I have a 99 Dodge Durango 4x4 5.9L. I attempted to reverse out of a parking spot and all I accomplished was rev'ing the engine. I checked the transmission fluid (which embarassingly I admit was about 5 quarts low), added fluid, and attempted to reverse again. Sadly nothing changed. I then put it in 4 wheel drive, jumped the curb, and decided reverse was not the most important function at that moment. Everything seemed fine until I hit about 20mph. Then I heard a noise that I was very certain I was not supposed to. As long as I kept my speed under 20mph it went away. However I can't drive 20mph everywhere I go. Keeping in mind I know nothing about transmissions, although more than willing to learn, can anyone give any advice about what to check...and possibly how? I don't mind getting my hands dirty and last week I did replace the ball joints, shocks, and tie rods myself. I'm not completely useless but I don't want to break something else in the process of trying to fix this. Thanks!

 

Welcome to DF

I would remove the transmission pan and inspect for debris. My guess is you may have loss either the reverse piston or the strut fell off the rear band or a broken band.

 

How do I remove the transmission pan? And what do I look for once I accomplish that? I don't have a lot of experience when it comes to transmissions or anything underneath a vehicle, but I don't have the the funds to pay someone to do it for me. So my options are do it myself or continue having my car as driveway decoration. I appreciate any help!!

 

FLUID AND FILTER REPLACEMENT
Refer to the Maintenance Schedules in Group 0, Lubrication and Maintenance, for proper service intervals. The service fluid fill after a filter change is approximately 3.8 liters (4.0 quarts)

REMOVAL
Hoist and support vehicle on safety stands.
Place a large diameter shallow drain pan beneath the transmission pan.
Remove bolts holding front and sides of pan to transmission
Loosen bolts holding rear of pan to transmission.
Slowly separate front of pan away from transmission allowing the fluid to drain into drain pan.
Hold up pan and remove remaining bolt holding pan to transmission.
While holding pan level, lower pan away from transmission.
Pour remaining fluid in pan into drain pan.
Remove screws holding filter to valve body
Separate filter from valve body and pour fluid in filter into drain pan.
Dispose of used trans fluid and filter properly

INSPECTION
Inspect bottom of pan and magnet for excessive amounts of metal or fiber contamination. A light coating of clutch or band material on the bottom of the pan does not indicate a problem unless accompanied by slipping condition or shift lag. If fluid and pan are contaminated with excessive amounts or debris, refer to the diagnosis section of this group.

Check the adjustment of the front and rear bands, adjust if necessary.

CLEANING
Using a suitable solvent, clean pan and magnet.
Using a suitable gasket scraper, clean gasket material from gasket surface of transmission case and the gasket flange around the pan.
INSTALLATION
Place replacement filter in position on valve body.
Install screws to hold filter to valve body Tighten screws to 4 N·m (35 in. lbs.) torque.
Place new gasket in position on pan and install pan on transmission.
Place pan in position on transmission.
Install screws to hold pan to transmission Tighten bolts to 17 N·m (150 in. lbs.) torque.
Lower vehicle and fill transmission with Mopar® ATF Plus 4, type 7176 fluid.

 

I would start by downloading the 1998 factory service manual. it is very helpful in explaining step by step anything you need to know about your truck...

IIRC, yours is a 1999? the 1998 FSM is 99% the same manual...

you can download it here --> http://www.mediafire.com/?tn2j29ajin34clr

 

Thanks for the help, the download is really helping! Going to attempt to work on it today or tomorrow but I feel a lot less nervous about it now.

 

You might want to take a look to this ones too:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f13/4...torial-911009/

http://pwp.att.net/p/s/community.dll...pid=404015&ck= once in the site go to Dodge Ram Info/46RE transmission rebuild
There is:
a A518 transmission video you can download
A teardowm/rebuild help manual you can see and save as a pdf.
A Dodge 46RE manual (might be the same Old School mention but worth take a look) and which you can save as well.
Plenty of photos in Pre-Removal, Teardown, Planetary Geartrain, Clutches,
Overdrive Unit and Valve Body folders. No descriptions but sometimes better to have a pic than a drawing.

Check this one too. I just took a glance at it but I saw plenty of pictures and find it very simple to understand. It is just the begining to the right side you´ll see some months column which you can click and find what was done during each of them.

http://joelsgarage.blogspot.mx/2008/...impy-a518.html

Hopefully you do not need all that but better having it and not needed than the other way.

Good luck with your trans!

 

Your not the only one to try to drive without any transmission fluid, I pulled my car out of a barn after 6 years, got it running, put it in gear and nothing but revvs. It was 8 quarts low, and it only holds 8 quarts from bone dry....for the most part it shifts fine now.

Im assuming you checked the fluid in neutral with the engine up to temp, after shifting through all the gears for a few seconds. You did say you didnt know anything about transmissions hahahaha.

 

I'd be dropp'in the pan on that one Mechaniczman!

Replace the filter, band adjustment, new ATF+4 fluid then purge the rest of the old fluid out and be done with it.

 

Hey thebecca01 did you ever figure out why it was not going in reverse? Mine just started reving...