Truck new to me with good service history. I changed the transmission fluid and filter about 350 miles ago. Old fluid was fairly red still, no metal on magnet. I'm confident that I have the fluid level set correctly. Possibly installed the gasket on the filter wrong, but I don't think I did and it doesn't really fit the symptoms.
It had been running great until this morning when it went into limp mode and threw these 2 codes. At one point it was showing boxes around all the PRND21 indicators at the same time. Disconnecting the battery reset the codes and got it out of limp mode, and it's driving and shifting fine, but feels under powered and weird. I've driven it about 25 miles since this incident and the codes haven't come back yet.
Main thing that's stumping me is why these two codes? I can't find practically anybody else on the internet that had these 2 exact codes at the same time.
How long has your 2004 Dodge Dakota had this problem?
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Hi, my name is Devin. I am an auto repair expert with the Car Genius team here at RepairPal. So sorry to hear you're having trouble with your vehicle.
The P0706 and P1776 codes occurring together can be puzzling, but they do give some clues. The P0706 code points to an issue with the transmission range sensor, which might explain why you saw all the PRND21 indicators light up. This sensor tells the transmission control module (TCM) which gear is selected. If it's faulty or misaligned, it can cause erratic behavior and limp mode.
The P1776 code relates to the solenoid switch valve being stuck in the transmission. This can affect shifting and cause the transmission to go into limp mode to prevent damage.
Given that you recently changed the transmission fluid and filter, it's possible something may have been disturbed during the process. Even though you’re confident about the fluid level and gasket installation, it is probably worth double-checking since it was only 350 miles ago. Sometimes, damaged wiring or fluid restrictions can cause odd errors.
Since resetting the codes temporarily resolved the issue but the truck still feels underpowered, I recommend having a professional scan the transmission system for detailed diagnostics. They can check the transmission range sensor and the solenoid switch valve for proper operation.
If you need more advice, have any other questions about your vehicle, or would like to get connected to a RepairPal Certified shop near you, we have you covered. Give us a call at 877-913-1554, and we will happily help you out!
