Shift Solenoids - All

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of all shift solenoids in the 48RE automatic transmission equipped on the 2007 Ram 3500 with 5.9L Cummins diesel engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Solenoid block/pack assembly (contains all solenoids) × 1 — Mopar 4617210AB or equivalent
• Transmission pan gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Transmission filter × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Pan bolts (if reusing shows thread damage) × 16 — M8 x 1.25
• Solenoid pack connector O-ring × 1 — Use OEM specification

Fluids

• ATF+4 — 8 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Chock rear wheels securely
3. Disconnect both negative battery cables to prevent electrical faults during solenoid replacement
4. Raise vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame rails, ensuring adequate working clearance underneath
5. Allow transmission to cool completely if vehicle was recently operated
6. Place drain pan under transmission pan
7. Have clean workspace prepared for disassembled components

Procedure

1. 1

   Drain transmission fluid
   Loosen all transmission pan bolts gradually, starting from one corner to allow fluid to drain in a controlled manner. Once fluid flow slows, remove remaining bolts and carefully lower pan. Expect approximately 6-8 quarts of fluid to drain. Inspect drained fluid for metal particles or debris that may indicate internal transmission damage.
2. 2

   Remove transmission pan and filter
   With all bolts removed, carefully lower the transmission pan away from the transmission case. Fluid will continue to drip. Remove and discard old pan gasket material from both pan and transmission case. Remove transmission filter by pulling straight down - it is held by O-rings and may require gentle twisting. Discard old filter.
3. 3

   Clean pan and inspect components
   Thoroughly clean transmission pan with brake cleaner, paying special attention to magnet. Inspect magnet for metal particles - fine dust is normal, but chunks or excessive material indicates problems. Clean transmission case mating surface with brake cleaner and plastic scraper if needed. Ensure all old gasket material is removed. Inspect valve body area for obvious damage or debris.
4. 4

   Disconnect solenoid pack electrical connector
   Locate the solenoid pack electrical connector on the driver side of the transmission case. The connector passes through the case with a large multi-pin connector. Carefully release the locking tab or retaining clip and disconnect the internal connector from the solenoid pack. Note connector orientation for reassembly.
5. 5

   Remove valve body bolts
   The solenoid pack is mounted to the valve body. Identify all valve body retaining bolts - there are approximately 14-16 bolts of varying lengths. Take a photo or make a diagram noting bolt locations as they are different lengths. Remove bolts in a crisscross pattern to prevent warping. Keep bolts organized by location.
6. 6

   Lower valve body assembly
   With all bolts removed, carefully lower the valve body assembly. It is heavy (approximately 15-20 lbs) and contains springs and check balls. Lower it slowly and keep it level to prevent internal components from shifting. Place valve body on clean work surface with solenoid pack facing up. Do not disassemble valve body unless performing additional repairs.
7. 7

   Remove old solenoid pack
   The solenoid pack is bolted to the top of the valve body with 4-6 Torx bolts. Remove these bolts and carefully lift the solenoid pack straight up off the valve body. Note the orientation of the solenoid pack and location of alignment pins. Inspect valve body mating surface for damage. Remove and discard old solenoid pack gasket or O-ring.
8. 8

   Install new solenoid pack
   Place new gasket or O-ring on valve body mating surface. Carefully align new solenoid pack with alignment pins on valve body, ensuring correct orientation. Press solenoid pack down gently to seat on gasket. Install and hand-tighten all solenoid pack mounting bolts in a crisscross pattern. Torque bolts to the value specified in the Chrysler service manual for the 48RE solenoid pack retaining bolts (verify exact spec) in a crisscross sequence. Verify solenoid pack is seated flush with no gaps.
9. 9

   Reinstall valve body assembly
   Inspect transmission case for any check balls or components that may have fallen during removal. Carefully lift valve body assembly (with new solenoid pack attached) up into position in transmission case. Align valve body with dowel pins and ensure proper seating. Thread all valve body bolts by hand in their correct locations per your diagram or photo. Torque valve body bolts to the value specified in the Chrysler service manual for the 48RE valve body bolts (verify exact spec) in a crisscross pattern working from center outward.
10. 10

    Reconnect solenoid pack electrical connector
    Reconnect the internal electrical connector to the solenoid pack, ensuring it seats fully and locks in place. Verify proper seating by gentle pull test. Ensure connector O-ring is in good condition - replace if damaged. Route wiring as original to prevent pinching during pan installation.
11. 11

    Install new transmission filter
    Lubricate new filter O-rings with clean ATF+4 fluid. Push new filter straight up into transmission case bore until it seats completely. Filter should be firmly in place and not easily removed by hand once properly seated.
12. 12

    Install transmission pan
    Place new gasket on transmission pan (or apply thin bead of RTV to pan flange if using RTV method - follow gasket manufacturer instructions). Carefully lift pan into position, ensuring gasket stays aligned. Start all pan bolts by hand, working from center outward to ensure even gasket compression. Torque pan bolts to the value specified in the Chrysler service manual for the 48RE transmission pan bolts (verify exact spec) in a crisscross pattern. Do not overtighten as this will damage gasket and cause leaks.
13. 13

    Refill transmission fluid
    Lower vehicle to ground. Remove transmission dipstick. Using a long-neck funnel, add approximately 6 quarts of ATF+4 fluid through dipstick tube. Start engine and allow to idle. Shift through all gear positions, pausing 2-3 seconds in each position, then return to Park. With engine running and transmission at normal operating temperature, check fluid level and add as needed to bring to proper level on dipstick. Total system capacity is approximately 17-18 quarts (verify against factory spec), but only 6-8 quarts will refill after pan removal.
14. 14

    Clear diagnostic codes and perform adaptation
    Reconnect battery cables. Using a capable scan tool, clear any transmission-related diagnostic trouble codes. Perform transmission adaptive learning reset if your scan tool has this capability (not all do). This allows the transmission control module to relearn shift characteristics with the new solenoids. If scan tool is not available, adaptation will occur during normal driving.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all electrical connections are secure and properly routed
2. Verify transmission pan bolts are torqued to specification and in crisscross pattern
3. Double-check transmission fluid level after reaching operating temperature
4. Inspect under vehicle for any fluid leaks after test drive
5. Keep drained fluid for inspection - presence of metal particles may indicate additional transmission problems

Verification

• Start engine and verify no transmission fluid leaks from pan gasket or elsewhere
• With engine running, verify smooth shifting through all gear ranges at idle
• Test drive vehicle through all gears under light load, verifying smooth shift points and no slipping
• Verify no transmission-related diagnostic codes are present using scan tool
• Monitor transmission operation for first 50-100 miles for any abnormal behavior
• Recheck transmission fluid level after test drive when transmission is at operating temperature
• Verify shift quality has improved compared to pre-repair condition

Related trouble codes on this vehicle

Codes that commonly send this job to the bay — tap one for symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps.

Chasing one of these codes and not sure which part is guilty? Ask a master mechanic about YOUR car →

More procedures for this vehicle