This is a long story, but I'll try to make it short.

I had (until today) a dent in my transmission pan for years. I didn't think much of it. About a month ago, or maybe more, my transmission started acting up when it was cold. I'd drive about 200ft to the end of my block and stop at the stop sign, and when I went to go again, my truck would still be in whatever the highest gear was that I got to. Sometimes this would be second, and sometimes third. It never really slipped, it just took off reaaaaaaaally slowly. If you popped the shifter into 1st momentarily (either before you took off, or as you took off), it would downshift into 1st, and then upshift through the gears as normal. It would do this at every stop until it was warmed up. As it got warmer, it would start to downshift at a stop as normal. First it would take about 5 seconds to downshift, then 3, then just a slight delay, then normal.

I decided today that this wasn't going to fix itself, and it would probably lead to something worse, so I went and bought a filter and some fluid. When I took the pan off, I realized that the dent was pressing on the filter, and probably starving the transmission to a degree, so I hammered it out. There was some very fine metal on the magnet, but no big hunks of anything, and it didn't seem like a terribly alarming amount of debris.

I got it back together, put in 2 quarts of fluid, and moved it around some. It shifted in and out of gear slowly, but seemed otherwise fine. It downshifted at stops perfectly fine. I ended up putting a total of 4 quarts in it, drove it 20 miles, and added another 1 quart for a total of 5. I don't think I took 5 out, and I don't think I was low before. It's not leaking that I can tell.

I let it sit for about 5 hours, took it for a drive, and BAM, its not downshifting cold again. Its like it undid the fluid and filter change. I really thought that the dent in the pan starving the trans was probably the problem, but maybe not.

I did notice that my dipstick didn't stick into the pan very far. Maybe only a half inch total, out of the hole it pokes out into the pan from. Are a518 and 727 dipsticks the same length? Maybe they used the wrong dipstick when my truck's transmission got changed years ago. Could too high of fluid be my issue?

I don't really want to "invest" $1000 on a tranny rebuild in a $1000 truck. And I really DO want to invest putting an nv4500 in the thing, but I just can't justify the effort and expense of that either. This has been one of those days where everything I have touched has broke. I've basically been alternating between wanting to sell and set fire to my truck all day.

 

first thing... if your tranny pan has been dented for a long time it has nothing to do with your sudden problem.

2. yes fluid level could be your problem are you checking it with the engine running and in park/ nuetral? even after adding 5 quarts of fluid it could still be low in which case it would not shift right . does it make any sounds? I'm not familiar with the dodge auto's but am with the chevy ones and if they are low on fluid they will whine like crazy I would assume the dodge trans of a similar era would do the same.

Auto's do tend to just burn up though did the old fluid smell burn't? I have seen them go from fine to junk in a day, they get old and the clutches start to slip or the bands dont work right or whatever and the oil gets too hot and it's like a downhill snowball one day everything seems fine the next it's junk auto's usually dont give a ton of warning time.

if it needs a rebuild you could check the prices at local tranny shops to do it but also check around at places like summit racing for prices on them a friend got a tci trans for the price your describing to rebuild yours and if all else fails you could get one from a wrecking yard although then you might be fixing it again in 6 months who knows

I hope I helped explain a bit for ya good luck!

 

I'm checking fluid with it in neutral, running, and hot. It's actually gotten a little better since the filter change. I talked to my friendly neighbourhood small town mechanic, and he said that it sounds like the valve body is getting worn out and sticking. He suggested trying a fluid conditioner, and manually running it through the gears repeatedly to see if that frees it up enough to save an immediate valve body replacement. The old fluid smelled just like the new fluid, and was dark, but still had a brown-red tint.

 

Check out these links lots of good info.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...8-46rh-re.html


Dave

 

It could be the Governor. A sticking Governor will cause the transmission not to up shift or down shift and will start out in a higher gear.

 

I know you guys will think I am nuts, but I wold love to have a 4 speed auto instead of my 4 speed manual. If it was a direct swap, I would start looking or a 4sp auto.

 

Not nuts at all. I like having the 4 speed OD tranny in my '93. If this had been a diesel, I might have liked a standard tranny, and I enjoy driving a standard occasionally, but for a DD, auto is nice.

 

I think it was the governor or the valve body. I put some varnish cleaner in it, and its working much better.

My usual daily driver is a 5 speed, and as of now, I am set on replacing my ram with another ram with a standard transmission when it reaches the end of its useful life. I'm only occasionally in heavy traffic, so that's not a concern of mine.

 

For me it isn't the shifting I am worried about. it is for two reasons I would love it if my truck was a 4sp auto. One is my GF could drive it if ever needed, the other auto is just better for off road and especially in the snow which is about all I do with my truck other than dump runs. Plus, a 4sp auto might even be better for mileage for me since my 4sp has a granny low and is only a FOUR speed as opposed to a 5sp on which the 5th gear is an over drive.