46re acts like its in forward and reverse at same time

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1973dust

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This is not an a-body related question, but it seems like the tech knowledge on this site about anything Mopar is the best you can find on the web. My son has a 2000 Ram 4x4 with a 5.9
and a 46RE. The truck will not drive forward or reverse and will not even roll with the trans shifted to neutral. The engine is definitely under a load when trying forward or reverse. It will roll with the transfer case shifted into neutral. When shifting the trans into reverse or drive, it feels like a normal shift into gear. I'm hoping that we might get lucky and the problem could just be a stuck shift valve but I've got very little experience with trannys. Hoping one of you gurus can give me an idea what to look at.
 
What's in the pan?
Have not looked yet. We'll drop the pan tonight and expect the worst. I actually did get it to idle forward about 20 feet last night seemingly normally. Then after trying reverse, it would only drive forward with lots of throttle and was not smooth.
 
Its done. You should expect to find chunks in the pan. Course of action for me would be a rebuilt if truck is in decent shape, if rough around the edges i would think about finding a used one.
 
Dont forget to pull drain plug on transfer case, it could be piled up. Also, i assume the truck will roll with it (t-case) in neutral?
 
Dont forget to pull drain plug on transfer case, it could be piled up. Also, i assume the truck will roll with it (t-case) in neutral?
Yes, it will roll with transfer case in neutral. T-case was my first thought but it is working properly.
 
Sounds like when my old 93 GMC pooped it's 4L60E. It had just enough guts to get onto the ramps so I could change it out. Was definitely under a huge load but the truck would barely move.
 
Okay, thanks for everyone's input. Dropped the pan tonight and no huge chunks but lots of aluminum shavings. Something obviously is coming apart.
 
Not my money but if the fluid is good and not burnt up I would try replacing the modulators and solenoids.

Crap in the pan is not unusual.
Worst that can happen is you reuse them on a rebuild. IMHO
 
Not my money but if the fluid is good and not burnt up I would try replacing the modulators and solenoids.

Crap in the pan is not unusual.
Worst that can happen is you reuse them on a rebuild. IMHO
Some of the aluminum pieces are 3/8 to 1/2 inch long and a lot of them are 1/8 ish. Does stuff like that show up in a properly operating trans? If it is dead, we don't intend to rebuild. We'll look for a used trans. Truck not worth putting the amount of money into that a rebuild would cost. I'll try to take pics of debris and post after work today. Thanks again for the input.
 
Sounds like planetary pieces. But here's the thing. That trans is a complicated piece of machinery, but the front half is generic old 727 that hundreds of people on here are very very familiar with. If the overdrive is destroyed, I say forget it; it's beyond your capabilities. BUT, I would at least drop out the pump and the two front drums for an inspection before you go with a used unknown. One step at a time. We don't make decisions prematurely that aren't even required yet. Oh, and we like pics...LOTS of pics.
 
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Ok, here are some pics of the debris. Ignore what appears to be small rocks. Oil-dry got in the mix somehow. The bottom pic is all magnetic crap. Largest piece is about a 1/4" square. The magnet is about 1 1/4" dia. for size references.

I also got a better description of what happened from my son. Some of it will be a repeat.

He noticed a "jerk" pulling into his girlfriends driveway. He put truck in reverse and backed up about 10 feet and then pulled forward. Said it seemed fine.

Later that night, got in to come home and said when he shifted into reverse it made a loud bang or pop. Tried to back up and truck would jump a little when revved. Said he only tried a couple times. Shifted back into D and tried to pull forward with same result. Shifted to 2nd and was able to pull forward about 20 feet to get out of middle of driveway but took lots of throttle.

The truck will not roll with transmission in neutral. Acts just like its a manual with the clutch out and in gear. It will roll with the transfer case in neutral. I tried reverse again at home but would not move. I then shifted to D and was able to idle forward to the end of the driveway like normal. I then tried reverse again with same result as before. Back to D and then would only move with heavier throttle than normal.
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Also, the two "levers" in this picture both have about 1/4" free play up and down. Not sure if that tells anything good or bad. I believe the one on the left is the low/reverse band adjuster?

Hopefully some of my ramblings have made sense.
 
View attachment 1715595883 View attachment 1715595884 View attachment 1715595885 View attachment 1715595886
Ok, here are some pics of the debris. Ignore what appears to be small rocks. Oil-dry got in the mix somehow. The bottom pic is all magnetic crap. Largest piece is about a 1/4" square. The magnet is about 1 1/4" dia. for size references.

I also got a better description of what happened from my son. Some of it will be a repeat.

He noticed a "jerk" pulling into his girlfriends driveway. He put truck in reverse and backed up about 10 feet and then pulled forward. Said it seemed fine.

Later that night, got in to come home and said when he shifted into reverse it made a loud bang or pop. Tried to back up and truck would jump a little when revved. Said he only tried a couple times. Shifted back into D and tried to pull forward with same result. Shifted to 2nd and was able to pull forward about 20 feet to get out of middle of driveway but took lots of throttle.

The truck will not roll with transmission in neutral. Acts just like its a manual with the clutch out and in gear. It will roll with the transfer case in neutral. I tried reverse again at home but would not move. I then shifted to D and was able to idle forward to the end of the driveway like normal. I then tried reverse again with same result as before. Back to D and then would only move with heavier throttle than normal.
View attachment 1715595893
Also, the two "levers" in this picture both have about 1/4" free play up and down. Not sure if that tells anything good or bad. I believe the one on the left is the low/reverse band adjuster?

Hopefully some of my ramblings have made sense.
The 1/4" play is not unusual for a used trans. The description of events really sounds like a broken planetary carrier or in an extream case a blown out rear spragg. But what's in the pan is enough to indicate that that trans is now a core, the only reason to go through it would be only curiosity, the part costs add up so quick that it's not reasonable to try and save it vs installing a used (sometimes with a warranty). Also replace the torque converter.
 
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Direct drum piston return spring failure. Combined with fried clutch plates.
 
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