I just got a P0733 code from my mechanic after I took it in for a flashing OD light and improper shifting. He said the trans needs to be rebuilt or replaced. Either way, it's going to be at least $2500. I'm really bummed about this as I am getting hit simultaneously with an even costlier home repair. Is there anything I can try before going this route?

 

Year and engine size?

P0733 Gear 3 Incorrect ratio

Can you describe the problem?
Does it go into reverse and forward OK, or is there a delay?

Did mechanic check pressure?
Was it a transmission mechanic or general mechanic?

Does it slip between forward gears, and is it specific to between just 2 gears?

How many miles on the transmission?
When was it last serviced, fluid and filter?



Mechanics are kind of stuck in what they can recommend
If your ashtray was dirty/full and you sold the vehicle and bought a new one would that solve/FIX the full ashtray problem, yes or no?

YES, for sure, it would solve/FIX the problem of the full ashtray, so the recommendation to get a new vehicle to fix the full ashtray was not wrong
It is an extreme fix but it is a FIX no denying that

P0733 is not a definitive code it just tells you the computer is detecting the transmission is not fully shifting in 3rd
Depending on what model transmission(year and engine size) it may just need Valve body repair, new separator plate and gasket, and maybe solenoid seals, which can be done without removing transmission

But a full transmission rebuild would include all that, so mechanic was correct from his point of view, if he recommended just the valve body work and it DID NOT solve the problem then you would be mad because it didn't work

Generally speaking if you drop the pan of an automatic trans and don't see metal bits in the bottom then just a valve body service "should" get you back up and running
Metal bits would mean full rebuild is needed

 

01 3.0 V6 with 73k - original. Clean carfax. I bought it last year.

 

I added to my post

2001 3.0l Ranger will have 5R44E automatic
73k is low miles for an automatic but for a 2001 vehicle it also means it was sitting around...........ALOT
So Valve body repair would be where I would start, seals and gaskets can get dried out and crack when vehicle sits for long periods

 

Hey Ron,

It's a 2001 3.0 V6 with 73k - original miles. Clean carfax. I just bought it last year. It reverses just fine. It's just in drive when it happens.
It started with a flashing OD light and then I noticed it was shifting into either second or 3rd really hard. I stopped driving it soon after and took it straight in to avoid any further damage. On the way to the shop though it would just take forever to finally shift and it would slam into gear when it finally would. There is also an intermittent ABS that comes on with it. I'm not sure if the mechanic checked pressure. I was really hoping this was a speed sensor issue. The trans fluid looks to be fine. Maybe slightly brown but not terrible.

 

In 2001 the transmission's Output shaft speed(OSS) sensor would also be the speed sensor for speedometer but not used by ABS system, so no relation, but possible cross over for speed
If speedometer was dropping out then yes, could be OSS sensor issue, and this sensor is also used for ratio determination, but..............it would not just effect one thing and computer has 90 or so transmission codes which includes several OSS codes if it was intermittent .

Full list here: https://therangerstation.com/tech_li...II_codes.shtml

Most systems have 50+ codes and each sensor 5 or more codes, so systems are well monitored, and the codes the computer does NOT use tell as much as the one it does use

A transmission shop will have 300psi pressure gauges that can see better whats happening with the solenoids and if pressure is being lost from failed seals/gaskets