Auto trans shifts only with weight in truck bed
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From: Maine
Auto trans shifts only with weight in truck bed
Hello,
I have a 1999 Dodge Dakota SLT with a 5.2L v8, auto 4 spd transmission. Only has 187xxx on it.
It was my father's truck, but he found it completely unusable as the transmission wouldn't shift. Also found that it would start off in 3rd or 2nd gear, which was very odd. No issues in reverse. My father had a transmission fluid change (not flushed), also changed the governor sensor inside when the plan was dropped. Also had the filter plus gasket changed. Mechanic didn't have anything extraordinary to say about it. Everything looked alright.
During my time with the vehicle, I had put in a large tub of glass dishes in it and never saw issues. It wasn't until I removed the tub of dishes from the truck bed did the transmission start doing what my father described. Either it would never shift out of 1st or it wouldn't down shift when you pulled to a stop. So you're start in a higher gear. Shifting the truck from 1st to 3rd by the stick gave inconsistent results. It would work or it wouldn't. Didn't matter if overdrive was on or off.
So I went back and remembered the only thing that had changed was me taking the container of glass dishes out of the truck bed. So I put them back in and the truck shifts normally. No more issues as long as something heavy is in the truck bed.
This truck has no engine codes, the engine rpms are consistent and has no issues in cold weather.
Wondering if this has been observed at all by anyone else. I did have a motorhome at one point with a transmission that was able to be adjusted in order to tow more effectively, but I'm not sure this transmission has that. My dad owned this model and year of truck before (when it was new) and never encountered anything like this.
Thanks!
I have a 1999 Dodge Dakota SLT with a 5.2L v8, auto 4 spd transmission. Only has 187xxx on it.
It was my father's truck, but he found it completely unusable as the transmission wouldn't shift. Also found that it would start off in 3rd or 2nd gear, which was very odd. No issues in reverse. My father had a transmission fluid change (not flushed), also changed the governor sensor inside when the plan was dropped. Also had the filter plus gasket changed. Mechanic didn't have anything extraordinary to say about it. Everything looked alright.
During my time with the vehicle, I had put in a large tub of glass dishes in it and never saw issues. It wasn't until I removed the tub of dishes from the truck bed did the transmission start doing what my father described. Either it would never shift out of 1st or it wouldn't down shift when you pulled to a stop. So you're start in a higher gear. Shifting the truck from 1st to 3rd by the stick gave inconsistent results. It would work or it wouldn't. Didn't matter if overdrive was on or off.
So I went back and remembered the only thing that had changed was me taking the container of glass dishes out of the truck bed. So I put them back in and the truck shifts normally. No more issues as long as something heavy is in the truck bed.
This truck has no engine codes, the engine rpms are consistent and has no issues in cold weather.
Wondering if this has been observed at all by anyone else. I did have a motorhome at one point with a transmission that was able to be adjusted in order to tow more effectively, but I'm not sure this transmission has that. My dad owned this model and year of truck before (when it was new) and never encountered anything like this.
Thanks!
Take off in low gear and move the shifter up to 2nd gear and then to 3rd. Does it up shift? Also when coming to a stop, will the transmission downshift to low gear? If the transmission upshift like I said and doesn't down shift. Replace the valve body assy.