Hi, looking for some help. My 1998 Ram 1500, 318 V6, Automatic transmission. 145K miles. Just bought the truck with bad motor (cheap). I had a new engine installed.

The engine light came on, misfire code comes up when plugged in. Has new remanufactured engine with about 1000 miles on new motor. New distributor, rotor, plugs wires, new internal oil filter...other new stuff with typical rebuild.

1). The "engine light" will not reset; believe it won't clear because the misfire is too severe. It doesn't run all that rough, but not as well as I am demanding a new $1500 engine should.

You all have any ideas for me? I took the truck straight to a local Dodge dealership on Friday. Maybe, someone can start me on the trail.

2). The passenger side has some electrical issues. The parking light doesn't work. I replaced the bulb, not the problem. The blinker blinks fast on the passenger side. The rear passenger side parking light is dimmer than the drivers side. Anybody, have a clue what the problem might be?

3). Also, the transmission has been shifting rough, not going up through the gears. Down shifts ok, from what I can tell. I figure the previous owner did not have the tranny filter replaced at 115,000 miles, nor had the bands adjusted or fluid changed. I'm going to have all this done as soon as the engine is running smooth. Hope all this maintenance will make the tranny good as new; wish me luck.

 

Just had some of the same engine problems, and the tranny not shifting. Tried everything.

Ended up being clogged cat and bad O2's....checked them?

 

1) Have your tried replaciing the plugs, compression test? All that good stuff to make sure the motor itself is in decent operating conditions? The light should clear, have you used an OBD II code reader. You should be able to clear the code. Have you looked at the dist., rotor, wires and plugs at all?

2) Fast blinker usually means you have a light out. There are two bulbs if im correct. But with your parking light being dimmer on one side id say its a connection issue. Try taking off your light (only three screws) and check the connections.

3) What exactly do you mean by not going up through the gears? Is it not shifting? Or just really rough. Continue with your plan, change the filter try having it flushed instead of just fluid replacement. Ask if you have any metal shavings in your fluid. If tranny hasnt been replaced yet (sounds like it hasnt) with 145K on it, count on replacing it soon. My truck just turned over 100k and I just put in a new tranny last friday. Turns out i needed one sooner but due to a shop tweaking it w/o my knowledge i got a lil more time out of it. These transmissions are crap to begin with. Let us know how your changes go.

 

The new distributor was not positioned properly, 20% misaligned. The Dodge dealership properly positioned the distributor, checked and adjusted the timing slightly, with a ...(not sure what it's called) timing gun (flashes light on the distributor). Once saw my neighbor adjust the timing on my Datsun.

The engine is a brand new Carolina Machine Engines engine. The engine should be fine for a while.

1. Simple solution for problem #1

2. Next stop is a transmission shop tomorrow morning. I was going to request the tranny fluid get flushed. Thanks for that tip; my engine mechanic made the same suggestion.

As for the shifting quality: it just didn't shift into 4th gear smoothly...it would not shift up on que, on time. I had to back off the gas and wait for it to shift when it felt ready. This became a huge pain when I arrived in east Kentucky (Appalachian Mountains) from New Orleans (flat land). The engine would jump into the powerstroke under load, but the darn tranny would stay still in 3rd. I had to back off the gas, wait for the shift into 4th, then put more gas on. Had to put my hazards on some climbs, because I was so slow.

The electrical issue is a mystery still, the Dodge dealership didn't notice the light issue and I forgot to mention it when I dropped it off. They had it fixed in no time, so I figure I'll take it back in some time in the future. The tranny is a b***er concern. The running light and the dim passenger headlight is a safety issue that I want to have fixed soon, but it's on the waiting list.

 

Was the distributor: was not properly installed; 20% off. Timing was checking and adjusted. Runs better and no more "Check engine light."

The tranny and light issues are next on the list.

 

Try adjusting your TV cable. Not really sure what the specs are for it. Do a search of the 2nd Gen section on the forum. TV cable adjustment is common around here.

 

Shop said the distributor was not properly installed, 20% out of position. The Dodge dealership positioned the distributor, rechecked the timing and adjusted the timing as was needed.

Bill was just $67 and something. Good news!

I've got more good news. Tranny was ok. Had another specialty shop take a look. Flushed fluid, changed filter, adjusted bands, replaced the pan, and hardware (it looks). Just $85! Noticed the improved shifting on the 13 mile drive home from the shop. I couldn't be happier.

So thrilled, I ordered new Bilstein HD shocks. The ride has seemed a bit scary on these Kentucky mountains I'm in for a while longer...just as long as the truck can make the trip back to New Orleans.

God bless,

-Nathan

 

So, about a week ago I was excited to tell you my transmission bill was just $85. Less than a week later, I pulled off the Interstate to get some gas and food. The transmission would not shift up through the gears. It had done this before, but not since the service. It acted funny coming out of the Kentucky hills, slipping, or downshifting when under a load. I suspected I needed another adjustment of the bands.

Returning to my failure: I pulled back toward the freeway in hopes the truck would shift. It took it's time, but shifted up through. A few miles later, I saw a food place. Again, I pulled off the interstate. That was that last time it shifted. I returned to the Freeway with hopes it would shift; it would not. I limped down the shoulder, revving my pour new motor, but it would not shift. I took the first exit off; limped up to the Ford dealer in site. Funny aside, the sales woman give me her card after she pointed to the Dodge dealership, just on the other side of the freeway below us. I laughed and smiled.

Leaving the truck at the dealership, I took refuge at the Best Western two lots over. They found the transmission was toast. Offered a $3046 fix. I called my family. I have $0. I walked back to the hotel. Phone book? I called a few shops near Birmingham. One of them has my truck, as I type this.

Some of you were right. Why do these transmissions fail so much? Why can't these newer trucks hold up?

To add more insult to injury, after I had the timing adjusted at another dealership in Kentucky, I detected a knock that I have never heard. I took it straight back to the dealer, but then it stopped knocking...my luck. 5 minutes down the road the knock returned! Service manager tried to tell me it was a gas knock and to get some octane treatment, asked me where I had last filled up (somewhere off the KY Route?). I put premium when I filled up the last two times; not because he said it might be my gas. Because the truck sat for 8 months before I replaced the engine. I rarely drive this much (I evacuated Gustav). I've ran a bunch of gas through the tank. putting 1200 plus miles on in 4 days time. The tank should be clean, ?

Anyway, I am getting the tranny rebuild at a cost of $1400 to $1800. The engine was $2500. My new shocks were $290. Plus, some labor last week and this week, the $85 for the transmission service, $127 for the Dodge garage for telling me the transmission was bad. I paid $500 for the thing. If only I could have known.

My last 4 vehicles have been nothing, but sad stories. I was hoping for some good fortune with this one.

My truck still needs the front end, hood stripped and painted, fenders painted, drivers door painted. Did I mention, I wanted a Mini Cooper! I seriously do. I just wanted a truck to help with my AmeriCorps service, just east of New Orleans; rebuilding homes for families still displaced. What terrible luck.

In a year, you might see a truck for sale: new motor, shocks, starter, hoses, oil pump, water pump, belts, shocks, headlights, paint, transmission, windshield, brakes. $3000