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The 41TE (originally called the A604 Ultradrive) is the 4-speed FWD automatic Chrysler put in everything from the 1989 minivans through the 2010s Journey, Avenger, Sebring, and Caliber. Unlike most transmissions, its shift solenoids do not live inside the pan on a valve body. They sit in a single aluminum solenoid pack bolted to the outside of the case, with one electrical connector and a gasket. That makes it one of the cheapest and fastest "is it the solenoids?" checks in the business.
It also makes the pack a common misdiagnosis. A lot of 41TEs get a solenoid pack thrown at them when the real problem is burnt clutches or a worn valve body. Spend ten minutes on the checks below before you order anything.
What the Solenoid Pack Actually Does
The pack holds four clutch solenoids — low/reverse (LR), 2/4, overdrive (OD), and underdrive (UD) — plus the pressure switches the TCM uses to confirm each clutch actually applied. The TCM does not trust a shift just because it energized a solenoid; it watches for the matching pressure switch to close. When the switch and the command do not agree, it sets a code and drops into limp mode.
Limp mode on a 41TE is 2nd gear only, plus park, reverse, and neutral. If the van takes off in 2nd, will not upshift, and the check engine light is on, you are in limp. The question is why.
Symptoms That Point at the Pack
- Stuck in 2nd with a solenoid circuit code. P0750 (LR solenoid), P0755 (2/4), P0760 (OD), P0765 (UD). Circuit codes are electrical — open, short, or out of range. These are the codes that most often mean the pack.
- Intermittent limp that clears after a key cycle. Classic sign of a failing coil or a corroded connector at the pack. Check the connector first.
- ATF weeping down the side of the case at the pack. Early packs used a stacked (two-layer) gasket that leaks with age. A leak here does not always mean a bad solenoid, but it is a good reason to go to the updated pack while you are in there.
- Harsh or flared shifts with no mechanical noise after the TCM has already been reflashed and fluid is correct.
Symptoms That Do NOT Point at the Pack
- Ratio error codes (gear ratio errors in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or reverse). These mean the transmission slipped. That is clutches, not solenoids.
- Hydraulic pressure test codes like P0845 (2/4) or P0870 (OD). The solenoid commanded, the switch never saw pressure. That is usually a leaking clutch piston seal, a worn seal ring, or a stuck valve. A new pack rarely fixes it.
- No reverse with no codes. Look at the LR clutch and the reverse clutch, and read our 41TE no-reverse guide.
- Black, burnt fluid with clutch material in the pan. The pack is not your problem. Plan a rebuild.
Test Before You Buy
Unplug the pack connector and look at the pins. Green corrosion or a pushed-back terminal causes the same codes as a dead coil and costs nothing to fix. Then measure each solenoid with an ohmmeter across the connector (a wiring diagram for your year will show which pins). A good 41TE clutch solenoid reads low single-digit ohms, roughly 1.5 to 2.5 ohms at room temperature. Open (OL) or zero means the pack is done. All four in range, with no wiring faults, and you still have circuit codes? Suspect the harness or the TCM before the pack.
If you have a scan tool that can command the solenoids, actuate each one and watch the matching pressure switch state change. That test separates electrical from hydraulic in about five minutes.
Which Pack to Buy
| Option | What You Get | When It Makes Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Updated plug-in solenoid block | Complete pack with new gasket, non-stacked gasket design | Most jobs. Fixes the leak and all four solenoids at once. |
| Solenoid kit / individual parts | Replacement solenoids or pack components | Rebuilders going through a pack on the bench. |
| Used / junkyard pack | Unknown hours, old gasket | Not worth it. Same age as the one that just failed. |
The updated block we carry cross-references Mopar 5140429AA along with 5015646AC, 5015646AB and 4504570AB, and fits the A604/41TE, 40TE and 41AE 4-speeds. Chrysler changed connectors and pack designs over the years, so match your old pack to the listing photos — connector shape and bolt pattern — before you order. If your van or car has a transmission range sensor built into the pack connector area on your year, confirm that too.
41TE / A604 solenoid block pack with gasket · 41TE solenoid kit · 41TE solenoid kit (2000)
Installing It
- Disconnect the battery and unplug the pack connector. On most minivans you reach it from the top or front of the transaxle; some platforms are easier with the air box removed.
- Remove the retaining bolts and pull the pack straight off. Expect a little fluid. Have a rag and a pan ready.
- Clean the case mating surface. Every scrap of the old gasket comes off. Plastic scraper, then brake clean. Do not gouge the aluminum.
- New gasket only, dry. No RTV. Silicone squeezes into the passages and the pack will leak or the pressure switches will read wrong.
- Snug the bolts evenly in a cross pattern to the factory torque for your year. These are small bolts into aluminum; over-torquing warps the pack and strips the case.
- Check the fluid level with the engine running and warm. Top off with ATF+4 only. Not Dexron, not multi-vehicle — the 41TE's adaptive shift logic is calibrated around ATF+4 friction.
Do Not Skip the Quick Learn
The 41TE TCM keeps adaptive values for clutch fill time and volume. After a solenoid pack, valve body, or rebuild, it needs a Quick Learn run with a scan tool that supports it, then a road test through every shift, warm. Skipping it is why people say "the new pack shifts worse than the old one." Also check for a TCM software update for your vehicle while it is connected.
41TE Solenoid Packs In Stock
The updated plug-in solenoid block with gasket, plus 41TE solenoid kits and rebuild parts for Caravan, Town & Country, Journey, PT Cruiser, Sebring and Avenger.
Shop 41TE Parts → Core Transmission Parts →FAQ
How long does a 41TE solenoid pack take to replace?
About 30 to 60 minutes in the driveway on most minivans, including cleaning the gasket surface. Add time for the Quick Learn and a road test.
Can a bad solenoid pack cause a 41TE to stay in 2nd gear?
Yes. Any solenoid circuit fault (P0750, P0755, P0760, P0765) puts the 41TE into limp mode, which is 2nd gear only. But slipping clutches cause limp too, so check which codes are set before buying a pack.
Do I need to change the fluid when I replace the solenoid pack?
You will lose some fluid and need to top off with ATF+4. If the fluid is dark or over 50,000 miles old, do a pan drop and filter service at the same time so the new solenoids start clean.
Is the A604 solenoid pack the same as the 41TE?
The A604 was renamed 41TE in the early 1990s, and later units share the same basic pack, but connectors and pack revisions changed over the years. Match your connector and bolt pattern to the listing photos before ordering.