Transmission wont engage I have had no recent problems

Tiny
BACARDI4ME
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 DODGE RAM
  • 108,000 MILES
Help! I have the truck listed above1500 Hemi that drove perfectly fine earlier today. I have had no recent transmission problems at all nothing. Today I was driving home and suddenly nothing it was like truck was in neutral. I move the shifter but it is not going into reverse or any forward gears! The transmission has been working 100% normally up to this point then suddenly this happened with no previous signs at all that something was going wrong, fluid level is normal. Any help is greatly appreciated. Any suggestions, ideas? Is the transmission just done suddenly or could there be sensors or anything like that causing this?
Sunday, April 8th, 2012 AT 2:47 PM

34 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
There are a couple things that could do this. However, the first thing is to start with checking for codes. Here is a guide that will help with that:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

If there are no codes then we most likely have an issue with the pressure inside the transmission.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

So we need to find out what the pump pressure is because I suspect the pump failed or you have a seal that is allowing the pressure to escape. I attached the testing that we need to do. Let us know what you find. Thanks
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Saturday, November 28th, 2020 AT 6:50 AM
Tiny
DANIELS TRUCK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2005 DODGE RAM
  • 4.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 174,000 MILES
Truck listed above 1500 was submerged in water. Changed filter and canister filter, new fluid and a bottle of sea foam transmission conditioner. Cleaned all the plugs and dried them. Reset the TCM, but the truck will not go into any gear.
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon,

It sounds like the water damages all the seals and the transmission will not hold pressure.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

It will have to be removed and either rebuilt or replaced.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/transmission-replacement-removal-manual

Roy
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GNCB3
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE RAM
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 97,779 MILES
Shift lever seems to go into Park position, but idiot light on dashboard shows Reverse, and engine will shut off and act as if it is in park. But the truck will not start unless placed into neutral. Transmission does not actually shift into any gear at all. Seems to be stuck in Neutral. Even though shift lever on column goes to the park position the Park light never comes on just Reverse and truck will only start in Neutral, it does stop in the R with the column shift vlever in the appearant park position. There were No warning signs at all that I noticed. I just pulled into my drive way to park after driving home from work and driving around town running errands Yesterday. The truck drove fine all day it has been rnning rough in idle and at slow speeds, like it is due for a tune up which is past due really. (The dealer want's $600.00 for a Dealer so called "Full Service Tune-up" on this thing) but no obvious warning signs that I noticed until this problem happenned. I did try to shift it into and out of 4X4 and it does seem to shift into and out of 4X4 but with a lot of hard clunking of the drive train or axle and efforft to get it to go into and out of 4X4, still does not move in any drive position selected.
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
TRUCKER1300
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Had sort of same problem drove home put it in park went to put it in reverse nothing turned out the snap ring broke and took out my reverse no warning signs at all. Drop your tranny pan and see if you have anything siitting in it that should not be there
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CHRIS GONZALEZ
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 DODGE RAM
  • 5.9L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
Well I was on the highway coming home and started going up a hill and when my truck down shifted it made a loud noise and then there was nothing couldn't go forward or backwards I put it in drive it starts rolling backwards put it in revers nothing the only gear that works is park other then that there is nothing fluid is good I don't have a clue on what could be wrong can u help me? Please
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Hello,

It could be something broke inside the transmission or the pressure control governor has gone out which is common. here are the instructions and diagrams to help see how to fix it. We should run the codes as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/checking-a-service-engine-soon-or-check-engine-light-on-or-flashing

This guide can help as well:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LIPERT85
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2001 DODGE RAM
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
Truck has had a problem sometimes starting in drive for a while now not a big deal just start it in neutral! Well now I went to start my truck had no problem, pulled it out of the garage put it into park, let it run for like 5 minutes get back in it and Now it won't engage into any gear, tried to put it back into park while running and it grinds/clicks put it into park with it off and it still will roll I have the tranny pan off and the linkage looks fine and everything moves as it should! Why won't my transmission engage? No codes either! Btw trans fluid was perfect and absolutely no metal shavings on the magnet in the tranny pan! Solenoid? If so which one? Please help! Thankyou, Luke.
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Hi Lipert85. Welcome to the forum. This sounds like an issue with the transfer case. Is it in neutral? The grinding when you put it in park suggests the transmission is working and the output shaft going into the transfer case is spinning. You're hearing the parking pawl chattering on the spinning drum as it tries to drop into a notch. Normally that drum stops rotating when the driveshaft stops rotating.

