I'm taking in the 1999 Durango 5.9 4x4 next week for transmission service. Under very light acceleration from a stop it seems to surge between first & second. Under hard acceleration it seems to shift just fine. I also sense more slippage than I would like just after a cold start. It's due for a filter & fluid change, I hope the service department has some adjustments they can make to improve this. What's the prognosis from others that have been through similar issues?

 

hey---im assuming you have an auto trans.....???....

Sorry to tell you this, but on my last truck which was a 98' dodge dakota 5.2 V8 auto, it had that exact same surge between first and second right before the torque converter went out and took out the transmission with it. Under light throttle (once the torque converter was apparently pretty much toast) it would vibrate and shake......had to have the trans. rebuilt. That surge you are talking about, does it shoot up several hundred RPM under normal/light throttle while shifting from first to second??? If so get you TC looked at as well. good luck, hope you catch it early or even better-turns out to be nothing major!!! EDIT---that slipping you are feeling is probably the torque converter slipping and locking in and out.

 

Yes, I have an auto trans. It does not seem to go up several hundred rpm when it shifts, it's more like it doesn't know which gear it wants to be in under very light acceleration. I don't feel a shudder or feel any shaking or vibrations. I would agree, it feels like it could be caused by the converter locking and unlocking.

 

Well thats very good to hear it doesnt surge.......probably then the most major thing it could be is the TC is acting up, but it could be something with the computer goofing up the tranny, or something retarded like that, dirty fluids could like you said cause it too........hope you get good news and have better luck than i did with my dak. My ram now is being a B*tch and makes a clunk between first and second (like it doesnt know what to do either) and has mechanics baffeled HA HA HA.

 

hey i have a 99' durango too and its i think its transmission is slipping too when i hit the gas a liitle hard, it makes the engine roar like its floored or something while the speedometer is just crawling. Im just lookin for a second opinion, could it be anyhting else besides the transmission?

 

just so you know the computer does not control 1 st and 2nd gear those are hydrolic 3 rd and od is electric ,so you can rule out the computer