Cloud Car Transmission Problems

The below list represents a collection of transmission problems that commonly occur to the cloud cars. TSBs are currently not covered; however, they will be in the future.

Automatic - Speedometer reads 0 MPH/KPH, and transmission fails to shift.
Automatic - Speedometer acts strangely, and engine appears to surge and/or miss.

These two problems are caused by the transmission output speed sensor. The output speed sensor should be replaced.

The output speed sensor is used by the transmission control module (TCM) to verify that the transmission has entered the correct gear, and is also used to generate the speedometer signal that gets fed to the powertrain control module (PCM). The PCM will pass this speedometer information to the instrument cluster, and also controls engine speed according to the speedometer data. If the output speed sensor signal is noisy, it may show up as falsely high speeds, and will cause the engine to idle funny. If the output speed sensor is no longer working, then the TCM has no way of verifying that the transmission has shifted properly, and will put the transmission into "limp-in" mode.

For both the first generation (JA/JX) and the second generation (JR) cloud cars with an automatic transmission, the output speed sensor part number is 4800879, and can be bought for $29.36 from DodgeParts.com.

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Automatic - Transmission fails to shift, and I get a "Check Engine" light.

This problem is caused by a faulty transmission input speed sensor. The input speed sensor should be replaced.

The input speed sensor is used by the TCM to verify that the transmission is properly shifting into gear. If the input speed sensor no longer works, then the TCM will no longer be able to verify this, and will put the transmission into "limp-in" mode.

For both the first generation (JA/JX) and the second generation (JR) cloud cars with an automatic transmission, the input speed sensor part number is 4800878, and can be bought for $13.36 from DodgeParts.com.

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Automatic - Transmission fails to shift. No warning lights light up.

This problem is usually intermittent in nature. The problem is caused by a transmission control relay that is going bad. The transmission control relay should be replaced.

The transmission control relay controls +12 VDC power to the transmission. If the transmission does not receive this power, then the TCM will not be able to read either the input or output speed sensors, nor will it be able to read any of the other sensors inside the transmssion. Furthermore, the TCM will not be able to control the solenoids in the transmission, and will not be able to shift any gears. The transmission will put itself into "limp-in" mode, as this is how the transmission is configured internally to operate in the absence of +12 VDC power.

For both the first generation (JA/JX) and the second generation (JR) cloud cars with an automatic transmission, the relay part number is 4671168, and can be bought for $8.40 from DodgeParts.com.

Diagram of 1995-2000 Power Distribution Center under the hood, showing relay locations

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