96 Dakota 4x4 trans question
#3027103
03/24/22 03:08 PM
03/24/22 03:08 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,629 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
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I have the drive train, computer & wiring from a 96 Dakota in my old Dodge truck. The auto trans (which I assume is a 46RH?) has around 48,000 original miles on it now. It had 44,000 when installed into the truck, and I've driven the truck about 4,000 miles since. The transmission was working great, but the original aluminum & plastic radiator started leaking. I've installed a new cross flow aluminum radiator with the trans cooler in it. I believe everything was working well, but the weather turned colder shortly after the radiator install (low teens for high temps). The truck gets driven little during the winter, and I need to drive it across town (about 3 miles) before it starts warming up operating temp with the 195 stat (pretty normal around here), so the trans fluid probably barely reaches 160 degrees until I turn around and come home. Its all in town, so things like OD or torque converter lockup are pretty hard to notice.
About a month after the radiator install, I blew a trans cooler line off, but didn't know it until I was almost across town and the trans started slipping. I stopped driving (more accurately it stopped moving) about a block later where it was the only place I could get off the street. I reattached the cooler line, and put in 8 quarts of ATF4 from the Oreilles that was walking distance from where I stopped. It started up and drove it home, where I added another quart of ATF4 to bring it up to full. The transmission seems to still shift very smoothly, but leaving a stop it seems to slip (feels like letting a clutch out) until it starts rolling, but then feel fine, but I don't think the OD has been working since.
Now that the weather is warming up, I'm driving the truck a lot more. I'm pretty sure the OD does not work. Last weekend, the temps were in the mid 40s. I started the truck cold, and drove it about a mile on the highway, then stopped for about an hour, the drove it about a 1/2 mile (highway) and turned onto a bypass where I drove the truck about 10 miles at between 65 and 70 mph. The (factory) tack reads 3,000 rpm at 70 mph, 3:55 gears, motor at operating temp.
When I ran it out of fluid, did kill the OD, OD switches or the clutches in the trans? The fluid still looks good. What do I need to check and fix? I have not yet dropped the trans pan, if I need a solenoid or something I'd rather order that and have it here before dropping the pan. Ideas? Thanks Gene
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Re: 96 Dakota 4x4 trans question
[Re: Moparite]
#3027947
03/27/22 12:49 AM
03/27/22 12:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,629 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
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There is a build thread here on Moparts, in the street rod section: "49 Dodge pickup on a 96 Dakota 4x4 chassis." See pic below. i used the entire drive train and wiring harness from a 44,000 mile 96 Dakota 4x4. Everything is intact from that Dakota pickup I pulled everything out of (the bottom half of the frame was rotted away). My buddy has a full range scanner, but it will be mid week (this week) before he can get to it to make the scan. I'd rather have an idea what to expect, if possible, before I just drop the pan and have a look. Ordering parts online myself to have on hand costs about 1/2 of what things cost to have someone else order them online here locally The truck is still transportation for another couple of weeks. Gene
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Re: 96 Dakota 4x4 trans question
[Re: poorboy]
#3027967
03/27/22 07:35 AM
03/27/22 07:35 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,657 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,657
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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The port is still in the harness, my buddy has a full read scanner, but he was too busy to get to it this afternoon. We were discussing if it was OBD 1 or OBD 2. I thought the 46RE started in 97.
Running it out of fluid sure wasn't in the plan. I was unaware it blew the line off until the trans slipped the first time. I was cruising along at 30 mph and hit a hill before the trans first showed any sign of an issue, and I pulled over as soon as I could. Truthfully, I was pretty happy that it still moved after I added the fluid. It wasn't until I was driving it home that I saw the trail of ATF on the ground. When I saw where it started to dump the fluid, I was pretty surprised it went as far as it did. Thanks guys, I'll post what we find out. 94 was the first year for OBD II and 96 was the first year for the RE..
