845RE Transmission Replacement

[Wetland]

The transmission in my 2014 1500 3.6L RWD Tradesman failed at 250k. Based on my research, it appears any comparably spec’d tranny from model years 2014-2020 is a direct replacement. Specs assume no stop/start and a 3.21 ratio. If I find a 2018 or newer transmission from a 1500 Classic, will AlfaOBD allow me to write the VIN properly? Is there anything else to this swap?

 

[Burla]

Isnt the 2018 classic an RFE? So it would have to be 2019 for a classic to be safe. I don't know about that PCM allowing this because for sure its locked, alpha cant help unless I'm wrong.

 

[Wild one]

The transmission in my 2014 1500 3.6L RWD Tradesman failed at 250k. Based on my research, it appears any comparably spec’d tranny from model years 2014-2020 is a direct replacement. Specs assume no stop/start and a 3.21 ratio. If I find a 2018 or newer transmission from a 1500 Classic, will AlfaOBD allow me to write the VIN properly? Is there anything else to this swap?

Not sure about the little 845,but i know on the 8HP70's you need to swap the internal TCM/computor inside the transmission,as they changed them up between 14 and 15.

 

[Wetland]

Isnt the 2018 classic an RFE? So it would have to be 2019 for a classic to be safe. I don't know about that PCM allowing this because for sure its locked, alpha cant help unless I'm wrong.

The Mopar VIN decoder lists both my 2014 and a potential 2019 donor as having the “8-SPD AUTO 845RE TRANS (MAKE).” Mopar’s rebuilt transmission part numbers claim to be supported in both applications as well. This makes me think it has to be possible.

 

[Burla]

The dealer will have to unlock the PCM, if their initial answer is no I'd ask them if you can pay for it. It should be illegal for anti monopoly rules, but it is what it is. Yes 2019 the classic got the 8 speed, not 2018. Might want to call places like this find out the work arounds. It looks like they claim safety issue on locking it =smart bashtards. Find an excuse to keep their monopoly, and a good one at that. We might hate it, but that is a good excuse. Sure hope that gets overturned, independents need to unite and take manus to court. But for now, find a work around..
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Yes, a dealership can generally refuse to unlock a PCM (Powertrain Control Module) for you to work on your car elsewhere, as they are independent businesses, often tied to manufacturer protocols, especially concerning warranties, security, and liability, though you might find independent shops or specialists willing to help, as some brands (like Ford) have unlock services.
Why Dealerships Might Say No:

• Manufacturer Policy & Warranty: Dealerships must follow manufacturer rules; unlocking PCMs can void warranties or trigger alerts, making them hesitant to allow outside work.
• Security & IP: Modern PCMs hold proprietary software, and unlocking them can be seen as compromising intellectual property (IP) or vehicle security.
• Liability: If something goes wrong after they unlock it, they might be held liable, even if you're doing the work.
• Tuning Detection: They might see tunes or locks as tampering, potentially causing issues during inspections, and prefer to avoid it.

What You Can Do:

• Find Independent Specialists: Look for performance shops or independent mechanics specializing in your vehicle's brand (e.g., More Power Tuning for Ford vehicles) who offer PCM unlocking services.
• Check for Brand-Specific Services: Some manufacturers or tuning companies offer official unlock procedures for specific models (e.g., HP Tuners for certain Fords).
• Contact Your State Consumer Agency: If you feel it's a deceptive practice (e.g., if they locked it without your agreement), you can file a complaint with your state's consumer protection agency.

In short, it's a business decision for the dealer, but other options exist if you're determined to get your PCM unlocked.

 

[Wild one]

The dealer will have to unlock the PCM, if their initial answer is no I'd ask them if you can pay for it. It should be illegal for anti monopoly rules, but it is what it is. Yes 2019 the classic got the 8 speed, not 2018. Might want to call places like this find out the work arounds.

