Automatic no reverse

[mamentomori5]

I have a 2003 1500 5.9 Magnum 4x4 with an automatic transmission, and back in May of 2025, the reverse went out at the end of the day. Then, a couple of months back, probably September of 2025, it came back for 1 day, then went back out again. It drives and shifts into every gear just fine, but when I go to put it in reverse, you can hear it go into gear, but it'll either not back up or just very, very slowly reverse. It only has 169k miles, no lights on the dash, and I even hooked up a Snap-On scan tool to scan the codes, and it came back with nothing

 

[markabby]

uih oh...not good.

 

[1979 300]

I had a 2001 Ram 1500 about 15 years ago that acted up like that. I did a fluid and filter change (pan drop, no flush) and it was fine after that. I put about 25000 additional miles on it before I traded it in, and it was still good.

 

[jws123]

Try a filter change/pan drop if that doesnt work not much you can do go on facebook find a used trans they are a dime a dozen for older rams. I never had issues with dodge transmissions however my 2008 I would back up a over loaded boat/car trailer often up curbs ect really beat the hell ouda it lol. I eventually lost reverse It is possible at one point the truck was abused/not taken care of.

 

[RamDiver]

I have a 2003 1500 5.9 Magnum 4x4 with an automatic transmission, and back in May of 2025, the reverse went out at the end of the day. Then, a couple of months back, probably September of 2025, it came back for 1 day, then went back out again. It drives and shifts into every gear just fine, but when I go to put it in reverse, you can hear it go into gear, but it'll either not back up or just very, very slowly reverse. It only has 169k miles, no lights on the dash, and I even hooked up a Snap-On scan tool to scan the codes, and it came back with nothing

What is the maintenance history on filter and fluid changes for this tranny?
Doesn't the 4-speed have a dipstick to check fluid levels?
Were the fluid levels ever checked when it started misbehaving?


Unless the filter and fluid were changed last week, and it still looks great, it is likely worth the effort. As previously mentioned.


And, welcome to Ram Forum.

.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

I have a 2003 1500 5.9 Magnum 4x4 with an automatic transmission, and back in May of 2025, the reverse went out at the end of the day. Then, a couple of months back, probably September of 2025, it came back for 1 day, then went back out again. It drives and shifts into every gear just fine, but when I go to put it in reverse, you can hear it go into gear, but it'll either not back up or just very, very slowly reverse. It only has 169k miles, no lights on the dash, and I even hooked up a Snap-On scan tool to scan the codes, and it came back with nothing

Pull the pan and change the filter and while you are there adjust the bands. There are two bands. I bet dollars to donuts that the reverse band adjustment is so far off from never being adjusted that the band apply lever is barely moving enough to squeeze the clutch retainer.

The 46RE is a very simple transmission. When you remove the pan grab the reverse band apply lever and actuate it by hand. If it has anything more than a 1/2" gap between the tip of the apply lever and the servo this trans will struggle to engage reverse. It'll feel like it goes into reverse but the truck won't move. That's because the band is not squeezing the clutch retainer tight enough.

Set both bands to have 1/4" of a gap between the tip of the apply lever and the servo.