Hi Im new here Im a jeep guy but both jeep and dodge are the same thing right? My wife purchased a 2000 dodge durango... perfect condition little rust here and there no rott $1000.00 185,000 Ran fine on test drive.
The issue im haveing now Is when I first start it and drive it it takes forever to shift out of first it almost feels like its slipping. Or like im in four low. As soon as it does shift the first time its fine after it warms up from driveing. Is this normal for 4.7s? I drive a 95 jgc with a 5.2. and my jeeps a muscle car compaired to this thing. The 4.7 had a ton of sludge in it and the outside of the block has more rust and rott than I have ever seen. I had too put 300$ into it to make it inspectable. but every bolt on the exaust manifold and valve covers are rotted off (just the bolt/nut) So I cant take apart the motor.... big pain I like to rebuild engines. Its also got a knock when its cold. The sludge was a yellow mud type foam on the oil cap filled it. nasty cleaned her out with motor flush. and gave her an oil change first thing I thought was head gasket leak. but It has good compression and so far no coolant has leaked into the oil. I beleive the person I got it from may have added coolant to the wrong cap or pissed in it. Has a small leak in the back of the motor coolant from a freeze plug I beleive. its a small drip after driveing for a few hours so im not worried. But the transmission shift issue I cant figure out.... Just stays in first up to 2500 rpm for 30-50 yards? just until it warms up. I can floor it out of it though. is this slipping? Im lost on these dodges. I was thinking it was going to be my jeep 5.2 with a similiar tranny when she bought it. but this 4.7 with whatever this tranny is is a slug. Thanks

 

Replace the transmission output sensor.

Also on that trans (45RFE) the output and input sensor are the same part number. So after replacing the output sensor (should be the rear most one) take it for a drive. If still the same issue swap the old one to the front and try it again. If still no then I would do a TV cable adjustment.

 

no tv cable on the 4.7, the trans is electronically controlled, the input/output sensors is where i would begin as hydra has stated

also what you saw in the oil fill cap IS NOT SLUDGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sludge is greasy black **** that forms inside the engine on the heads ect (think the ford commercial for 'the works') http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPRhn...f=results_main what you found is known as 'snot' and is NOT harmful to your engine, it is caused by too many short trips, it allows condensation to build up and that is the residue that is left behind VERY DIFFERENT FROM SLUDGE.

that said, the 4.7 puts out the same power and torque as the 5.2 within 5 on each count the big difference is the weight your jeep is likely a good bit lighter than the D, these are very heavy trucks for their size.

 

The 4.7 shouldn't feel much different than the 5.2, in some ways I think the 45RFE seems more responsive than the 44RE, but that could be just because I'm used to my 2001 with the 4.7 and not the 99 with the 5.2. I don't know the weight difference either, that could be some of it.

 

hmmmmmmm.......That makes sense to have the input sensor then!

Anyway, replace the transmission output sensor.

 

Well my 5.2 has the 46rh. it's got a 3.73 gear ratio. Transfer case is a np249 awd. But it also has a knN intake and other mods. But the power is more direct. But yea I suppose because the durangos have frames and the grand cherokees are uniframes. I expect alot of difference between the years aswell. I thot the durango would weigh less because of all the plastic. Well that and not haveing a dana 30 up front. I drove a friends 4.7 and it was the same way. Im not sure if its just because im used to older cars but it kinda rides like a van. May be geared differnt. I drive my 95 jgc and a 86 ford mustang gt. I know I know a ford but I couldnt find a old charger to fix up.
I drove the durango 150 - 200 miles today. It did fine shifted perfect only did what I described before stayying in first too long when I first started it and drove down the road after that even in stop and go and I stopped to eat a few times it didnt do it again. So I beleive the tranny is fine. I will try the sensors. Snot nasty stuff. Makes me feel a little better. Thanks for all the help guys. Im lost on all this new stuff.

 

yea the durangos weight around 4800 - 5000 lbs and most of them came with what we refer to as highway gears (3.55:1 axel ration).

you got lucky getting a 4.7, it actually comes with the best tranny available in these trucks, it is a 'smart' transmission in that it learns your driving style and adjusts shiftpoints in order to suit you specifically, and to improve mpgs. and i KNOW that it does this bc mine shifts differently for a week or so (about 1 full tank of gas) whenever i go home and someone else has driven it. (yes its a bit of a pain if you bought the truck with the intent of having multiple people driving it)

 

Im actually suprised how good it is on gas. It uses about half as much gas as my jgc. Jgc is better off road and when it comes to power the jgc wins but as a family vehicle the mpg and the fact it only seats 5 sucks. The durango has nice leather or pleather interior and seats 7 with plenty of cup holders. I like that it fits 31.10.15s even though the ones on ours are wrangler rts which suck in snow and ice and mud.. I need to get better tires. God knows we will be needing those mpg this summer obama said the rest of the world pays $8 a gallon and we should too... Thanks again guys