His 14 has the little 845RE 8 speed Mike,it's a derivitive of the bigger ZF 8 speeds,and is the only one manufactured by Ma Mopar in the States,but under license from ZF.
All 3.6's came with an 8 speed

 

[Wetland]

The dealer will have to unlock the PCM, if their initial answer is no I'd ask them if you can pay for it. It should be illegal for anti monopoly rules, but it is what it is. Yes 2019 the classic got the 8 speed, not 2018. Might want to call places like this find out the work arounds. It looks like they claim safety issue on locking it =smart bashtards. Find an excuse to keep their monopoly, and a good one at that. We might hate it, but that is a good excuse. Sure hope that gets overturned, independents need to unite and take manus to court. But for now, find a work around..
\\



Yes, a dealership can generally refuse to unlock a PCM (Powertrain Control Module) for you to work on your car elsewhere, as they are independent businesses, often tied to manufacturer protocols, especially concerning warranties, security, and liability, though you might find independent shops or specialists willing to help, as some brands (like Ford) have unlock services.
Why Dealerships Might Say No:

• Manufacturer Policy & Warranty: Dealerships must follow manufacturer rules; unlocking PCMs can void warranties or trigger alerts, making them hesitant to allow outside work.
• Security & IP: Modern PCMs hold proprietary software, and unlocking them can be seen as compromising intellectual property (IP) or vehicle security.
• Liability: If something goes wrong after they unlock it, they might be held liable, even if you're doing the work.
• Tuning Detection: They might see tunes or locks as tampering, potentially causing issues during inspections, and prefer to avoid it.

What You Can Do:

• Find Independent Specialists: Look for performance shops or independent mechanics specializing in your vehicle's brand (e.g., More Power Tuning for Ford vehicles) who offer PCM unlocking services.
• Check for Brand-Specific Services: Some manufacturers or tuning companies offer official unlock procedures for specific models (e.g., HP Tuners for certain Fords).
• Contact Your State Consumer Agency: If you feel it's a deceptive practice (e.g., if they locked it without your agreement), you can file a complaint with your state's consumer protection agency.

In short, it's a business decision for the dealer, but other options exist if you're determined to get your PCM unlocked.

My 2014 PCM should already be unlocked since it is pre 2015 when Ram began locking the PCM. The tranny I want to install is from a 2019. Does it matter ifthe 2019 PCM is locked since I’ll be connecting the tranny to my 2014 PCM?

 

[Burla]

No, you have a good point, I think if your pcm is unlocked you should be able to figure it out.

 

[Wild one]

My 2014 PCM should already be unlocked since it is pre 2015 when Ram began locking the PCM. The tranny I want to install is from a 2019. Does it matter ifthe 2019 PCM is locked since I’ll be connecting the tranny to my 2014 PCM?

Don't get rid of your old transmission until you have the replacement installed and have drove it for a few days,just in case you need to swap the computor out of your old transmission into the new transmission.
I'm not really up on the little 845RE,so it might work okay with the tcm it comes with,but i also wouldn't be surprised if you have to salvage the computor out of your original transmission and install it in your new transmission.
In case you don't know,the 8 speeds have their own internal computor seperate from any of the trucks computors

 

[Dusty]

Don't get rid of your old transmission until you have the replacement installed and have drove it for a few days,just in case you need to swap the computor out of your old transmission into the new transmission.
I'm not really up on the little 845RE,so it might work okay with the tcm it comes with,but i also wouldn't be surprised if you have to salvage the computor out of your original transmission and install it in your new transmission.
In case you don't know,the 8 speeds have their own internal computor seperate from any of the trucks computors

Doesn't the TCM piggyback on the PCM on a 2014?

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 143421 miles.

 

[Wetland]

Quick report back for those interested. I was able to successfully replace the 845RE from my 2014 Ram 1500 ST, 3.6L, RWD, Crew Cab. I used a 2019 donor transmission from the same model/spec truck. No exhaust removal required. Everything came right out and everything went right in with no issues. I attempted to code my VIN using AlfaOBD but hit an error message. Ended up clearing all fault codes and have now driven the truck about 500 miles with no codes and no issues. I thought about doing the adaptive value reset procedure, but it's running so well I don't want to muck anything up. I did have to go back a few days after install and top off the tranny fluid, likely due to the torque converter and cooling loop working out air. Now I need to figure out what to do with my failed transmission.