68 RFE Valve Body and Solenoid Replacement

[Usafa00]

New member here. I’ve read through a lot of postings about valve body replacement after throwing a code showing I may have an issue with mine. 2018 2500 with 86000 miles so it’s about due for a leaky valve body. Purchased the NextGen Drivetrain Billet Valve Body replacement and watched a bunch of videos on how to replace it. Seemed straight forward but after installing it, my truck won’t go into gear. I figured maybe one of two issues, I didn’t get the actuator arm aligned properly when I pressed the valve body up into the transmission, or I didn’t get the solenoid wiring harness properly secured (that thing is a bugger if you’ve never dealt with its operation before). So I drained the ATF (at least I replaced the transmission pan at the same time so now I had a drain plug) took the valve body off and made sure it was in the “park” position, reinstalled it, connected it back up, put 10 quarts of ATF-4 back in, and this time it still wouldn’t shift, but now the truck says it’s not in park after startup, only Reverse gets highlighted in red when selected while all the other gears show yellow when selected. The truck won’t move, even in reverse. Does anyone have any ideas before I call a tow truck and have her taken in? I can’t help but think there’s either one little thing I’m forgetting or dorked up, or maybe the new shift solenoid I also purchased from Next Gen is faulty. I’m guessing it’s operator error though. Thanks in advance for the help.

Rich

 

[R.D.J.]

Make sure that the electrical connector is seated correctly in the valve body solenoid pack. Other than that, I have certainly got bad solenoid pack assemblies before. Real pain in the rear.

 

[Burla]

Many times a guy will put back old one just to see if it is new stuff.

 

[Usafa00]

Thanks fellas. I ended trying several different things, each of which meant starting over and draining the pan etc. finally went back to the old valve body and new solenoid, truck drive fine and no check engine light (which was on and why I started this whole process). Called NextGen Diesel and they said maybe I didn’t have enough ATF in the truck. I was recycling the new stuff I put in every time I had to drain it so it was the same amount when I put the old valve body back in. Only thing I could think of is the new valve body didn’t have enough time to fill with fluid before I bailed on it. Maybe you gotta let it run and shift it a bunch of times to get fluid in all the right places? Who knows. Took it to a shop down the street and he’s going to put the new valve body in and if that doesn’t work I’m gonna send it back to Next Gen.

 

[Daw14]

Thanks for sharing , results may be able to help others with similar issues.

 

[Ram2500MV]

VERY similar issue here. Although I did break the solenoid clip in trying to put it back on. Ordered new pin connector and mechanic is coming in a couple days. My truck only turns on when I’m holding the connector tight by hand and someone else cranking. Even then, I am getting a boatload of codes and it seems the trans isn’t talking to the ECM at all. No gauges showing trans measurements.

 

[chaosh1]

So ill ask here then, Is the 68RFE Quicklearn procedure needed after replacing the Valve body?

 

[mtnrider]

So ill ask here then, Is the 85RFE Quicklearn procedure needed after replacing the Valve body?

Yes.

 

[Usafa00]

I finally gave up on my valve body replacement after redoing it 3 times. Took it to a shop down the street and had them install it. Turns out there’s a fault with the valve body. Awesome. Returning the Next Gen Valve body and going back to a stock install. What a PITA.

 

[06 Dodge]

I finally gave up on my valve body replacement after redoing it 3 times. Took it to a shop down the street and had them install it. Turns out there’s a fault with the valve body. Awesome. Returning the Next Gen Valve body and going back to a stock install. What a PITA.

I have never heard of Next Gen, my self if I wanted an upgrade for the valve body I would get in touch with Goerend transmissions ( they made there name building the 48rfe behind the Cummins) see if they are making VB's for the 68ref and if not who they recommend, they may just have part kits like Transgo, https://goerend.com/

 

[chaosh1]

Best in the business

I.T Billet 68RFE Valve Body

Inglewood Transmission in house built 68RFE valve body Valve body bores are precision reamed and Transgo switch valves & SSV valves are installed to fix any valve bore wear and prevent hydraulic leak

inglewoodtransmission.com

 

[NewBlackDak]

You have to do a transmission re-learn when you replace a valve body. Did you do that? I had a RevMax billet VB in my '14 and it worked great.

 

[Usafa00]

Yeah. I installed this thing three times and then had a shop install it and do a relearn. Couldn’t get reverse gear to work. Shop says there’s an issue with the valve body

 

[Ritchie_Rich]

I had a recall for the solenoids on mine. Maybe something to look into.

 

[DripJust]

Are the valve bodies on the rfe trans from 545- 68 all the same ?
I want to put a BD diesel part# 1030373 (separator plate and accumulator plate) on my 545 rfe.
Any idea if it would still work bc the trans go kits are all compatible with all rfe trans models

 

[NewBlackDak]

I put a RevMax 68 valve body in my 66. Factory part is the same number for both. Don't know if the 545 is the same.