Hello everyone I'm new to the Dodge forum and fairly new to Dodge truck ownership. I would be very thankful for any help or opinions. I have a 98 Ram 1500 quad cab with a 318 and an automatic. I have had the truck about a year. I have just over 100,000 miles. The truck runs good, although it is not a powerhouse. It recently started to whine in overdrive. I have just been driving it with OD off. However, I am going to be making a trip from south Florida to Oklahoma in March and need to pull a triler with a 1/2 ton chevy truck on it back. I will need to put a set of helper springs on it. I already have a receiver hitch attached to the frame, as I pull my 19 ft boat with it. Is the whine in the OD something that will effect the lower gears? Do Dodge truck have problems with trannys. Thanks oh mopar gurus.

 

Dodge's are renowned for transmission problems with the automatics.

As for the whine, I have no idea.

 

Yea Dodges are def. known for their lack in their automatic trannys. As far as the whine. Check the fluid. Maybe change it and put some stabilizer in the tranny. That might fix it.

 

i dont like-a the stabilizers... they tend to GUM up everything.
just a band-aid and then cause more destruction later when they wear out.
just a bunch of thick *** sticky mystery fluid.
I only like/approve of Lucas oil stabilizers.

whining in the OD...
usually whining and growning indicates planetary gear failure/soon failure.
check the fluid, drop the pan and see if it has alot of metal in the pan/on the magnet.

Let me/us know of your findings.

Oh and Welcome to DF!!!

 

If it just whinning in overdrive, there maybe a broken snap ring for the direct clutches. 1st thing you need to do is remove the pan and inspect.

 

Thanks for the suggestions and the welcome to the forum. I will try and drop the pan this weekend and see if there is any metal in the fluid. I might as well change the filter while I'm there too. rouhly how many quarts of tranny fluid will I need, considering that doesn't change the fluid in the converter? Thanks again Bart

 

5-6 quarts + new filter.
look in the bottom of the pan for pieces of fiber(clutch material) or pieces of a snap ring.