Transgo or no go?

thomas04 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 129

My transmission has been having the odd concern. Hard shift points randomly during reverse-forward, 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th. Unsure what other transmissions on this site sound like but mine is loud and sounds clunky while shifting at a stand still with my door open. Dealer says this is normal sounding, do others agree?

I was looking into installing a Transgo Kit but I have read that it works, does not work, works for a short time then transmission relearns its prior shifting technique. Would purchasing and using some of the Transgo kit just be a waste of money? If anybody has had it installed and would like to inform me what there experience is I would be interested to hear.

Also, is the GDE TCM tune just to be purchased if one is planning on towing or has it been used to fix anything I have experienced above?

My transmission fluid was changed out 60k km ago with proper fluid. Lucas 'bear snot' added 5k km ago but has not really helped. Please feel free to drop a word about maintaining this 06 tranny and/or procedures that may help me solve my issues. Thanks.

Peace,

S.S.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sat Jul 28, 2012 10:25 pm

I have a Transgo kit that I installed and it shifts fine.
I installed the new springs and valves in the front pump along with the springs and valves that go into the valve body.
Also I have a Suncoast Torque Converter I installed that works great.
I installed a Magnifine 3/8" fitting filter on the return line to remove any
small steel particles that can get into the shift valve. The small steel particles get
magnitised from the electromagnets that operate the shift valves and then cause
weird shifting problems.
After the Magnifine my trans starting shifting even better and smoother.

As you can see, I do my own work, unlike a dealer or repair shop, I have no vested interest in having repeat work to do on my CRD to pay the bills, nor do I have anything to sell.

After hours of research on how Mopar TCMs work and what they fit, I transplanted a TCM from a wrecked '03 5.7L ram with a 545RFE transmission to get lower shift points, I can now lock it into 5th lock at 47 MPH instead of 62MPH. The Hemi TCM has learned over the last two years to adapt to the CRD engine because it is a Smart TCM that adapts to the driving/towing conditions. For any 545RFE TCM option (even the screwed up F-37), if you tow a 5,000 Lb trailer for a few hundred miles and start driving unloaded, the trans shifting will be very crisp. Drive empty for a few hundred miles and the shifting will smooth out. At first the Hemi TCM wanted to down shift if I pushed the throttle a little bit down, now I can run it up to 17PSI of boost with out a premature down shift and it just goes with out down shifting.
Another member had a TCM from an early GC with a 545RFE collecting dust in his garage, we PMed and he installed it, did the Slow Learn and said it was, "Awesome". He never posted the TCM part number, so I can't provide a part number I know works from a GC. In theory, the early GC 545RFE TCM should have much lower shift points like the Ram does. I saw one on eBay for $95 a few days ago. Lots of early GC 545RFE TCM were transplanted into early Dakotas with 4.7L V8 engines and 45RFE transmissions to turn them into 545RFEs. Reading up on that put the importance of the Slow Learn into perspective.
Several members have pre F-37 TCMs they got out of '05 wrecks, they all love them. One member bought a used '05 TCM and tried to have it reflashed to pre F-37, the shop told him it would not take and after some haggling it was returned. When he got it back and it was plugged in it had the pre F-37 and lower shift points, he loves it.
BG-Chrysler has a flash that was sold for $450 last time I checked, but I don't know anyone who has it.
Another vendor who plugs on this site has their TCM flash, some love it some do not.
The one thing you want to do with the resistor in the Transgo Kit is to toss it into your assorted resistor bag and not use it (Suncoast strongly recommends doing so), your TCM will learn around it in a few days.
If you want to do the Bone Yard Ram or GC TCM swap like a few of us have and can't find a fair price, wait a few and a wreck will show up.

cerich · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:00 pm

great info in this thread

OldSkull · **Posted:** Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:36 pm

Dooooo It was a secret! Now you give it for free to every one! Have you think about all those TCM tuners making it for living? :goink:

It's not that simple anyway, they have to "teach" the new TCM to do the right thing, so if they look for a "Out the box" solution, just pass and get a expensive TCM tune instead.. It's not a free ride :mrgreen:

Transgo or no go?

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