[Dieboldt]

Borrow or buy an cheap obd2 scanner and figure out what code you are getting.

I got a scanner and I got the following codes:
P0740 = torque converter clutch circuit malfunction
P0128 = coolant temp below thermostat operating temp
P0117 = engine coolant temp sensor circuit low output problem
P0731 = gear 1 incorrect ratio
P0733 = gear 3 incorrect ratio
P0729 = gear 6 incorrect ratio
P0765 = shift solenoid D Malfunction

So, I think my plan of action rn is to fix the coolant system, then check all of the electrical, check fuses, wires, etc, repair anything that looks iffy, then drain transmission, change filter and fluid, and then test to see where we're at with the transmission. And go from there 🤷‍♂️

 

[Dieboldt]

I got a scanner and I got the following codes:
P0740 = torque converter clutch circuit malfunction
P0128 = coolant temp below thermostat operating temp
P0117 = engine coolant temp sensor circuit low output problem
P0731 = gear 1 incorrect ratio
P0733 = gear 3 incorrect ratio
P0729 = gear 6 incorrect ratio
P0765 = shift solenoid D Malfunction

So, I think my plan of action rn is to fix the coolant system, then check all of the electrical, check fuses, wires, etc, repair anything that looks iffy, then drain transmission, change filter and fluid, and then test to see where we're at with the transmission. And go from there 🤷‍♂️

BUT may I just point out, I got ZERO codes for anything that needs to be done to the top of the engine

 

[Dieboldt]

I don't have any experience with them, but supposedly this outfit does fairly decent re-manufactured engine / trans setups.

JASPER remanufactured engines, transmissions & differentials

JASPER provides remanufactured gas engines, diesel engines, marine engines, transmissions and more for your car, truck or boat.

www.jasperengines.com

If I were faced with that level repairs, I would definitely think about a remanf setup.

Especially in this environment where parts can be tough to come by - it could happen that you spend a lot of time chasing down some misc part and can't get things going for a month or so waiting for it.

Nice! I was recommended a local transmission shop by a local farmer, apparently the guy is one of the best transmission guys in the nation, so if my trouble shooting and repairs leaves me still with tranny issues I'm going to see what this guy thinks

 

[Kip-on-truckin]

All the transmission codes highly suggest the solenoid pack. I assume it's stuck in limp mode. You can still drive it in limp no problem, though you will be limited to about 30mph. I have a video on the solenoid pack and can point you to others that will allow you to do the job yourself. Nothing to lose trying at this point because the pack is under $300 and your labor is free.

The two cooling codes are either the thermostat ($25, 10 minutes) or the temp sensor ($15, 5 minutes). If you had a fancy scanner, I could tell you which by knowing the voltage at the sensor. The van could also be low enough on coolant to expose the sensor and give a false cold reading. But it looks to me that you do NOT need major engine work of any kind.

 

[dog_house]

All the transmission codes highly suggest the solenoid pack. I assume it's stuck in limp mode. You can still drive it in limp no problem, though you will be limited to about 30mph. I have a video on the solenoid pack and can point you to others that will allow you to do the job yourself. Nothing to lose trying at this point because the pack is under $300 and your labor is free.

The two cooling codes are either the thermostat ($25, 10 minutes) or the temp sensor ($15, 5 minutes). If you had a fancy scanner, I could tell you which by knowing the voltage at the sensor. The van could also be low enough on coolant to expose the sensor and give a false cold reading. But it looks to me that you do NOT need major engine work of any kind.

Kip, you should get a 10% cut of the money you save people when they go to dealers! At the very least set up a 1-900-PMLOVER hotline for your time...

 

[FrankFrankFrank]

Kip, you should get a 10% cut of the money you save people when they go to dealers! At the very least set up a 1-900-PMLOVER hotline for your time...

Kip, you should get a 10% cut of the money you save people when they go to dealers! At the very least set up a 1-900-PMLOVER hotline for your time...

if I ever have a Promaster problem I would take it to Kip. If he saves people $$$ by answering their specific problems, I hope they are compensating him.

 

[Dieboldt]

All the transmission codes highly suggest the solenoid pack. I assume it's stuck in limp mode. You can still drive it in limp no problem, though you will be limited to about 30mph. I have a video on the solenoid pack and can point you to others that will allow you to do the job yourself. Nothing to lose trying at this point because the pack is under $300 and your labor is free.

The two cooling codes are either the thermostat ($25, 10 minutes) or the temp sensor ($15, 5 minutes). If you had a fancy scanner, I could tell you which by knowing the voltage at the sensor. The van could also be low enough on coolant to expose the sensor and give a false cold reading. But it looks to me that you do NOT need major engine work of any kind.