Caradiodoc
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LIPERT85
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Alright this is the farthest ive gotten! 4x4 is in nutral however when this all happend I put it in 4x4 to see what would happen while running and it didnt chatter as I put it in park however it didnt engage either?Its just so confusing this all happend two days go. Just a little bit ago I went out there tranny pan still off I turned the key shifted it and it engaged into park.(Wont roll as it did) so im assuming its gonna work now? But there was or still is something wrong would the transfercase need to be replaced? Also the problem starting in park sometimes but never a problem starting in nutral. Is this gonna be the nutral saftey switch? I appreciate all ur help and also if you keep helping me I dont have any problem donating more money>. Thanks, luke
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
Thank you for the donation, but think of it as a tip, not a requirement. Isn't it neat that the owners of this site don't insist on dollars to get help?

It is possible to have a defective neutral safety switch, but it's more likely the shifter linkage is slightly misadjusted and not allowing the lever in the transmission to go quite far enough in park to trip the switch. The fastest way to check is to pop the linkage apart at the transmission, put the shifter in park, move the lever on the transmission to park, then try to put the linkage back together. The link should line up nicely with the hole in the lever. If they are off, look for the adjustment and tweak it a little as necessary. By the way, as long as you have the lever on the transmission in park, try the starter to be sure it works. If it doesn't, the switch is bad, (that would be weird), or it isn't screwed in all the way.

Caradiodoc
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LIPERT85
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Alright thanks again for ur help! Back to my engaging problem though? U had metioned the transfer case? I'm gonna put it back together tomorrow and if it does work, great but who's to say it's not gonna happen again? So what would need to be done? And thanks again for helping me, when I make well a (tip) is it gonna get to u again?
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
I'm guessing the transfer case got bumped into neutral or the shift linkage was not quite solidly in gear. The only other option would be if a chain or gear broke inside it, but then it wouldn't start working again. If this happens again, I would check the adjustment of the shifter linkage. I could envision it getting bent by hitting something while 4-wheeling, but even that would not be common. A loose mounting bracket would be more likely, but as I recall, it is mounted directly to the transfer case.

Don't worry about the donation. It is greatly appreciated and keeps my computers working, but the main thing is we know people who donate will remain in the conversation until the problem is solved. I am happy to answer free questions too, but there is less incentive to stick my nose in a book or make phone calls because many of those people never reply back. I don't even get to know how much you donated so it might already be more than average. Somehow it does get to me. Regardless of the amount, thank you.

Caradiodoc
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAHMINATION
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Please help! I am having the same problem, but have tried all of the above. Also, it starts in ANY gear and still rolls even in park! Linkage adjustment was done and then still starts with both connections to trans unplugged? Wow confused.
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
The truck should not roll in park, I would disconnect the shift cable and work the shift arm of the transmission by hand to gain the park position, you may need to roll the truck slightly to get into park. Please let me know when happens.
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FLYINFINN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 DODGE RAM
  • 5.9L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
Transmission will not engage in drive but will in reverse, second and first. Made sure transfer case is in two wheel drive.
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Hello,

This sounds like you have a transmission position sensor that is out but to but sure lets run the test on the wiring diagram and through the switch.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Here is a guide on how the sensor works:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-neutral-safety-switch-works

Below is the wiring diagram and sensor location.

Check out the diagrams (below).

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.

Cheers, Ken
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JEFFRO5000
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 DODGE RAM
  • 5.2L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • MANUAL
  • 201,000 MILES
My truck was driving just fine and suddenly it just stopped going. It won't go into any gear at all. It feels like it shifts I to gear but does not go at all.
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Hello,

First check the fluid level and if okay I sounds like you have a pressure control solenoid that has gone out. Here is the location so you can check it out. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GARFIELDSHOME
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1998 DODGE RAM
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 121,750 MILES
In line at drive thru, put in park, then moved on in drive, put pack in park, tried to move into drive, nothing, except car now goes backwards, tried to put it in any other gear, no luck, still going backwards. After a while of flipping thru gears and nothing except backwards going, I turned the engine off and two guys helped push car out of drive thru. Now, since truck is in reverse stuck, it won't start because it's not in park or neutral. I didn't have nay problems before with the tranny shifting not smoothly. Could it be the gear shifter in the steering wheel or tranny? Any other ideas? What am I looking at spending approximately?
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Saturday, May 1st, 2021 AT 6:17 PM (Merged)

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