2001 DODGE RAM lock

STATOR
The stator assembly (Fig. 235) is mounted on a sta-
tionary shaft which is an integral part of the oil
pump. The stator is located between the impeller and
turbine within the torque converter case (Fig. 236).
The stator contains an over-running clutch, which
allows the stator to rotate only in a clockwise direc-
tion. When the stator is locked against the over-run-
ning clutch, the torque multiplication feature of the
torque converter is operational.
Fig. 234 Turbine
1 - TURBINE VANE 4 - PORTION OF TORQUE CONVERTER COVER
2 - ENGINE ROTATION 5 - ENGINE ROTATION
3 - INPUT SHAFT 6 - OIL FLOW WITHIN TURBINE SECTION
Fig. 235 Stator Components
1 - CAM (OUTER RACE)
2 - ROLLER
3 - SPRING
4 - INNER RACE
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TORQUE CONVERTER (Continued)

TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH (TCC)
The TCC (Fig. 237) was installed to improve the
efficiency of the torque converter that is lost to the
slippage of the fluid coupling. Although the fluid cou-
pling provides smooth, shock-free power transfer, it is
natural for all fluid couplings to slip. If the impeller
and turbine were mechanically locked together, a
zero slippage condition could be obtained. A hydraulic
piston was added to the turbine, and a friction mate-
rial was added to the inside of the front cover to pro-
vide this mechanical lock-up.
OPERATION
The converter impeller (Fig. 238) (driving member),
which is integral to the converter housing and bolted
to the engine drive plate, rotates at engine speed.
The converter turbine (driven member), which reacts
from fluid pressure generated by the impeller, rotates
and turns the transmission input shaft.
TURBINE
As the fluid that was put into motion by the impel-
ler blades strikes the blades of the turbine, some of
the energy and rotational force is transferred into the
turbine and the input shaft. This causes both of them
(turbine and input shaft) to rotate in a clockwise
direction following the impeller. As the fluid is leav-
ing the trailing edges of the turbine's blades it con-
tinues in a ªhinderingº direction back toward the
impeller. If the fluid is not redirected before it strikes
the impeller, it will strike the impeller in such a
direction that it would tend to slow it down.
Fig. 236 Stator Location
1-STATOR
2 - IMPELLER
3 - FLUID FLOW
4 - TURBINE
Fig. 237 Torque Converter Clutch (TCC)
1 - IMPELLER FRONT COVER
2 - THRUST WASHER ASSEMBLY
3 - IMPELLER
4-STATOR
5 - TURBINE
6 - PISTON
7 - FRICTION DISC
21 - 430 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - 44REBR/BE
TORQUE CONVERTER (Continued)

STATOR
Torque multiplication is achieved by locking the
stator's over-running clutch to its shaft (Fig. 239).
Under stall conditions (the turbine is stationary), the
oil leaving the turbine blades strikes the face of the
stator blades and tries to rotate them in a counter-
clockwise direction. When this happens the overrun-
ning clutch of the stator locks and holds the stator
from rotating. With the stator locked, the oil strikes
the stator blades and is redirected into a ªhelpingº
direction before it enters the impeller. This circula-
tion of oil from impeller to turbine, turbine to stator,
and stator to impeller, can produce a maximum
torque multiplication of about 2.4:1. As the turbine
begins to match the speed of the impeller, the fluid
that was hitting the stator in such as way as to
cause it to lock-up is no longer doing so. In this con-
dition of operation, the stator begins to free wheel
and the converter acts as a fluid coupling.
Fig. 238 Torque Converter Fluid Operation
1 - APPLY PRESSURE 3 - RELEASE PRESSURE
2 - THE PISTON MOVES SLIGHTLY FORWARD 4 - THE PISTON MOVES SLIGHTLY REARWARD
Fig. 239 Stator Operation
1 - DIRECTION STATOR WILL FREE WHEEL DUE TO OIL
PUSHING ON BACKSIDE OF VANES
2 - FRONT OF ENGINE
3 - INCREASED ANGLE AS OIL STRIKES VANES
4 - DIRECTION STATOR IS LOCKED UP DUE TO OIL PUSHING
AGAINST STATOR VANES
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TORQUE CONVERTER (Continued)