Thank you! I've been doing some digging and after fixing the coolant leak, my plan is to examine all of the wires + fuses, replace any that are out, then drop the transmission pan, replace the solenoid pack, put a new filter and fluid in, clear the codes and test it again, if I still get the p0740 code I'll look into replacing the torque converter thank you so much for your time! I really appreciate it

 

[Kip-on-truckin]

Thank you! I've been doing some digging and after fixing the coolant leak, my plan is to examine all of the wires + fuses, replace any that are out, then drop the transmission pan, replace the solenoid pack, put a new filter and fluid in, clear the codes and test it again, if I still get the p0740 code I'll look into replacing the torque converter thank you so much for your time! I really appreciate it

Conflicting info on that. Some long time mopar mechanics say it's NEVER the TCC solenoid that fails, it always ends up being the converter. The rest say it's often the solenoid, and for $30 or whatever you might as well try it before you commit to dropping the transmission to replace the converter. Converters are cheap, but removing the trans is a pretty big operation. We will 6 hours for it, and have almost never made it happen in that time.

 

[N54]

Although i cant speak for the transmission work, if you really did need all that engine work you could probably get it done for half the price by not going to the dealer. Was your engine ticking really bad? Cant see it needing cams/rockers/lifters unless you have high mileage and heard really bad ticking all the time even at idle

 

[GreggGTD]

Last week, a dealer quoted the same transmission for $4300 installed. The transmission was $3200 rest labor and parts. Dealer is screwing you.
Call the states attorney or Secretary of State about price gouging.
Call Ram Brands too and open up a complaint.

 

[Rickyramjet]

We recently had a cold snap in upstate New York, during which my 2014 Ram Promaster 2500, w/pentastar 3.6l engine and 62TE, refused to shift into reverse, then she started to refuse to shift into 6th. The day before the appointment at the dealer her coolant system blew, just going down the road at 30-40 mph (that's the only speed I could maintain w/o her having crazy rpms) and suddenly my guage goes all the way to hot, I immediately pull off, turn the engine off and wait for her to cool down. When I checked her, the surge tank was completely empty, I always keep coolant on hand, and check the level about once a month, so I filled it back up and it immediately drained out on the passenger side wheel well.
I have not turned the engine on since, got her towed to the dealer, and they quoted me 15k for repairs. View attachment 94031
I asked them about the nearly 9k price tag on the transmission and they said that there are only 3! 62TE transmissions available in the entire nation, which is false. The mechanic also said that the transmission fluid was black and burnt, but I have not smelled burning transmission fluid in this vehicle except once last year when I had to floor it through a mountain pass to avoid getting splattered by a semi.
They did not say exactly what was wrong with my engine or transmission, just that they needed to do further diagnostics and that the engine made a "ticking noise" which I've yet to hear, which I approved, however, they had no further information for me when I picked the vehicle up (with a tow truck, I didn't drive her lol).
Obviously the most crucial things to fix are the coolant issue and the transmission, how difficult would these tasks be to do on ones own? I have access to farm equipment, so I could in theory pull the engine out- however I've heard some people say you have to pull it out from the bottom? But I've seen videos of people pulling it out of the front of the Promaster.
Any insights would be greatly appreciated, am I attempting a fools errand to get these parts and do the repairs myself, or is it possible to do without a vehicle lift?

buckle up, your being taken for a ride

 

[GapRunr]

I'd get on CoParts and see if I could find a low mileage transmission and just swap it.

 

[Dieboldt]

Although i cant speak for the transmission work, if you really did need all that engine work you could probably get it done for half the price by not going to the dealer. Was your engine ticking really bad? Cant see it needing cams/rockers/lifters unless you have high mileage and heard really bad ticking all the time even at idle

I've never heard her tick, and she's only at 100k

 

[Dieboldt]

Last week, a dealer quoted the same transmission for $4300 installed. The transmission was $3200 rest labor and parts. Dealer is screwing you.
Call the states attorney or Secretary of State about price gouging.
Call Ram Brands too and open up a complaint.

I'm going to, once I have her up and running again

 

[Dieboldt]

UPDATE:
Still waiting on the Solenoid pack to arrive, but, we finally had a break from the snow and I started digging into the engine bay and I found the coolant leak!
The thermostat housing has a CHUNK out of it. So, gonna order a new thermostat housing and get her fixed up once it arrives

 

[phil]

thanks for following up
IIRC Motorcity Mechanic mentioned in a video that a failure at that location on the housing was a known issue, sadly Dorman hasn't made an aluminum housing for the PM.

 

[Dieboldt]

We got another big snow storm up here, 22 inches in 24 hours, it's finally melting off and I'm tearing into the transmission.
I don't think her transmission fluid has EVER been changed. She had a lot of metal particles, but no shavings. I just gotta figure out where the solenoid pack goes 😅

 

[Motor7]

That housing almost looks like it froze and broke, did you check the rad fluid for proper temp range?

We were in Manitoba for Christmas(yeah, I know, ..who goes to Manitoba for Christmas🥶) one year. We had a Chevy Class B van back then and an Alberta Clipper blew through, dropping the temp to -40C which is the same as -40F. The van rad froze and burst. We had no garage, so I had to take it to an Indie. They tested the rad fluid and it showed a max protection temp of -35F....Merry Christmas to us

 

[Dieboldt]

Got the solenoid replaced, and she's still throwing P0740, P0731, P0733, and P0729 as "permament" so I guess my next action is to see if I can get her on to the road, and see if I make the computer believe that the issue is fixed.

 

[Uvan]

Did you already tried erase the code?