A 47RE behind a stock 5.9 Cummins or a V10, serviced regularly and towing within the truck’s rating, commonly lasts 150,000 miles or more. Like the 48RE that replaced it for 2003, it is a four-speed with overdrive from Chrysler’s TorqueFlite family, and its life drops quickly with heat, misadjusted bands and added diesel power. Many Cummins owners eventually fit a built 47RE because the stock unit was not designed for big power gains.
Weak points that decide its life
- Throttle valve cable adjustment: a misadjusted cable burns clutches quickly.
- Band adjustment: the front and rear bands need periodic adjustment.
- Overdrive and converter clutch wear under heavy towing.
- Added power, which overwhelms the stock clutches and converter.
How to make a 47RE last
- Keep the throttle valve cable adjusted to specification.
- Service the fluid and filter and adjust the bands as the manual specifies.
- Use an auxiliary cooler and a temperature gauge when towing; see transmission overheating.
- Lock out overdrive on long grades with a load.
Signs it is wearing out
- Slipping or flaring between gears; see transmission slipping.
- Delayed engagement into drive or reverse; see delayed engagement.
- Shudder at steady speeds from the converter clutch; see torque converter shudder.
- Dark, burnt fluid or debris in the pan.
- A check engine light with transmission codes; use a scan tool that reads the transmission module.
Checking a used Ram with a 47RE
Check that the throttle valve cable is connected and adjusted, look at the fluid, and ask when the bands were last adjusted. On the road, overdrive should engage cleanly and hold under light load without flaring, and the converter should lock up on the highway without shudder. A transmission temperature gauge is a good sign that the previous owner towed carefully.
Will a 47RE replace a 46RE?
A 47RE has heavier-duty internals, and in some cases one is fitted where a 46RE was, but the converter, input shaft and electronics must match the engine and year. Going the other way, a 46RE is not a suitable replacement in a truck that came with a 47RE. See 46RE vs 47RE and 47RE vs 48RE.
Replacement units we list
- RoadReady Dodge 47RE: $2,799.00
Each includes a torque converter. See 47RE transmissions and how long a rebuilt transmission lasts. Send us your VIN and we will confirm the right unit before you order.
For the later unit, see how long a 48RE lasts.
More guides: how long a 46RE lasts.
Shipping is a flat $80.00 per order to US addresses, with 15-day free returns. Questions? Ask a parts specialist.