Hey guys,

Thought id run this by you all first see if it sounds like a good idea to you all.

As of recently my trans has been slipping, and my gas mileage has went from about 13.4 regularly to 12.7ish. Its also feeling quite a bit sluggish. Just recently had to replace the PCM, and also working on getting my door locks and windows up and running. So dont have a bunch of money to work with (got my fingers crossed that i dont need a rebuild)

Anyways, my plan of action is to drop the pan on the trans, replace the filter, clean it all out real good including the cooler lines, and of course button it all back up with the new filter, and new trans pan o-ring and new fluid.

While im at it, i think its about time to replace plugs, wires, and distributor cap. I cant remember the last time its been done.

so.. my question to all of you is: does this sound like a good starting point? and also do you have any recommendations for trans fluid, plugs, wires, and cap?

My Durango has 160k on it, and is still running pretty decent despite these small hiccups ive been running into. its a 99 5.9l 4x4. Lucky for me, one of my bosses at work is a mechanic on the side and is willing to teach me to do all this stuff for helping him with his computer problems.

thanks,
John

 

well, new update. not really on my own topic. but i opened up my door panels, to try and work on my power lock and window problem.... made a little progress. turns out that the last guy that was behind there didnt plug the window/lock control cable cluster in all the way, and it had fallen out. thats why my locks/windows werent working (well the 2 that have working motors at least). still a weird problem though, my doors wont lock from the door control if the key is in the ignition. they will unlock, but not lock. but when the key is out, all is fine.

then, found 4 loose screws inside the panel.... turns out the guy that installed my speakers and stereo (the last guy that was in there) tried to secure the speakers in with screws that were WAAAY too small. so i guess he said f*ck it, and set the speaker in, tossed the 4 screws inside the door panel, and sealed it back up. i was under the impression for quite some time that my expensive new speakers were already blown, but turns out it was just rattling. i knew i shouldnt have been lazy, and just put the damn things in myself .

 

Get a manual!


Trans fluid shoud be ATF+3. You will want to get about 8 quarts. Walmart sells it. It is hard to find. You do not need to get a O-ring for the trans pan because it should be rubber and installing it you clean it of and the joints and lubricate the gasket with fresh trans fluid before installation. It would be in your best interest to have someone do it for you and adjust the bands while he is in there.

As for tune up options these are great and cheap.

Regular Champion plugs gapped .040 (these are the $1.50 regular plugs)
OEM or MSD 8.5mm wires.
Cap and Rotor (get the upgraged Brass Contacts)
Clean the TB and sensors.

 

I have read that if you have not maintained your transmission by changing the fluid regularly, it may be a bad ideal to change the fluid if it is showing signs of having an problem.. You may find yourself in a worse situation by doing so.. If you haven't been changing the fluid like you should of been then you may want to take it to a shop that knows what they are doing to have it looked at. (one you can trust, lol good luck in finding one of those, seems to be a rarity nowadays.)

 

1st. If the trans is going out it's going out period!

2nd. Are you saying you didn't keep up on the maintenance?

This is a miss conception; You are not going to get much farther by not taking care of it but you might get farther by taking care of it. The lubricant is gone after 160k and that’s for sure. At that kind of mileage with not taking care of your truck is like a ticking time bomb. Guessing that you haven't taken care of it you are probably looking at a rebuild. Dodge makes a great product and remember the rule: You take care of it and it will take care of you.

 

well, to bring this back from the dead.. I have taken care of it as I should ever since I have had it. I got it from my inlaws with 140k on it. They also took good care of it with fluids and everything. But, now I come to find out, when they had it, they had to have the tranny rebuilt twice. I think they might have just burned it out pulling their horse trailer that is probably too heavy for the durango.

Now, i changed the fluid and filter in the tranny, and it is running alot better, but still not 100% Its probably time for a new tranny.

 

To have a trany rebuilt twice tells me they didn't rebuild it right in the first place and now it's going out again?

Try to see if there is a waranty on it. Second thing is install a shift kit for the trans. Go with a Transgo shift kit. Sounds like they used crapy seals in it from a crapy kit and this is what your problem is. The other thing it could be is maybe the *fam* towed the trailer in OD which is a big no no!

Did you adjust the bands in the trany?

 

well, i dont know who rebuilt the tranny before. All i know is that it was done in Fresno, which is over 300 miles away and full of morons. I really dont think there is going to be any kind of warranty, but its worth a shot, so im looking into it.

I did find out though, that the dry weight of their trailer is around 12,000lbs, ouch. And it would be full with 1 or 2 horses and a whole bunch of gear. Durango probably shouldnt have been pulling that at all.

I didnt mess with the bands. Ill have to look into that shift kit, hope its not too expensive.

 

Shift kit should be installed on a good trans and is about $300 to $400 installed. While adjusting the bands they can install saving you some doe.

12,000 lbs. HOLY CRAP MAN! The D's at most are only rated at 7,300. Although the trans should be a 46-RE and has the ability, the internal componants aren't. They have to be beefed up!

 

OK, I looked on Summit Racing for the transgo kit. Is this the one you are talking about? Transgo TRG-TFOD Shift Kit It says it works on the 46RE. If thats the one, ill probably take that into my mechanic and have him install it and adjust bands.