Is it unusual to stump the certified dodge technicians?n What should I try next?

I have a 2000 Dakota Club with the Sport package and the 5.9L. I have had it a year and enjoyed it a lot. Just turning 120K. I am pretty gentle with it except that we live in an extremely hilly/mountainous area. I drive a lot with the OD off. Had the transmission filter and pan changed when I bought it to fix a small leak and as good measure.

Story:
1 - A few months ago an issue appeared after I had driven for a while and then parked for a half hour to an hour. It was not entirely predictable, but happened once every couple of days. When I would shift into gear nothing would happen. After 5 to 10 seconds it would go into gear. No rough thunk, it would just go into gear like I would expect if I had shifted at that moment. Took it to the local dealer, they hadn't heard of this issue. Checked linkage and a few other things.

2 - It started shifting slowly from second to third. I seemed to be stuck from time to time. At first rarely and then more regularly. I discovered that when it hung (55 MPH 4K RPM in second) that I could shift into neutral and back into gear and it would go into 3rd. About this time, when it worked the truck seemed to stumble as it would shift. Going to shift ... fall back into the original gear ... try again and succeed.

3 - Took it in and had them look it over again. Couldn't find anything wrong, but they could replicate the problem. They admitted that they really had no idea. They suggested it might be poor electrical connections. The battery posts were a little corroded. They cleaned them up. I had a hard time buying that argument and ask them to do a transmission flush. That was two days ago. Seemed to help at first, but ...

4 - Had to take a four hour drive yesterday. Half way through, the transmission stopped shifting out of first when necessary (altough 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th worked fine). Had my four kids with me and had just dropped my wife off at the airport. I was prayin' to get home. The shifting into neutral for a moment (while letting off the gas of course), got me through the second half of the trip. It shifts a little harder at high RPMs, but there is not big thump or jerk. There is not check engine light on.

Anyone heard of this? What should I look at?

 

the techs obviously didn't pull the valvebody apart. Sounds alot to me like a sticking check ball.

 

I know this maybe way off base but I had an intrepid and the cooler got an internal leak and pulled coolant into the trans. led to strawberry milk in the trans. had to be rebuilt major pain.

 

The most likely reason is the dealer you had gone to have never seen this problem. But i have. Thats because i have been doing transmissions for dodge for 23 years. Here is why you are have a problem. Heat is the worst problem for transmission fluid, Over time the fluid starts to harded the seals in the transmission and cause's shifting problems. Such as the problem you having now. One of the ways to tell if the seals are the problem is the transmission shifts fine from 1st to 2nd and then a long delay from 2nd to 3rd. In most case's the transmission will upshift at around 55 to 60 miles an hour. The transmission in these trucks are a piece of cake to overhaul.

 

For the 5.2/5.9, it's just a 727 with the overdrive tailshaft added on I believe? Stupid simple.

 

master tech

Not to hijack here but I have the AX-15 trans one bothersome thing I have always had even when new is when cold getting into 2nd gear is kind of tough but not difficult till she warms up then its usually fine. I usually just finesse it in 2nd till it warms up I don’t force it.

What is the problem with this?

 

I appreciate all your thoughts. 98DakAZ - I think I hear what you are saying. However, my issues appear primarily when it is warmed up.

I am pretty good when it comes to tinkering around. I built an 82 Golding from a basket once. Proud to say I balanced all four carbs by hand. However, I have never attempted to take apart an automatic transmission. I assume with my limited tools (no cherry picker or garage) that it would take me all of a day if I knew what I was doing.

Do you all think that I could do this in a day? What are my chances of having all the right parts before I start? Do I need any special tools besides torque wrenches and my floor jack and jack stands? Should I just take it in?

 

Does an overhaul include check ball/valves?

 

does the Dakota have the check valve up by the cooler like the 1500 has? if it does that would be my starting point. CTRL, ALT, DELETE.

 

Well the AX-15 is a very old school trans and a manual trans also.

Thanks for asking

It would be nice to know why it does this?