vehicle is parked for lengthy periods. The valve check
ball is spring loaded and has an opening pressure of
approximately 2 psi.
The valve is serviced as an assembly; it is not
repairable. Do not clean the valve if restricted, or
contaminated by sludge, or debris. If the valve fails,
or if a transmission malfunction occurs that gener-
ates significant amounts of sludge and/or clutch par-
ticles and metal shavings, the valve must be
replaced.
The valve must be removed whenever the cooler
and lines are reverse flushed. The valve can be flow
tested when necessary. The procedure is exactly the
same as for flow testing a cooler.
If the valve is restricted, installed backwards, or in
the wrong line, it will cause an overheating condition
and possible transmission failure.
CAUTION: The drainback valve is a one-way flow
device. It must be properly oriented in terms of flow
direction for the cooler to function properly. The
valve must be installed in the pressure line. Other-
wise flow will be blocked and would cause an over-
heating condition and eventual transmission failure.
TRANSMISSION
TEMPERATURE SENSOR
DESCRIPTION
Transmission fluid temperature readings are sup-
plied to the transmission control module by the ther-
mistor (Fig. 241). The temperature readings are used
to control engagement of the fourth gear overdrive
clutch, the converter clutch, and governor pressure.
Normal resistance value for the thermistor at room
temperature is approximately 1000 ohms.
The thermistor is part of the governor pressure
sensor assembly and is immersed in transmission
fluid at all times.
OPERATION
The PCM prevents engagement of the converter
clutch and overdrive clutch, when fluid temperature
is below approximately 10ÉC (50ÉF).
If fluid temperature exceeds 126ÉC (260ÉF), the
PCM causes a 4-3 downshift and engage the con-
verter clutch. Engagement is according to the third
gear converter clutch engagement schedule.
The overdrive OFF lamp in the instrument panel
illuminates when the shift back to third occurs. The
transmission will not allow fourth gear operation
until fluid temperature decreases to approximately
110ÉC (230ÉF).
VALVE BODY
DESCRIPTION
The valve body consists of a cast aluminum valve
body, a separator plate, and transfer plate. The valve
body contains valves and check balls that control
fluid delivery to the torque converter clutch, bands,
and frictional clutches. The valve body contains the
following components (Fig. 242), (Fig. 243), (Fig.
244), and (Fig. 245):
²Regulator valve
²Regulator valve throttle pressure plug
²Line pressure plug and sleeve
²Kickdown valve
²Kickdown limit valve
²1-2 shift valve
²1-2 control valve
²2-3 shift valve
²2-3 governor plug
²3-4 shift valve
²3-4 timing valve
²3-4 quick fill valve
²3-4 accumulator
²Throttle valve
²Throttle pressure plug
²Switch valve
²Manual valve
²Converter clutch lock-up valve
²Converter clutch lock-up timing Valve
²Shuttle valve
²Shuttle valve throttle plug
²Boost Valve
²10 check balls
By adjusting the spring pressure acting on the reg-
ulator valve, transmission line pressure can be
adjusted.
Fig. 241 Governor Pressure Sensor
1 - GOVERNOR BODY
2 - GOVERNOR PRESSURE SENSOR/TRANSMISSION FLUID
TEMPERATURE THERMISTOR
BR/BEAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - 44RE 21 - 433
TORQUE CONVERTER DRAINBACK VALVE (Continued)

OPERATION
NOTE: Refer to the Hydraulic Schematics for a
visual aid in determining valve location, operation
and design.
CHECK BALLS
CHECK BALL NUMBER DESCRIPTION
1 Allows either the manual valve to put line pressure on the 1-2 governor plug or
the KD Valve to put WOT line pressure on the 1-2 governor plug.
2 Allows either the manual valve to put line pressure on the 2-3 governor plug or
the KD Valve to put WOT line pressure on the 2-3 governor plug.
3 Allows either the Reverse circuit or the 3rd gear circuit to pressurize the front
clutch.
4 Allows either the Manual Low circuit from the Manual Valve or the Reverse
from the Manual Valve circuit to pressurize the rear servo.
5 Directs line pressure to the spring end of the 2-3 shift valve in either Manual
Low or Manual 2nd, forcing the downshift to 2nd gear regardless of governor
pressure.
6 Provides a by-pass around the front servo orifice so that the servo can release
quickly.
7 Provides a by-pass around the rear clutch orifice so that the clutch can release
quickly.
8 Directs reverse line pressure through an orifice to the throttle valve eliminating
the extra leakage and insuring that Reverse line pressure pressure will be
sufficient.
9 Provides a by-pass around the rear servo orifice so that the servo can release
quickly.
ECE (10) Allows the lockup clutch to used at WOT in 3rd gear by putting line pressure
from the 3-4 Timing Valve on the interlock area of the 2-3 shift valve, thereby
preventing a 3rd gear Lock-up to 2nd gear kickdown.
REGULATOR VALVE
The pressure regulator valve is needed to control
the hydraulic pressure within the system and reduce
the amount of heat produced in the fluid. The pres-
sure regulator valve is located in the valve body near
the manual valve. The pressure regulator valve train
controls the maximum pressure in the lines by
metering the dumping of fluid back into the sump.
Regulated pressure is referred to as ªline pressure.º
The regulator valve (Fig. 246) has a spring on one
end that pushes the valve to the left. This closes a
dump (vent) that is used to lower pressure. The clos-
ing of the dump will cause the oil pressure to
increase. Oil pressure on the opposite end of thevalve pushes the valve to the right, opening the
dump and lowering oil pressure. The result is spring
pressure working against oil pressure to maintain
the oil at specific pressures. With the engine run-
ning, fluid flows from the pump to the pressure reg-
ulator valve, manual valve, and the interconnected
circuits. As fluid is sent through passages to the reg-
ulator valve, the pressure pushes the valve to the
right against the large spring. It is also sent to the
reaction areas on the left side of the throttle pressure
plug and the line pressure plug. With the gear selec-
tor in the PARK position, fluid recirculates through
the regulator and manual valves back to the sump.
21 - 438 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - 44REBR/BE
VALVE BODY (Continued)

