47RE Governor Pressure Solenoid 1994-99

This is the governor pressure solenoid service kit for the late-1990s 47RE, the four-speed behind the 5.9L Cummins and 8.0L V10 in Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks. Owners usually find it while chasing one of three things: a truck stuck in one gear in limp mode, shifts that come early one day and late the next, or a P1756 or P1762-P1764 code. The kit is labeled 1994-99 and contains more than a solenoid. The photo shows the governor pressure solenoid, the round-body governor pressure sensor with its oval plug, the output speed sensor, the overdrive/lock-up solenoid pack with its harness, a filter, the pan and governor body gaskets, two upgraded valve body springs and a boost valve spring retainer. It is new.

How the 47RE governor system decides shift points

Chrysler kept the 47RE's first three gears hydraulic. What the PCM controls is governor pressure, a variable oil signal that pushes on the shift valves. The governor solenoid bleeds line pressure down to the value the PCM wants, and the pressure sensor reports what actually came out. GEARS gives the target: close to zero at a stop, then about one psi for every mph to roughly 40 mph. If what the sensor reports drifts away from what the PCM commanded, the shifts move with it. And if the PCM sees a circuit fault it turns the solenoid off, governor pressure goes away, and the truck is left in limp mode in a single gear.

Signs this kit is what you need

• Limp mode with a governor solenoid or sensor code stored
• Erratic shift points, worst when the transmission is hot
• Takeoff in a higher gear from a stop
• No 2-3 upshift under heavy throttle, or a flare and then a hard 2-3
• A speedometer or speed sensor fault at the same time as shift complaints, since the governor solenoid needs a speed signal to work
• Lock-up or overdrive problems that point to the OD/TCC solenoid pack, which this kit also replaces

Test before you buy

Put a scan tool on it and watch desired against actual governor pressure on a road test, then verify with a gauge on the governor port. A big gap between desired and actual at a steady speed points at the solenoid or sensor. Pressure that reads correctly but still gives bad shifts points back to the valve body, where worn governor plug bores leak the signal away. Our 47RE valve body testing guide covers that side, and the Ram 3500 Cummins shift problems guide walks through limp mode diagnosis. One more caution from GEARS: replacement governor solenoids have been known to fail right out of the box, so verify pressure again after installing.

Fitment and the 1994-1995 question

Read the title as 1996-1999 for a 47RE. The 47RE with the electronic governor took over from the RH-series units in the mid-1990s, and earlier trucks with a 47RH use a mechanical governor that has no solenoid or sensor, so look under the pan before ordering for a 1994 or 1995. At the other end, Sonnax notes that the governor pressure sensor changed from the round, oval-plug style to a rectangular plastic body for 2000. The sensor in this kit is the early style, so 2000-2003 trucks should order the 2000-up 47RE governor solenoid kit instead. Compare each part with your old ones or send us your year and VIN. The full 47RE range is on our 47RE collection page.

Install notes

• The governor solenoid, sensor and filter are all reached with the pan off. Inspect the governor body face for warpage before reusing it with the new gasket.
• The output speed sensor threads into the rear of the case. Fit the new O-ring and snug it by hand plus a little; the body is plastic.
• The OD/TCC solenoid pack comes off the valve body once its case connector is released. If the old harness is chafed or the connector leaks, the separate 47RE internal wiring harness is listed on its own.
• The spring and retainer upgrades go into the valve body. Pair them with a 47RE shift kit if you tow heavy and the valve body is coming out anyway.
• Refill with ATF+4 and set the level hot in Neutral, then clear codes before the road test.

Will this fit my 2001 Ram 2500 with a 47RE?

No. Trucks from 2000 on use the later rectangular governor pressure sensor. Order the 2000-up 47RE governor solenoid kit for a 2000-2003 truck.

Why is my truck stuck in one gear?

When the PCM sees a governor solenoid, sensor or speed sensor fault, it shuts the governor solenoid off and the transmission defaults to limp mode. Read the codes with the engine running before replacing parts, because a wiring or relay fault does the same thing.

Does it include the overdrive and lock-up solenoids?

Yes. The listing photo shows the OD/TCC solenoid assembly with its harness and case connector along with the governor parts, speed sensor, filter and gaskets.

Can I replace just the solenoid and keep my old sensor?

You can, but the solenoid and sensor work as a pair and the PCM relies on the sensor reading to control the solenoid. Replacing both, plus the speed sensor, removes the guesswork.

Is a relearn needed after installing?

Clear the codes, check the fluid hot and road test through every shift. Watch desired and actual governor pressure on a scan tool to confirm they now match.

• 47RE Ram 3500 Cummins Shift Problems: Diagnosis and Fix
• 47RE Valve Body Problems: Symptoms, How to Test, and Replacement
• 47RE Pressure Control (EPC) Solenoid Symptoms
• 47RE Ram 3500 Cummins Common Problems and Fixes