46RE Solenoid Kit 1996-1999

Searching for a fix for a 1996-1999 Dodge Ram, Dakota, Durango or Jeep Grand Cherokee that takes off in second, shifts at random road speeds, will not go into overdrive or never locks the torque converter? This kit replaces every electrical part inside the pan that controls those shifts on the late-1990s RE-series four-speed. You get four new pieces: the governor pressure solenoid, the governor pressure sensor (transducer), the overdrive and lockup solenoid assembly on its bracket with the internal harness and case connector, and the gasket that seals the governor solenoid body. The solenoid pair in our photo is stamped 52118500 on the coil, so you can hold it next to the one you pull out.

What the solenoid kit does in a 46RE

The 46RE is a mostly hydraulic transmission with two electronic jobs bolted on. For first through third, the shift valves still balance throttle pressure against governor pressure, but starting with the 1996 model year that governor pressure is made electrically. The PCM pulses the governor pressure solenoid on its ground side, reads the transducer, and trims the duty cycle until actual pressure matches what it wants for the road speed. Chrysler's service manual notes the solenoid is inverse-acting, so losing its circuit sends pressure to maximum and the truck drops into a third-gear start. The second job is fourth gear and converter lockup: two on/off solenoids on one bracket, fed through the harness that runs out to the case connector. When any one of these parts drifts, the hydraulics follow its bad command.

Symptoms this kit is meant to cure

• Starts out in second or third, especially once the fluid is hot.
• Upshifts that wander: early and soft one day, late and high-rpm the next.
• Harsh, jerky 1-2 or 2-3 shifts with the check engine lamp on and P1762 stored.
• P1763 or P1764 with the transmission holding third and the engine feeling flat on take-off.
• No 3-4 upshift, or a converter that will not lock at highway speed, from the overdrive and lockup side.
• Lockup that drops in and out at steady cruise, often caused by a chafed or heat-hardened internal harness.

How to confirm it before you buy

Do not start with parts. Watch governor pressure desired against actual on a scan tool, then confirm with a 0-100 psi gauge on the governor port. Transmission Digest found many 1996-1999 P1762 codes came from alternator overcharging that lifted the sensor reference, and Chrysler tech tip TT9000042 replaces only the transducer for jerky shifts with P1762. If the governor side tests good but you have no fourth or no lockup, check the transmission control relay feed and the overdrive solenoid resistance. Our governor pressure solenoid test guide and 46RE shift solenoid guide list every check in order, and the 46RE common problems guide covers the mechanical faults that mimic a bad solenoid.

Fitment

The kit is listed for the A500 / A518 / A618 family (42RE, 44RE, 46RE, 47RE, 48RE), 1996-1999. The application table includes 1996-1999 Dakota and Durango with the 3.9L V6 and 4.7L, 5.2L and 5.9L V8, 1996-1999 Ram and Ram Van 1500-3500 with the 3.9L V6 and 5.2L or 5.9L V8, and 1996-1999 Grand Cherokee with the 4.0L six or 5.2L/5.9L V8. Some of those trucks used the lighter 42RE or 44RE, and parts changed within the run, so compare your old transducer connector and the solenoid bracket with our photo, or send us your year and VIN. A 2000-or-later truck needs the later sensor style. All 46RE parts are on the 46RE parts page.

Install notes

• Drain and drop the pan and remove the filter. The governor solenoid and transducer come out of the governor body; the overdrive and lockup assembly unbolts from the valve body and its connector pops out of the case.
• Wipe the governor body before removal and keep the solenoid inlet screen clean. Use the new gasket, and oil every O-ring with ATF before seating it.
• Route the new harness exactly like the old one; Chrysler's tech tip specifically calls out a misrouted harness near the solenoid pack as a cause of shift complaints.
• Refill with ATF+4 and check the level hot, idling in Neutral.
• Clear codes, then make a few full stops; the PCM relearns the transducer zero each time the truck nearly stops.

If only one side has failed, the single 1996-99 governor pressure solenoid set or the 1999 overdrive and lockup solenoid assembly costs less than replacing both.

What parts are in the box?

Four new parts: the governor pressure solenoid, the governor pressure sensor (transducer), the overdrive and lockup solenoid assembly with harness and case connector, and the governor solenoid body gasket. No filter or pan gasket is included.

Does it fit a 42RE or 44RE in a Grand Cherokee or Dakota?

The listing covers the A500 (42RE/44RE) and A518/A618 units from 1996 to 1999, including 4.0L Grand Cherokees and V6 Dakotas. Match your old sensor connector and solenoid bracket to the photo, or send us your year and VIN.

Will it fix my P1762 code?

Only if the sensor is actually bad. Check charging voltage, the sensor 5-volt reference and ground first. Chrysler's tech tip for jerky shifts with P1762 replaces the transducer, which this kit includes.

Why did my truck lose overdrive and lockup at the same time?

The overdrive and lockup solenoids share one bracket, one harness and the same relay power feed, so a harness, connector or feed problem kills both. This kit replaces that whole assembly.

Is any programming needed afterward?

No. Clear the codes and drive with a few complete stops; the PCM relearns the transducer offset on its own.

• 46RE Pressure Control (EPC) Solenoid Symptoms
• 46RE Shift Solenoid Symptoms, Testing and Replacement
• 46RE Common Problems and Fixes: A Rebuilder's Diagnostic Guide
• 46RE Valve Body Problems: Symptoms, How to Test, and Replacement