I have a 92 kota, 3.9L, 2x4, automatic. The truck has (for the better part of two years) shifted a little bit high for my liking, but not so much that it was an issue.

The other day after driving 40~ miles all highway, As I slowed for a turn it downshifted harshly, then when I took off again it felt like someone was holding my brakes in. I popped in in Neutral, it rolled fine, in gear, holdback and wouldn't shift past 2nd. I immediately pulled it off the road and popped the hood.
The dipstick tube to the trans was SMOKING, but the fluid on the stick was still quite nice and red, with no burnt smell... ( Flushed approx 13 months prior)
I left the truck where it sat and returned hours later, just to see if it would limp home.

It seemed to bite down and take off perfect out of the lot it was in, and onto the road. But wouldn't shift past 2nd gear still.. After about a mile of running 40mph in 2nd, It started slipping badly, enough to bleed off speed and finally stop. I towed it home

If I go out to the truck COLD it will back roughly out of the driveway, pull forward to the mailbox, and then all gear positions become neutral. Also, when in forward or reverse gear it has a whine VERY similar to an old Ford power steering pump that's low...

I guess what I need to know is this enough information for someone who knows more about trannys than I to tell me if it's the Torque conv, pumps, bands, Should I rebuild or Replace?

Worst case does anyone need a 92 DONOR dakota with NO tranny? Hahaha. But seriously any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Oh and the fluid level reads EXACTLY where It did last month before problems, when checked running in neutral.

 

I'm assuming it's the bands or TC, If the pumps were bad it wouldn't read fluid right?

 

Something let go inside, time for a rebuild/replacement.

 

It sounds like a bad torque converter or pump. It deffently needs to be taken apart and tested. As for before this problem,when it was just shifting late that could have be the TV cable miss adjusted.
Here is a nice diagnostic chart that can help. https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...is-charts.html

 

well i'll start off saying if you plan on doing the job yourself it's a job,,lots of bolts and definatly drop the crossover pipe and if ya can take it completly outa there,,trust me.. i'm just finishing one up that hasn't been fun at all!!!finding good used trannys is a tough task in itself especially for a dakota in the early 90's years.. and cost of rebuilt ones online are around 1000.bucks+ the core charge..if your mechanicly inclined it's possible to do yourself but time consuming,,i put a tranny out of a v-8 5.2 in behind my 3.9 motor but there are some differences and things you need from the v-8 donor,,but everything bolts up basically the same..being yours is a 92 ya gotta make sure the tranny ya get has the push button overdrive and ya definatly need the throttle cable if you go with a v-8 tranny,,good luck with it if you deceide to try it yourself..it's definatly not a simple couple hour change!!! i should say however that mine is a 4x4 so it may be simpler in a 2x4,,i would hope!!
crazy