Transmission will not shift out of park

Tiny
CONNORSTOM29
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 DODGE CHARGER
  • 3.5L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
My transmission will not shift from park. Had just done a pan drop, went to check fluid level so I started to move the lever back and forth a few times and now the check engine light popped up maybe the first or second time doing that. I can still move my lever as long as the car is started but it wont shift even into first regardless of what gear the lever is in. Not sure if its the solenoid or what but need help.
Monday, May 6th, 2019 AT 6:05 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Hi Connorstom,

Just to confirm, all you did is drop the pan and change the fluid and then filled it back up?

How many quarts of fluid did you put back in? Which transmission do you have? NAG or 42RLE? I included the fluid spec for both.

If you have a NAG (most common transmission) then you need to start by adding 5 quarts of fluid after a fluid and filter change. If you have not added that much, it probably will not engage a gear because it is actually sucking up air because the filter and pick up are not submerged in fluid yet.

Let me know and we can go from there. Thanks
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Monday, May 6th, 2019 AT 4:20 PM
Tiny
CONNORSTOM29
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I have 42rle. Whoever had it before me must have just continued to add more fluid when ever problems arose because when I originally measured it was in between 80-90 on Dorman dipstick. Which would be great if I had Nag 1 transmission but it still was running at that point. Now for the 42rle the recommended level was in between 50-60. And since I have had it there same problem has occurred. Should I add a few more quarts to try and add it back up to where it was and hope for the best? Or is my only answer going to be getting a new transmission. Thank you for your help.
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Tuesday, May 7th, 2019 AT 10:50 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Yes. I would suggest just adding one at a time and retesting after each one. If you add too much then your oil will aerate and that is not good. Basically, you will end up needing to change it again or rebuild/replace the unit at that point. I would not replace the unit until you get it engaging gear and then test drive it. If you still have an issue then you may have to replace it. However, if you get it where it appears that it is overfull and still not engaging then your pump may have gone and then you will be needing a unit at that point.
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Tuesday, May 7th, 2019 AT 5:32 PM
Tiny
CONNORSTOM29
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Ok so had to replace pressure nd control solenoid but I put the vAlve body back on now cant get it out of reverse. The shift lever in car was in park and I did a brake/trans interlock overide and atleast put the lever inside car to match what gear it sais on dash but the farthest I can go with that is neutral and the gears on dash wont respond. All the fuses are ok and the cable is connected but havent ripped apart center console yet to see if everything is ok. Just wanted to see if there is anything im missing here
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 AT 5:03 PM
Tiny
CONNORSTOM29
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
By the way, I haven't put the fluid back in yet encase I had to rip it apart again and only had enough to fill back up or ill be stuck here. Didn't know if that would keep it from shifting back to park to start the car.
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 AT 5:07 PM
Tiny
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The issue could just be the shifter is out of adjustment. Here is the procedure and where the shifter connects to the transmission. If you open the hood and look on top of the transmission, you will see the cable and lever.

Let me know if this doesn't help.
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 AT 5:11 PM
Tiny
CONNORSTOM29
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Thank you very much! I am going to go give it a shot. I will let ya know how it turns out.
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 AT 5:20 PM
Tiny
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Sounds good. I will wait to hear from you if you need anything else. Thanks
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 AT 5:34 PM
Tiny
CONNORSTOM29
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  • 7 POSTS
Okay, so I checked the linkage this is as far back as I could move it. And I did see I have brake lights but still in reverse.
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 AT 6:22 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Remove the shift cable from the manual valve lever and put it in Park manually. Then see if you can get the cable to reach when the shifter is in the park position. If not, then you probably have an issue with the cable.
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Tuesday, May 21st, 2019 AT 6:48 PM
Tiny
CONNORSTOM29
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Found out what it was. Or at least I think it is. Transmission range sensor. The cap holding the spring down just randomly popped off after about ten minutes had passed after I removed the valve body. Its still in tact with nothing broken, I was going to try and put it back together if possible but not exactly sure how the four pins and springs are set up on the inside of it. I am guessing the springs would go in the cap connector piece and the four pins facing down with the one different pin towards the outside. And the blue wire I think is the temperature sensor that would go down the leg of the sensor. But wasn't sure about all of that either way. So if you had any idea how that would be set up I would deeply appreciate it. No auto part store will carry a part like that in stock so I was going to at least take a chance putting it back together. Thank you
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Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019 AT 1:34 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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That makes sense. Unfortunately, I haven't taken one apart to know well enough. I looked all over for some detailed pictures but can't find one for a 42RLE transmission.

Sorry I can't help with that part of it. Here is the best video I can find for this valve body:

https://youtu.be/yIdv6Iebtn4
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Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019 AT 2:08 PM

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