Page 1

500/518 TECH NOTES

Falls out of 4th and lockup at 55 mph.

Movie on scan tool showed VSS falling off to 20 mph from 50 mph only for 2 frames and only 2 out
of 5 movies showed malfunction. OSS (in od housing) bad.
In and out of 4th hot. Setting TPS code.
TPS Bad
No fourth and no kick downs unless od canceled gauge fourth apply and has oil all the time in
forward gears
Cup plug fell out od piston keeping it in od
3-4-3-4 shuttle shift all other shifts okay
Has plastic cage on roller sprag and has been installed backwards
518 drives in neutral, has oil in fwd tap in rev. and neutral, 20 psi but varies
Diesel 518 stator installed on gas fwd clutch drum.
Drain back after kit install
Park linkage pushing lever to far into park position
Kills engine in manual 2nd & Low, ok every wear else.
Lockup valve installed backwards. Must install valve first then spring then end plug.
No reverse after overhaul.
Put check ball into channel casting at reverse feed with no small hole in plate next to it causes no
rear servo feed.
Also, not enough frictions installed in direct clutch drum rear of trans.
No reverse feel engagement but no move
Safety clip left off direct clutch retainer
Slips on hard acceleration forward, reverse OK.
If over filling unit fixes check separator plate to channel casting alignment on pump suction circuit
front of VB.
Tries to kill engine in reverse, pull wires off trans and still tries to kill engine Not drag down like tcc
coming on this is a definite eng miss/stumble. May also have strange feel going into lockup at normal lockup apply speedmay feel like quick shudder, bindup, or sudden loss of power.
Due to misalignment of crank trigger with flywheel holes. Models with metal bracket to hold sensor
on engine are worse as the bracket gets bent and sensor is then too far from flywheel holes to work
correctly. May also be due to faulty (weak) sensor. When shifted into reverse, or when TCC is applied, flex from flywheel moves out of effective range of the sensor, allows loss of signal, and it will
loose its reading at the scanner.
Won't move warm
Late A518 mismatch pump halves opens suction to vent. 50 psi on start then drops to 20psi when
running that's how much air the pump will compress.

TransGo 2006

Page 2

500/518 TECH NOTES

Line is high and goes to 225-250 psi in 4th gear and/or lock-up depending on type.
Misassembled boost valve under small 3 bolt cover on late tube type vb. Missing slug allows boost
valve to move too far and drains pr balance
No lock up or lockup only at hard throttle but holds as long complaint. as pressure remains high
(diesel) do not confuse with slipping tcc or shudder neither is experienced during lock up with this
Swapped original tv valve spring with lock-up switch valve spring during installation of shift kit.
Wheels off ground pressure gauge on fwd tap, run truck in 3rd (od canceled) ground tcc and watch
to see if pressure increases whenever tcc is grounded (equipped with booster valve). Means
solenoid and tcc valves are working but switch valve didnt move.
Feels like a bind up in all ranges
Non lockup trans had a lockup stator installed not filling converter
Heavy to 7-8 throttle up shift in 3rd tap third servo is off before pressure appears in tap
Small Teflon on band apply servo leaking bad replace with metal fixed
No 2-3 up shift would try but land in first Wires off 1st gear
Forward clutch's in the direct drum splines won't grab the hub.
No 3-4 up shift signal is ok
3-4 timing valve misassemble 3-4 timing valve should go spring first then valve. Also loose solenoid bolts leaking signal oil. Spring on wrong side of quick fill valve lower valve body.
Sudden up shift to 4th in 1st or 2nd at hard throttle 4th tap shows 40 psi in forward range at idle up
shifts into 2nd at hard throttle over 70 psi on 4th tap.
Orifice in 4th piston housing blown out.
Wrong Gear Start ( third) & no up shift 96 dodge van 46re)
Trans mount broken, ripped wires out of connector above cross member repaired / fixed.
Slips in Lockupeven with good converter and pump
Switch valve worn on end or bracket misaligned allowing switch valve to over travel (when stroked
outward valve goes too far out of bore. Realign bracket and/or replace valve as needed.
Firm up shift cold first 4 or 5 shifts in the morning Trans temp sensor out of range.
Cut wires outside of trans to temp sensor hook 330 ohm 1/4 watt resistor across the two wires going back to ECM Fast cheap fix.
No 4th evernever gets 3-4 commandcan be jumper wired into 4th
Wrong computereven from factory. (Has happened more than you might think). Get part# on computer and call dealer to verify it is for 4-speed trans not 3-speed.
TCC shuttle shifting, on off on off, scanner shows temp sensor voltage going up down up down in
sync with tcc shifting. Use scanner to check sensor by wiggling connector while watching scanner
with key on engine off.
External temp sensor in cooling lines leaking and connector contacts loose. Oil leaking thru blades
of sensor-NG replaced sensor / fixed problem
TransGo 2006

