[Evon Trizmo]

Adding to Dan's post, P0733 means the computer says something's not right when it tries shifting into third gear. If you clear the codes I'm guessing it would shift fine until it tries to go into third which I think is something around 15-20MPH, then it will throw a p0733 code.

If I remember correctly, third gear engages both the underdrive and overdrive clutches while the low/reverse, reverse and 2-4 clutch are disengaged. Second gear/limp mode uses the underdrive and 2-4 clutches so we know those are good.

Possibly a burnt out overdrive clutch pack that causes the transmission to slip in third and the computer says nope and throw it into limp mode? Or maybe a clogged filter for the overdrive circuit inside the solenoid pack?

Output speed sensor runs your speedometer so if that's working, that sensor is fine. Try unhooking your battery to reset the codes and see if it'll shift fine from first to second and then give out when it tries third.

 

[Evon Trizmo]

Changing the solenoid pack for a repeatable single gear problem is always a good option if you don't have the equipment or a multimeter to test. A new solenoid pack will eliminate bad solenoids, clogged filter screens and bad pressure sensors, all of which need to be working 100% of the time to keep the TCM happy. Speed sensors are cheap too but will cause problems in multiple gears or your speedometer to act up.

Now if you have a multimeter I'd probably check wiring next because it's free and easy enough to do. I've seen issues were wires shorting together inside the harness would confuse the TCM. For example, my Sebring with it's original 41TE transmission started going into limp mode when trying to shift into 3th gear. The cause was the overdrive solenoid wire rubbed through the insulation and shorted out against the input speed sensor wire inside the harness. When the TCM energized the overdrive solenoid, the input speed sensor overloaded the stopped working and the TCM said nope I'm out, limp mode time. The harness looked completely undamaged from the outside so maybe the wire insulation was damaged during assembly or maybe the 400,000+ miles on the car finally caused the two wires to rub through.

To check the wiring, here's how I found my issue. Unplug the TCM connector and unplug both speed sensors and the solenoid pack connector from the transmission. Now get a multimeter and check for continuity between the transmission connectors' pins back to the TCM connector, each transmission pin should connect to a single TCM connector pin except the one main power pin on the solenoid pack connector, that goes to one of the pins on the EATX relay.
Now the important test is to check for continuity between each and every transmission connector pin with the TCM connector unplugged, there should be none. In my case there was a short between an input speed sensor pin and a solenoid pack pin and I instantly knew there was my problem without ripping any of the harnesses apart yet.

Alternatively, you can use a, borrow a, or pay a transmission shop to have them use their scan tool to check all the inputs and outputs for the TCM and monitor the data while driving especially when the transmission shifts into 3th gear. Here we are interested in the input and output speed sensors, current gear, commanded gear, 2/4 clutch switch state, UD clutch switch state and most importantly OD clutch switch state since 3rd gear is the first time the OD clutch gets engaged. When the 2nd to3rd shift is in progress data should show something along the lines of stable output speed, slightly lower input speed, 2/4 switch should change from on to off, underdrive should stay on and overdrive should change from off to on.

Good luck!

 

[Evon Trizmo]

Cover the entire machined surface with masking tape and then just work on the one hole you need to, keeps all the unwanted bits out of the forbidden areas.

If it were me, I'd definitely do a helicoil repair. It'll be stronger than when it was new. Only issue with that is the helicoil kits got soooooo expensive the last few years for no reason at all. Bolt size is M6x1.0.

Those solenoid packs like to leak around the gasket eventually anyways so you'll probably need all the clamping power of all the bolts...all 3 of them.