Dodge 2001 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual page 1965

21 - 330 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - 44RE
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - 44RE (Continued)
STANDARD PROCEDURE - ALUMINUM
THREAD REPAIR
Damaged or worn threads in the aluminum trans-
mission case and valve body can be repaired by the
use of Heli-Coils™, or equivalent. This repair con-
sists of drilling out the worn-out damaged threads.
Then tap the hole with a special Heli-Coil™ tap, or
equivalent, and installing a Heli-Coil™ insert, or
equivalent, into the hole. This brings the hole back to
its original thread size.
Heli-Coil™, or equivalent, tools and inserts are
readily available from most automotive parts suppli-
ers.
REMOVAL
The overdrive unit can be removed and serviced
separately. It is not necessary to remove the entire
transmission assembly to perform overdrive unit
repairs.
(1) Disconnect battery negative cable.
(2) Disconnect and lower or remove necessary
exhaust components.
(3) Remove engine-to-transmission
equipped (Fig. 13).
Fig. 13 Transmission-To-Engine Strut Attachment
1 - ENGINE BLOCK
2 - STRUT (PASSENGER SIDE)
3 - ENGINE MOUNT
4 - STRUT (DRIVER SIDE)
(4) Disconnect fluid cooler lines at transmission.
(5) Remove starter motor. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRI-
CAL/STARTING/STARTER MOTOR - REMOVAL)
(6) Disconnect and remove the crankshaft position
sensor. (Refer to 14 - FUEL SYSTEM/FUEL INJEC-
TION/CRANKSHAFT
REMOVAL) Retain the sensor attaching bolts.
(7) Remove torque converter access cover.
(8) If transmission is being removed for overhaul,
remove transmission oil pan, drain fluid and reinstall
pan.
(9) Remove fill tube bracket bolts and pull tube
out of transmission. Retain fill tube seal (Fig. 13). On
4 x 4 models, it will also be necessary to remove bolt
attaching transfer case vent tube to converter hous-
ing (Fig. 14).
struts, if
1 - TRANSFER CASE VENT TUBE
2 - FILL TUBE (V8)
3 - TUBE SEAL
4 - FILL TUBE (V6)
(10) Rotate crankshaft in clockwise direction until
converter bolts are accessible. Then remove bolts one
at a time. Rotate crankshaft with socket wrench on
dampener bolt.
(11) Mark propeller shaft and axle yokes for
assembly alignment. Then disconnect and remove
propeller shaft. On 4 x 4 models, remove both propel-
ler shafts. (Refer to 3 - DIFFERENTIAL & DRIV-
ELINE/PROPELLER SHAFT/PROPELLER SHAFT -
REMOVAL)
(12) Disconnect wires from park/neutral position
switch and transmission solenoid.
(13) Disconnect gearshift rod and torque shaft
assembly from transmission.
(14) Disconnect throttle valve cable from transmis-
sion bracket and throttle valve lever.
(15) On 4 x 4 models, disconnect shift rod from
transfer case shift lever.
(16) Support rear of engine with safety stand or
jack.
POSITION
Fig. 14 Fill Tube Attachment
BR/BE
SENSOR -