are in there - you have to remove it to get to the valve body bolts - and I think it takes a torx driver the get it off. You then need to replace 12 - 20 qts of transmission fluid. You can also put a drain plug in the transmission pan to make it easier next time. All in all this is an easy job, although messy, if you are at all mechanically inclined.

Good luck, Tom

I would add that you should also adjust the bands while you're there. A simple procedure that you can find instuctions for on this site.

Thank you all for your help. I am hoping to take on this project this weekend. I am glad that i ran across a website that has helpful people on its message boards. I hope that i can continue to lean more. But not by continuing problems.
Thank you again
Todd

Let us know how it goes.

Sorry everyone for not getting back in time. I ended up taking the truck to the tranny shop. They scaned the computer and said that the solionids were all functioning properly. They checked the fluid and said it was 2 quarts low which i found odd because there are no leaks on my truck what so ever. They droped the pan and said everything looked go and ended up flushing the tranny checking band adjustment and new fluid and filter. Everything seamed fine until yesterday and the same problem was back. But now instead of doing it intermetenly it is doing it almost constantly. So now the shop is saying possibly a valve body problem. Does it sound like they are on the right track. Please give me any guidance for i dont know what i am dealing with and really really dont want to get ripped off.

Thanx again
Todd

replace the solenoid and sensor.....stop messing around....Do it yourself

You have been given good advice!
Here is some more.
Don't go to just any trans shop. Find one that specializes in the Dodge.
Solenoid and sensor need to be replaced. One is going bad, but it is cheaper to get them both while the pan is off.
PM me if you want more info.

Trust this advice, I went through the EXACT same thing. If I had stumbled upon this site about 5 weeks earlier I could have saved my self about a cool Thousand dollars. I ended up at a less than desireable DC dealer and got a whole new valve body when there is strong possibilty that I could have thrown $300 in parts, fluid and filter at it in my own garage and been good to go.

Still ticks me off. For the money I dropped at the dealer I could have (at minimun) had an upgraded VB and double deep pan for the $ I spent on ignorance.

I have an invoice showing that it cost me over $1,200 for the VB, fluid, filter and install. Learn from me getting smoked, please. [redface]

...and I'll say it one more time...

hello well i got the same problem i just replace the selenoid but still doing the same thing