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: 96 Dakota 4x4 trans question
[Re: njmopar]
#3028809
03/29/22 08:00 PM
03/29/22 08:00 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,629 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
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Not sure if the same, but on my '96 Ram I have both the OBDII under dash and the Chrysler diagnostic connector under the hood. Most times I have to use the Chrysler connector with any decent scan tool to read powertrain values or even accurate DTCs. In my opinion, OBDII had very limited ability that year. The wiring on this truck has whatever Dodge gave that 96 Dakota from the factory, nothing has been altered. I know it has the under dash connection, and I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't another connection under the hood (I just don't remember). The scanner my buddy has is a full scale scanner that he buys updates for each year. His isn't some piece of junk you pickup at HF or Autozone. I also understand that the early OBD2 didn't have all the abilities of the newer stuff, but at this point, all I need it to do is determine if the electronics inside the trans are functioning as Dodge made them to function. Hopefully tomorrow or Thursday we can get it connected to the scanner. If the weather cooperates, after Friday I can drive the coupe as transportation, so I can get the truck fixed. At this point, the only sure thing the truck trans is missing is the OD.
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Re: 96 Dakota 4x4 trans question
[Re: njmopar]
#3028904
03/30/22 08:39 AM
03/30/22 08:39 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162 USA
360view
Moparts resident spammer
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Moparts resident spammer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
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Not sure if the same, but on my '96 Ram I have both the OBDII under dash and the Chrysler diagnostic connector under the hood. Most times I have to use the Chrysler connector with any decent scan tool to read powertrain values or even accurate DTCs. In my opinion, OBDII had very limited ability that year. So a 1996 has an Chrysler style OBD-I connector under the hood by the PCM computer plus an OBD-II plug under the dash?
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Re: 96 Dakota 4x4 trans question
[Re: volaredon]
#3031465
04/07/22 06:50 AM
04/07/22 06:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,657 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,657
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Nope 96 was 1st obd-2. My 94s were still obd-1. You are correct, my mistake.
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: 96 Dakota 4x4 trans question updated 4/4
[Re: poorboy]
#3031466
04/07/22 06:52 AM
04/07/22 06:52 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,657 in a cattle trailer down by th...
Guitar Jones
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,657
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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It would probably be a good idea to price out the solenoid pack and find out how long it will take to get one here. I think I replaced the solenoid pack in that trans that was in my 39 I tried to save that didn't work. There isn't a solenoid pack, there is a solenoid and a transducer, they should be replaced together.
"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"
'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion. '74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost conversion. 2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
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Re: 96 Dakota 4x4 trans question updated 4/4
[Re: Guitar Jones]
#3031544
04/07/22 11:54 AM
04/07/22 11:54 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,629 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
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I Live Here
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OP
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Freeport IL USA
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It would probably be a good idea to price out the solenoid pack and find out how long it will take to get one here. I think I replaced the solenoid pack in that trans that was in my 39 I tried to save that didn't work. There isn't a solenoid pack, there is a solenoid and a transducer, they should be replaced together. Thank you. The one time deal with the 39 was a couple years ago, the old memory isn't so good anymore.
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Re: 96 Dakota 4x4 trans question updated 4/4
[Re: volaredon]
#3031966
04/08/22 07:53 PM
04/08/22 07:53 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,629 Freeport IL USA
poorboy
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OP
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I had a chance to look over the electrical end of things outside of the pan this afternoon, the wiring and connectors on this harness is all very clean. I'm also pretty sure the only things I'm missing are the OD and converter lock up. The truck has a factory tach, according to it, I'm doing about 1300 rpm @ 35 mph, and 2500 at 55 mph, the truck has 3:55 gears with 235/75/15 tires, so I believe its at least shifting into 3rd. It used to run 2500-2700 at 75 mph. Now 70 mph is 3500 rpm. The trans shifts so smoothly, you really have to be paying attention to tell if it shifts, but you can see the tach drop around 25 mph. I haven't been over to see my buddy to see if the codes have come back, but OD still isn't working, so I expect the next step is the solenoid and transducer. Will change the filter and adjust the bands while the pan is off. Might even put a drain plug in the pan. I intend to make this the last truck I will need.
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