QuestionQUESTION: Hi Rusell, I have an 02 Dakota Dakota w/ the 4.7 v-8 4WD auto trans. For the last 9 months or so, sporadically after turning off motor and then when going to restart, the indicator light around the prndl will light up when key is in "on" position but as soon as turning to start, the light disappears and truck won't do anything. Primarily this seems to happen after driving for awhile but it has happened on short trips also. Turn key back and forth from on to start and sometimes it won't light up in on position either but after waiting awhile, initiallly 10-15 minutes, (most recently on a highway trip it was over an hour), the light will then magically stay on and the truck starts. Haven't received any codes during the last 9 months except once which was a P301 cyclinder 1 misfire which went away.
Thanks for any help.
Jay
ANSWER: Sounds like you have either a failing range position sensor in the transmission or the wiring to it has an intermittent open circuit. Checking the wiring is difficult at best and there is no accurate why for the average person to test the range sensor without special diagnostic tools. I recommend that you make inquiries at a local dealer.
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QUESTION: Thnaks Russell. I had taken it to a dodge dealership but they said they weren't familiar w/ any problem like this and that they would have to get it to act up again. Problem with that is even if I have it towed, if it sits for awhile, it'll restart. A small sidenote is that when the indicator light box / square around the prndl in the instrument panel goes away, it only goes away when it's in park or neutral - it'll stay lit up around the R, D, 1 and 2 gears while shifting through them but won't when in P or N - can get it to light up again around P and N when turning key to off position but as soon as I turn it to on (not start), it'll stay lit around P or N for 2-3 sec's and disappear and turning key to start does nothing. Also noticed recently when starting truck with engine cold that it hesitates / is slow in response when 1st putting it in gear - either R or Drive - truck acts like it's in a super low range gear.
Thanks again for your help.
AnswerI still believe that your trouble lies in the transmission range sensor. And after reading your follow-up there may be a TSB that applies to your concern of delayed engagement. The TSB 21-015-05 deals with the concern and can be found on the WEB. I can't legally reprint it for you, as I am for all intents and purposes, an employed by Chrysler. Sorry. There is one other thing you can check in regards to the first concern. It involves performing a self-test on the instrument cluster display. This test will indicate whether or not there is an internal problem with the cluster. The procedure is as follows;
Begin the test with the ignition switch in the Off position.
Depress the odometer/trip odometer switch button.
While still holding the odometer/trip odometer switch button depressed, turn the ignition switch to the On position, but do not start the engine.
Keep the odometer/trip odometer switch button depressed for about ten seconds, until CHEC appears in the odometer display, then release the odometer/trip odometer switch button.
A series of three-digit numeric failure messages may appear in the odometer display, depending upon the failure mode. If a failure message appears, refer to the Instrument Cluster Failure Message chart for the description and proper correction. If no failure message appears, the actuator test will proceed as described in Step 6.
Re-post with the results.
