2002 Dodge Ram 2wd Wont go into Park

[Skatulaki]

For some reason my shifter ( column ) wont go into Park. While I can still drive it by putting it in nuetral to start it and set the emergency brake to Park it. It annoyingly runs the battery down if it sits too long.

Problem does not appear to be the cable or adjustments. Took it to the local dealer and for $95 the determined that the problem is internal.

Is this something I can fix by dropping the pan, its time for trans maintainence anyway, or does the trans need to be removed?

Also how much trouble would it be , other than actually find the parts, to convert it to Manual shift?

Also can a newer Auto with more speeds be installed without electronics issue?

Why are manual trans so hard to find? Doesn't anybody like to shift any more?

 

[Fishstickz]

For some reason my shifter ( column ) wont go into Park. While I can still drive it by putting it in nuetral to start it and set the emergency brake to Park it. It annoyingly runs the battery down if it sits too long.

Problem does not appear to be the cable or adjustments. Took it to the local dealer and for $95 the determined that the problem is internal.

Is this something I can fix by dropping the pan, its time for trans maintainence anyway, or does the trans need to be removed?

Also how much trouble would it be , other than actually find the parts, to convert it to Manual shift?

Also can a newer Auto with more speeds be installed without electronics issue?

Why are manual trans so hard to find? Doesn't anybody like to shift any more?

I’m gonna bet on having to remove the whole trans, but I’m not sure

I know its possible, thats about all i know. Its probably pretty time-consuming and expensive to convert to a manual. Even if you installed a 6-spd, after all the cutting, drilling, and sourcing a center console with a stick shifter, you’d still have to get your truck programmed or get the computer replaced. It’d be a bit more involved than just replacing the trans but it’d definitely be a neat swap. Im on mobile so i can’t see what engine you have, but the 3.7 and 4.7 both had options for manual trans in the 1500s, and the 5.7 had a manual option on the HD trucks IIRC (EDIT- I see you have a 2002 so you probably wouldn’t have the 5.7. I would assume the 5.9 magnum had a manual option if thats the motor you have. A 3rd gen 5.9 manual would be a unicorn lol

There’s not many options unless you’re willing to put down some serious money. Performance guys have had pretty good luck with swapping in the 46RH, but that trans is both older and has no more gears, it just doesn’t seem to have the problems the RFE has. Theres some guys working on a kit to swap the newer 8-spd auto’s into older dodges though

I guess just nobody wants to shift and (especially the past 6 or 7 years) autos have become faster than the best manuals paired with the best drivers, so I guess all these car manufacturers decided it wasn’t worth offering a manual option if it wouldn’t sell well. Kinda sucks


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[Skatulaki]

I did a little research, and it appears to be easier than some suggest to swap to manual. There is actually a company that can provide you with everything needed, all brand new for around $2800.
If I remember correctly, the kit uses the NV 4500 5 speed and provides all the pedals, parts bell housing flywheel, etc. I have read somewhere that Dodge used a NV 3500, a Getrag 6 speed, and one other manual which I forget. I have not at the moment read anything that says I would need to change the main computer on that Gen. I really don't see why I would.

As I recall the 318 (5.7) 360 5.9 and the Dakota 3.9 six are essentially all the same block, the 3.9 having been a shortened 318. I would think that if I wanted to save a few bucks, if I can find any of those for a donor, I could make the project work. However I am speculating at this point.

The best part of the deal is that when I bought my house last year, the truck came with the property and was sitting in the back corner. The old gal selling the house didn't want "that old truck" and gave me the title. So I dragged it out of the weeds, cleaned it all up, cut a key and put a battery in it, and it cranked right up and the air still blew cold. It had a bullet size hole on the plastic side of the radiator. Took some plumbers putty and crammed it in the hole and so far no leaks. I've been driving it around a year, and the trans is the only real problem. Its in great shape, still paint on the frame. The top of the dash is all cracked though. So no matter what I spend on it, its all good considering I never made a payment for it.
Another car came with the place as well, however its not the same level of "prize" so to speak but its in pretty good shape too. The engine half taken apart so it doesn't run. Its a 99 Escort ZX 2,
so its an antique already, adding it to my Pontiac Fiero Indy, and Dale Earnhardt Monte Carlo, I've got plenty of projects to keep me busy and broke, lol !

 

[audiowize]

The cracked dash isn't that tough of a fix at least.

 

[Fishstickz]

I did a little research, and it appears to be easier than some suggest to swap to manual. There is actually a company that can provide you with everything needed, all brand new for around $2800.
If I remember correctly, the kit uses the NV 4500 5 speed and provides all the pedals, parts bell housing flywheel, etc. I have read somewhere that Dodge used a NV 3500, a Getrag 6 speed, and one other manual which I forget. I have not at the moment read anything that says I would need to change the main computer on that Gen. I really don't see why I would.

As I recall the 318 (5.7) 360 5.9 and the Dakota 3.9 six are essentially all the same block, the 3.9 having been a shortened 318. I would think that if I wanted to save a few bucks, if I can find any of those for a donor, I could make the project work. However I am speculating at this point.

