Why Would Truck Feel Like It's Always in Low Gear?
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Truck Sounds like it's in 3rd gear but it isn't
ok dude,
(oops, I'm a dudette)
WHAT is it that it sounds like? where is the sound comming from?
The sound comes from the engine compartment and it sounds exactly as if it's in 3rd gear, ya know, that rrrrrrrrrrrr sound. It's not in 3rd gear, it's in drive and it drives fine.
R&P means ring and pinion. he was trying to figure out if someone had messed with the rear end gears. if so, it could be gear whine, you may know it as a "humming" noise comming from the back of the truck at certain speeds.
No, nobody has touched the truck recently.
if you're running at 65mph at 2250 RPM then your overdrive is working, otherwise you would be at like 3500 RPM. going up and down hills really doesnt prove or help anything here and neither does cruise control. if you can say that this "sound" is comming from the front of the truck, i'd say its your clutch fan thats just "roaring".
Wink, you found the exact word, "ROARING". That's exactly what it sounds like, it is coming from the front of the truck and you are the second person (a friend of mine suggested this) who said it's probably the clutch fan. Why wouldn't this throw a code? Nothing came up when my mechanic checked on it.
it usually happens like during the first couple minutes you're driving the truck after you just start it up, but if its not working right it could be staying on all the time.
This roaring is continuous.
thats all i can tell you man.
(oops, I'm a dudette)
WHAT is it that it sounds like? where is the sound comming from?
The sound comes from the engine compartment and it sounds exactly as if it's in 3rd gear, ya know, that rrrrrrrrrrrr sound. It's not in 3rd gear, it's in drive and it drives fine.
R&P means ring and pinion. he was trying to figure out if someone had messed with the rear end gears. if so, it could be gear whine, you may know it as a "humming" noise comming from the back of the truck at certain speeds.
No, nobody has touched the truck recently.
if you're running at 65mph at 2250 RPM then your overdrive is working, otherwise you would be at like 3500 RPM. going up and down hills really doesnt prove or help anything here and neither does cruise control. if you can say that this "sound" is comming from the front of the truck, i'd say its your clutch fan thats just "roaring".
Wink, you found the exact word, "ROARING". That's exactly what it sounds like, it is coming from the front of the truck and you are the second person (a friend of mine suggested this) who said it's probably the clutch fan. Why wouldn't this throw a code? Nothing came up when my mechanic checked on it.
it usually happens like during the first couple minutes you're driving the truck after you just start it up, but if its not working right it could be staying on all the time.
This roaring is continuous.
thats all i can tell you man.
Now I'd like to ask, "is this an easy fix"? I'm not going to fix it myself but I do have a person who is a good mechanic but he doesn't want any big jobs. How big a job is this and are there any DIY's on it in the forum?
Thanks, Wink, for your help!! I can't say it enough that us ladies really appreciate being able to come on a forum with a problem and get help and info on it. Seriously!! I know I didn't ask the right question in my first post but if people help me along, I can usually answer their questions. The info really is "priceless" when I have to take it to the garage. Knowing what I'm talking about really goes a long way there!!
So, all you guys/girls out there who know your stuff, be patient with us ladies?????? We need the help badly but don't always ask the right questions. Again, your knowledge is "priceless" and really appreciated!!
Thanks, again, Wink!!!!!
Last edited by luvdogz; May 17, 2009 at 01:28 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Czechman, I took it to the mechanic and he checked the codes but nothing came up. He took it for a drive but wasn't sure what it was. He said it drove fine and it was not the transmission. He checked around under the hood but was a bit confused. I was surprised he didn't have a sure answer because he really is very good. Oh well......
Thanks for your help, Czechman!! I do appreciate it!!
Thanks for your help, Czechman!! I do appreciate it!!
Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,051
Likes: 6
From: Roanoke, Texas
What type of tires do you have on this truck, and when was the last time you had them checked, sometimes the tires can make noise from specific wear patterns, mud tires/anything offroad ROAR pretty loud most of the time while driving.
Champion
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 2
From: Plattsburgh, NY
Well maybe the r&p was replaced unless it came stock with 3:92's. If its at 2250 at 65 you don't have 3:55's which is what came in most dakotas. My truck runs at 2000 even at 70mph. So yours has a higher gear. It could have been like this from the factory of someone changed them. It should say what the rear end ratio is in the glovebox.
But I don't believe that is your problem. Clutch fan sounds like it is. If its coming from the front. Its usual for this to happen when you first start driving it didn't have a chance to warm up but will stop soon after. It may be that its not shutting off. This should be something a mechanic could have figured out pretty easy.
But I don't believe that is your problem. Clutch fan sounds like it is. If its coming from the front. Its usual for this to happen when you first start driving it didn't have a chance to warm up but will stop soon after. It may be that its not shutting off. This should be something a mechanic could have figured out pretty easy.
Last edited by bpark8824; May 17, 2009 at 11:13 AM.
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Burleson, TX
Yes the clutch fan will roar like a beast when it is fully engaged (I hated it). Since I have the SLT w/electric fan I pulled mine and now she sounds normal. It's not that hard to remove, just may take an extension on the ratchet handle and a few firm persuasive blows w/hammer. It really is pretty easy to remove. Take it off if that's not it then just put it back on.
Thread Starter
|
Rookie
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
Clutch Fan Removal Worked!!!!!
SORRY for the delayed response!! My husband has been ill and is in the hospital. We actually replaced the clutch fan before this but I forgot all about replying and letting everyone know that the problem was the clutch fan and now the truck is as good as new!! I want to thank everyone who replied to my thread and helped me out with great info!! I wasn't sure how to explain the problem but with everyone's replies, I was finally able to describe it (roaring) and more replies pinpointed the exact problem. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! I sincerely appreciate every bit of help I get from this forum when I have a problem with the truck!! Your knowledge and help is PRICELESS!! Seriously!! Thanks, very much!!