The metering at land #2 establishes the line pres-
sure throughout the transmission. It is varied accord-
ing to changes in throttle position and the
transmission's internal condition within a range of
57-94 psi (except in REVERSE) (Fig. 248). The regu-
lated line pressure in REVERSE (Fig. 249) is held at
much higher pressures than in the other gear posi-
tions: 145-280 psi. The higher pressure forREVERSE is achieved by the manual valve blocking
the supply of line pressure to the reaction area left of
land #4. With this pressure blocked, there is less
area for pressure to act on to balance the force of the
spring on the right. This allows line pressure to push
the valve train to the right, reducing the amount of
fluid returned to the pump's inlet, increasing line
pressure.
Fig. 247 Regulator Valve in NEUTRAL Position
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VALVE BODY (Continued)

1-2 SHIFT VALVE
The 1-2 shift valve assembly (Fig. 253), or mecha-
nism, consists of: the 1-2 shift valve, governor plug,
and a spring on the end of the valve. After the man-
ual valve has been placed into a forward gear range,
line pressure is directed to the 1-2 shift valve. As the
throttle is depressed, throttle pressure is applied to
the right side of the 1-2 shift valve assembly. With
throttle pressure applied to the right side of the
valve, there is now both spring pressure and throttle
pressure acting on the valve, holding it against the
governor plug. As the vehicle begins to move and
build speed, governor pressure is created and is
applied to the left of the valve at the governor plug.
When governor pressure builds to a point where it
can overcome the combined force of the spring and
throttle pressure on the other side of the valve, the
valve will begin to move over to the right. As the
valve moves to the right, the middle land of the valve
will close off the circuit supplying the throttle pres-
sure to the right side of the valve. When the throttlepressure is closed off, the valve will move even far-
ther to the right, allowing line pressure to enter
another circuit and energize the front servo, applying
the front band (Fig. 254).
The governor plug serves a dual purpose:
²It allows the shift valves to move either left or
right, allowing both upshifts and downshifts.
²When in a manual selection position, it will be
hydraulically ªblockedº into position so no upshift can
occur.
The physical blocking of the upshift while in the
manual ª1º position is accomplished by the directing
of line pressure between both lands of the governor
plug. The line pressure reacts against the larger land
of the plug, pushing the plug back against the end
plate overcoming governor pressure. With the combi-
nation of the line pressure and spring pressure, the
valve cannot move, preventing any upshift.
Fig. 251 Kickdown Limit Valve-Low Speeds
Fig. 252 Kickdown Limit Valve-High Speeds
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VALVE BODY (Continued)

After the shift (Fig. 257), line pressure is directed
to the land between the shift valve and the governor
plug, and to the release side of the kickdown servo.
This releases the front band and applies the front
clutch, shifting into third gear or direct drive. The
rear clutch remains applied, as it has been in the
other gears. During a manual ª1º or manual ª2º gear
selection, line pressure is sent between the two lands
of the 2-3 governor plug. This line pressure at the
governor plug locks the shift valve into the second
gear position, preventing an upshift into direct drive.
The theory for the blocking of the valve is the same
as that of the 1-2 shift valve.
3-4 SHIFT VALVE
The PCM energizes the overdrive solenoid during
the 3-4 upshift (Fig. 258). This causes the solenoid
check ball to close the vent port allowing line pres-
sure from the 2-3 shift valve to act directly on the 3-4
upshift valve. Line pressure on the 3-4 shift valve
overcomes valve spring pressure moving the valve to
the upshift position (Fig. 259). This action exposes
the feed passages to the 3-4 timing valve, 3-4 quick
fill valve, 3-4 accumulator, and ultimately to the
overdrive piston.
Fig. 257 2-3 Shift Valve-After Shift
Fig. 258 3-4 Shift Valve Before Shift
21 - 446 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - 44REBR/BE
VALVE BODY (Continued)