The best part of the deal is that when I bought my house last year, the truck came with the property and was sitting in the back corner. The old gal selling the house didn't want "that old truck" and gave me the title. So I dragged it out of the weeds, cleaned it all up, cut a key and put a battery in it, and it cranked right up and the air still blew cold. It had a bullet size hole on the plastic side of the radiator. Took some plumbers putty and crammed it in the hole and so far no leaks. I've been driving it around a year, and the trans is the only real problem. Its in great shape, still paint on the frame. The top of the dash is all cracked though. So no matter what I spend on it, its all good considering I never made a payment for it.
Another car came with the place as well, however its not the same level of "prize" so to speak but its in pretty good shape too. The engine half taken apart so it doesn't run. Its a 99 Escort ZX 2,
so its an antique already, adding it to my Pontiac Fiero Indy, and Dale Earnhardt Monte Carlo, I've got plenty of projects to keep me busy and broke, lol !

Just about all of these engines dating back to at least the LA’s to today have about the same transmission bolt holes (the technically word for that escapes me lol) if I’m remembering right. Transmissions from the LA 318s, 360s, Both generations of magnums, Hemi 5.7s, etc would all basically bolt right up I believe (whether that makes for an easy install everywhere else though, idk). I’m definitely not the most knowledgeable on transmissions though so take what I say with a grain of salt lol

The main thing about the computer is that if you have a manual transmission with a computer that thinks you have an automatic, it’ll lose its mind when you go to start it up and it sees the entire transmission is missing. If you turn the transmission setting to manual thru a DRBIII scantool or the dealer if they know how I believe it’ll solve most of the computer issues


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[Fast69Mopar]

Just about all of these engines dating back to at least the LA’s to today have about the same transmission bolt holes (the technically word for that escapes me lol) if I’m remembering right. Transmissions from the LA 318s, 360s, Both generations of magnums, Hemi 5.7s, etc would all basically bolt right up I believe (whether that makes for an easy install everywhere else though, idk). I’m definitely not the most knowledgeable on transmissions though so take what I say with a grain of salt lol

The main thing about the computer is that if you have a manual transmission with a computer that thinks you have an automatic, it’ll lose its mind when you go to start it up and it sees the entire transmission is missing. If you turn the transmission setting to manual thru a DRBIII scantool or the dealer if they know how I believe it’ll solve most of the computer issues


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Ever since the early days of the DRB-III release or even the DRB-II, I have never seen anything that will allow us to tell a PCM that the vehicle has an automatic or manual trans. I have searched the DRB-III high and low with the SuperCard-2 and with every other card available.

With the DRB-III, if we wanted to flash a vehicle we connected it to the MDS-2 and downloaded the available flash files based on the VIN. Later on in 2003 we started using TechTools through DealerConnect and it is still based on the VIN.

The only way I was ever able to change one from an auto to a manual was to download a flash file based on the VIN and start the flash. Once the flash began I let it run to about 30% and then disconnected the DRB-III and then performed an Abort Recovery.

Then I downloaded a flash file based off of the VIN from a manual trans truck and performed the Abort Recovery with that flash. I ruined a couple of JTEC PCM's trying this because it surely was not always successful.

Nowadays things are alot easier with HP Tuners and the companies out there who flash PCM's.

 

[Fishstickz]

Ever since the early days of the DRB-III release or even the DRB-II, I have never seen anything that will allow us to tell a PCM that the vehicle has an automatic or manual trans. I have searched the DRB-III high and low with the SuperCard-2 and with every other card available.

With the DRB-III, if we wanted to flash a vehicle we connected it to the MDS-2 and downloaded the available flash files based on the VIN. Later on in 2003 we started using TechTools through DealerConnect and it is still based on the VIN.

The only way I was ever able to change one from an auto to a manual was to download a flash file based on the VIN and start the flash. Once the flash began I let it run to about 30% and then disconnected the DRB-III and then performed an Abort Recovery.

Then I downloaded a flash file based off of the VIN from a manual trans truck and performed the Abort Recovery with that flash. I ruined a couple of JTEC PCM's trying this because it surely was not always successful.

Nowadays things are alot easier with HP Tuners and the companies out there who flash PCM's.

Lol dang thats definitely a backdoor process, I figured that an official scantool would be a bit better at changing configurations on the PCMs it was meant for, even such a major setting such as that. Since that method you used worked SOMETIMES then that must mean that auto computers and manual computers can’t be fundamentally different from each other. Anyways, I didn’t even know those tuners could tune a computer to a manual transmission. That’d definitely be a better and cheaper alternative than buying a new PCM lol


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[Skatulaki]

Thanks guys for the scoop, at the moment I think I will move forward with the project. Since its not my only ride, and since I didn't have to pay a dime for it, everything I do will be an improvement and add to its value. I have a real disdain for automatics, and am even irked my John Deere lawn tractor is hydro. I'm going to keep driving it as is while I scratch up the dough and the parts and pieces. I appreciate all info I can get so keep it coming, I may request your assistance in the future fast 69.

 

[Jason G Slabaugh]

Maybe its just a bad brake switch..

 

[Skatulaki]

Really ? a bad brake switch? Its not too big of a surprise, sometimes it goes like that, something seemingly unrelated causing a problem.

 

[Fishstickz]

Really ? a bad brake switch? Its not too big of a surprise, sometimes it goes like that, something seemingly unrelated causing a problem.

Definitely could be a bad brake switch or something related to the braking system. At least on my ‘06 Park is the only gear that you have to press the brakes to shift into/out of. Your transmission might not be getting the signal that your foot is on the brake so it won’t let you shift into park


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[Skatulaki]

Interesting , I'll check that out, wouldn't surprise me really. I spent 30 years repairing copy machines, and I saw a lot of stuff that was misleading like that.