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The 41TE, originally called the A604 Ultradrive, has been in Chrysler front-wheel-drive vehicles since 1989: Caravan and Town & Country minivans, Sebring, Stratus, Avenger, PT Cruiser, Journey and more. It is fully electronically shifted, and it has a reputation for valve body and solenoid complaints that send owners to the parts counter long before the clutches are worn out.
The trick with a 41TE is separating the three things that commonly cause bad shifts: the external solenoid pack, the valve body inside the pan, and the transmission computer's learned values. Get that right and a valve body is a repair that can be done with the transmission in the vehicle.
Valve Body or Solenoid Pack?
On the 41TE the solenoid pack (solenoid and pressure switch assembly) bolts to the outside of the case. The valve body is inside, under the pan. They work together, so the symptoms overlap, but there are patterns:
- Electrical solenoid codes and intermittent limp mode that comes and goes with temperature or bumps usually point to the solenoid pack, its connector, or wiring. See our 41TE / A604 solenoid pack buyer's guide.
- P1775 and P1776 are solenoid switch valve codes. The solenoid switch valve (SSV) in the valve body shuttles one solenoid circuit between the low/reverse clutch and the converter clutch. When the computer sees it stuck in the converter clutch or the low/reverse position, it sets these codes. A worn SSV bore or a sticking valve is a common cause, which makes these the textbook valve body codes on this transmission.
- Harsh or flared shifts with good electrical tests, especially once the fluid is hot, point to worn bores and leaking valves in the valve body.
- Gear ratio error codes with dark fluid and debris in the pan are usually worn clutches. A valve body will not fix that.
When the 41TE sees a fault it does not like, it defaults to limp mode in second gear. Stuck in second is a symptom of many different faults, so read the codes before buying parts.
Pick the Right Year Range
| Range | What changes |
|---|---|
| 1989 to early 1990s | Earliest A604 castings. Buy a valve body listed for your exact year range. |
| Mid 1990s to 2006 | The most common range for replacement units. Several casting revisions within this span. |
| 2007-up | Variable line pressure (VLP) system added, with a pressure control solenoid. Valve bodies for these years are different and are not interchangeable with earlier units. |
Match by the transmission's model year, or better, compare the casting number on your old valve body. Pre-2007 and 2007-up valve bodies should be treated as completely separate parts.
What to Buy
Remanufactured Valve Body
The best choice for an in-vehicle repair. A quality reman has had the known wear points, including the solenoid switch valve bore, corrected and the unit tested. It bolts in under the pan, and you are done once the Quick Learn is run.
New Solenoid Pack at the Same Time
If your solenoid pack is original and the vehicle has high mileage, it is worth replacing it along with the valve body. The pack is external and easy to reach, and a weak solenoid or pressure switch will make a perfect valve body behave badly.
Full Rebuild Instead
If the fluid is burnt, the pan has clutch material in it, or you have gear ratio codes in more than one gear, put the money toward a rebuild kit and do the valve body during the overhaul. Our best 41TE rebuild kit guide covers the options.
Install Notes
- Use ATF+4 only. The 41TE is sensitive to fluid type. The wrong fluid causes shudder and shift complaints that look like hardware problems.
- Torque the valve body bolts to factory spec. Over-tight bolts distort the valve body and cause cross-leaks.
- Engage the manual valve with the shift linkage as the valve body goes in, and confirm every range before refilling.
- New filter and pan gasket. Never reuse the old filter on a unit that has been shifting badly.
- Run the Quick Learn. After a valve body, solenoid pack, or transmission computer replacement, Chrysler calls for the Quick Learn procedure with a scan tool so the computer relearns clutch volumes. Skipping it is the most common reason a new valve body still shifts badly.
41TE Parts Ship Fast
Valve bodies, solenoids, filters, gaskets, rebuild kits and hard parts for the 41TE, shipped from the USA.
Shop 41TE Parts →FAQ
Can a 41TE valve body be replaced without pulling the transmission?
Yes. The valve body is under the transmission pan and can be replaced in the vehicle. Drain the fluid, remove the pan and filter, unbolt the valve body, and install the replacement with a new filter and gasket, then run the Quick Learn.
What do codes P1775 and P1776 mean on a 41TE?
They are solenoid switch valve codes. P1775 means the solenoid switch valve is latched in the converter clutch position and P1776 means it is latched in the low/reverse position. A worn or sticking solenoid switch valve in the valve body is a common cause.
Does a 2007-up 41TE valve body fit an older transmission?
No. 2007-up 41TE units use variable line pressure with a pressure control solenoid, and their valve bodies are different from earlier units. Treat pre-2007 and 2007-up valve bodies as separate parts.
Why is my 41TE stuck in second gear?
Second gear is the 41TE's limp mode. The transmission computer puts it there when it detects a fault. Read the stored codes first; the cause can be the solenoid pack, wiring, a sensor, the valve body, or worn clutches.