Transmission shifting issues every time I drive through shallow water?

Tiny
BENLEE1199
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 DODGE RAM
  • 5.7L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 126,000 MILES
Hello, I have noticed that every time I drive through shallow water (nothing deep, just a few inches), the transmission will start shifting erratically. It often will happen almost immediately after going through a little water, and it usually just feels like a quick jerk or rough/random shift.

In some cases it will go away before the drive is finished, and other times I will be done driving, park it, then the next time I drive either later that day or the next day there will be no shifting issue at all, so it seems pretty clear that something is getting splashed on that is causing an electrical connector or component to act up when it gets wet, or something along those lines.

Could you help point me to the various connectors, and perhaps diagrams, that I would need to clean up and add water proofing to keep water out of the connectors?

I was going to try that first to see if that solves the issue.
Thanks!
Tuesday, June 4th, 2024 AT 10:49 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,755 POSTS
Hi,

It does sound electrical. There are several different connectors at the transmission for the 42RL-E transmission. This is the one I suspect you have if water is having that easy of an effect on it.

Here is what I recommend. One at a time, disconnect the different connectors. Make sure they are clean and free of corrosion. Then apply dielectric grease to the connectors. That will prevent water from getting to the connector pins.

I attached three pics below. In pic 2, I placed an X over one of the connectors. That is for a 4wd vehicle, and you won't have it.

Let me know if this helps.

Take care,

Joe

See pics below.
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Tuesday, June 4th, 2024 AT 8:18 PM
Tiny
BENLEE1199
  • MEMBER
  • 69 POSTS
That's great, Joe. Thank you very much for your help and for the diagrams!
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Wednesday, June 5th, 2024 AT 5:37 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
JACOBANDNICKOLAS is one of our best! We are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Thursday, June 6th, 2024 AT 7:57 AM

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