recently bought a 98 dodge ram 1500 2X4 with 82,000 miles and the 318.

I noticed the other day when was going about 50 mph and stomped it to pass some a$$hole and it went from overdrive to second and then to third in a half of a second.
i didnt think anything of it then but it does that every time when i completely floor it.
you would think if i was going to fast for second that it would stay in third but for some odd reason it drops down to second for about 1/2 second then goes to third, do you think that i have anything to worry about??
thanks
Ed

 

Yup. Could be your kickdown cable is out of adjustment. Might want to have your trans flushed and a new filter installed.

 

Yeah i noticed when i was driving my dads truck i tried to floor it and i actually lost alot of speed instead of gaining. when we had it checked out it turned out that we were a quart low on transmission fluid. and the oxygen sensors were messed up too.

 

I agree, sounds like your kickdown cable. Transmission fluid levels can also affect that.

 

Yah, Dodge transmissions are VERY sensitive to fluid level. 1/2 a quart low will cause big problems. Good luck.

 

Thanks guys, i appriciate the info..... I know that it has probably been about 35k miles since the last owner changed the fluid. this trans take atf +4 correct?

 

Yes it uses ATF+4, no your truck does not have a kickdown cable. That cable is called a throttle valve cable and has very little to do with downshifting, it is used to calculate upshift patterns. Very normal to drop into 2nd then upshift to 3rd for forced WOT downshift at speeds.