Page 3

500/518 TECH NOTES

1-2 up shift and no 2-3 or 3-4

Miss assembly on primary side of gov must see all three snap rings from outside of valve
Bind on 3-4 up shift
Too much clearance in direct clutch in OD housing. Dir bottom pressure plate upside down
gives .250 clearance.
Bind up on 3-4 up shift
Missing selective shim and or bearing on 4th piston
Breaks front drum piston or tears off the lip of the seal and also reverse piston retainer pushed out of
case.
Plug missing on the auxiliary boost valve under 3 bolt plate
Cold ok but warm late 2-3 shift or no up shift till lift throttle
Direct clutch rubber in trans not od unit 95 model and later real common
Diesel- shuttle shifts 4-3-4-3 commanded.
rpm sensor erratic at idle, replaced sensor, fixed.
Falls out of 4th hot - up shifts get later with temperature:
Governor filter plugged.
No 3-4 up shift signal is ok
3-4 timing valve misassemble 3-4 timing valve should go spring first then valve. Also loose solenoid bolts leaking signal oil. Spring on wrong side of quick fill valve lower valve body.
Sudden up shift to 4th in 1st or 2nd at hard throttle 4th tap shows 40 psi in forward range at idle up
shifts into 2nd at hard throttle over 70 psi on 4th tap.
Orifice in 4th piston housing blown out.
Wrong Gear Start ( third) & no up shift 96 dodge van 46re)
Trans mount broken, ripped wires out of connector above cross member repaired / fixed.

TransGo 2006

Page 4

500/518 TECH NOTES

Parts
518 reverse reducing boost plug and sleeve, to fix reverse slip at medium throttle.
Sleeve p/n 52118761 plug p/n 52118763
Stripped splines on forward planet (behind fwd clutch), normally lube failure, restricted lube. THERE
ARE 2 STYLES OF 5 PINION PLANETS one IS EARLY fits 46re uses 4 tab washer on back w/teflon
liner. One LATE fits 47re has 5 tab washer on back w/teflon
LATE STYLE Steel 5 pinion planet p/n 04617998 Cost $187 DIFFERENT SPLINES (requires teflon
liner p/n 4617951 & Newer style 5 tab thrust washer p/n 4539129 and uses original ring gear,
midshaft # 4617611-94-17)EARLY STYLE
Installing extra clutches in direct drum rear. 10 plates will install.
4864053 steel plates .053 new top plate .085 at lugs (4461072 drum (98 diesel/v10))
Cooler fitting for 518
4897792-AA =1/2 tubing by 1/4 inch pipe, there is another for 3/8 5202 8469, 1/2 by 3/8 by 18 thread
Part # for removing cooler line fittings with plastic clips that melt.
52028673 (2) 118752 (2) 5011244AA 52028673 (1) 18 feet of Hydraulic Hose
Drill bit for drilling Output shaft.
Straight flute135- 140 degree point solid carbide 3/16 x 4 # 00971127 $17 made from Hi-rock
Manufact. By M.A. Ford Manhattan machine supply company catalog. The trick is no more than
1500 RPM must use a mill or drill press any wiggling will break the bit.1=800=645-7270

TransGo 2006