i noticed the other day my truck was kinda lazy with the 1-2 shift. when it shifts in to 2nd it sounds like its floatn between gears then drops in. idk if the bands need adjustin of filter. any one got a idea or had this prob?. also the temp never gets over 190. and the heat is warm and not hot. shouldnt it run around 220 and would that cause my heater to not blow hot air? thanks.

 

ROFL.. I have a 97 5.2 club, 4x4... same issues.. 1~2 really kicks in hard.. don't really call it 'floating' more like its like a granny gear almost.. (Kinda) rest of the gears to smooth as silk..

(I also have this 'lope' when you take your foot off the brake.. or come up to an almost stop.. hard to explain.. like its wanting to go but not wanting to go.. almost like a miss)
Still has plenty of power though as far as I know..

Heater.. -Welcome to the club man.. Mine does the same thing.. is luke warm on low.. anything other than low just blows semi-luke warm.. You can turn it off for a few seconds or so long and turn it back on.. and it will be super warm almost hot.. then start cooling off.. like its not getting enough warm coolant in..
(I also have this cold breeze from under my dash.. Still trying to track it down.. but it freezes you out if its really cold.. driving at high speeds.. Think is a door or leak or something.. in the system.. but not sure.. gonna seal everything through the firewall first see if that helps..

I would suggest you do the same thing i need to do.. back flush your system..

Take the 2 lines off and put a water hose to the out (Truck right side tube) so it squirts out the inlet hose (Truck left side tube)

Do that back and forth a few times.. see what kind of gunk comes out..

Also there is a tread around here somewhere pretty recent labled "heater' or something..

You might check that tread.. I would do the core flush... Thats what I need to do..

 

As far as the tranny... I mean.. I can't tell for sure.. you might check with a few people around here what they think about some slick 50 or royal purple.. might help it smooth out.. first.

 

idk how the thermostat is in the 5.2 but in the 5.9 the t stat doesn't open til 195. if your coolent isnt getting hot than your heater coil isn't going to be getting hot. I don't think that the thermostat is your problem though because a difference of 5 degrees shouldn't make that much of a difference..... i know with the 98 model rams they are notorious for the blower doors malfunctioning and needing replaced...could that cause it?

 

as far as the tranny....it might be a good idea to change the fluid and maybe tighten the bands....i assume that both of you have auto's? lucas has a stop slip additive that i personally swear by. used it many times in my ram when the tranny was on its way out and it gave me probably at least 4 months or so to wait til taxes rolled in to rebuild it. just a brainstorm...

 

thanks guys. im gonna flush the core out and see if that helps it out any and if it dont ill look into the blend door and see if its moven over all the way. and as for the tranny its almost like its slipn but then drops right in 2nd. idk. and thats crazy man i have the same prob with the shuttern at low speeds but i know i have a small miss. u can barly hear it and u can see it puff a little with at a idle when its cold out.

 

Yes, I have an auto.. I think your right about therm.. to be honest my old Ford, 5.0 HO, I had a 150 in.. being it gets really hot down here in Tx.. and it really did not make much difference to the heater, other than slower warm ups in the winter..

I suspect its the core not getting enough flow.. clogged up or something.. you turn the system off for a min.. and turn it back on.. (Letting it build up) and boom.. warm/hot air.. that dissipates there shortly..

So I know *MY* issue is the core.. hopefully a flush will take care of..

 

Well I swear I have a miss too.. but let me ask you something.. go out and in park.. see if your antanna is moving like mad.. like your going down the road..

You can also see my other thread on the problem.. seems we have the exact same problems..

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen-dakota/275315-97-5-2l-bizar-loping-shuttering-creeping-need-help.html#post2374869

But I dont recall any puffing..

 

ahhh yes i remember readn your post a couple days ago. its wierd cuz theres no codes and it still has plenty of power. and i only feel it while im almost to a stop or letn it take off on its own. i havent looked at my ant yet lol its to cold out side right now. but can u feel your truck buckn in over drive around 50ish?

 

No... other than a slight 'buck'/'lope'/shutter' what ever you want to call it at almost stopped speed.. it runs fine..

Hope that is not in the future lol!