So I recently purchased my first Dodge vehicle. A 1997 Ram 1500 4X4 with 5 speed manual transmission.

The previous owners obviously knew nothing about cars/trucks in general as they told me it needed a clutch. For the price, it didn't matter if it needed a whole new transmission. (which I am pretty sure it does not)

The issue is that the transmission does not shift into any gear but 4th gear.(direct drive) I am assuming some internal linkage has failed? I have driven the truck in 4th gear (clutch is fine) transmission makes no foul noises and the engine seems to run like a champ.

Anyone have any advice? Is this something I should fix myself or just take it to a transmission shop and have a whole rebuild done?

Thanks for any advice!

 

If you dont really know Transmissions i wouldnt advise tackling it yourself. Luckly since its mans it shouild be cheaper. Kinda sounds like something gave out and they just kept driving it skipping the gear that went out and then other gears went out and kept on going. Do you Reverse or does that not work also? you would think if the linkage was messed up u wouldnt have any gears at all.

 

talk to MonteC he is a Trans Spec he helped me out with a problem he should be able to help you and have alot more of an ideal than me

 

I agree that if you are uncomfortable with trans work that you should probably take it in, but I just recently rebuilt my 46RE automatic in my truck and it wasn't too terrible and I have heard that manual trans are a lot easier to rebuild. I have never tried to tackle a manual trans so this is just going on what I have been told.

 

Perfectly comfortable with opening up the transmission and getting all the pieces back where they go. Just wasn't sure if this was a common problem with these things or not and if anyone had any insight as to what the specific problem might be.

Guess I will crawl under there and drop the tranny this weekend. I'll post up the results.

 

Well like i said look up MonteC and ask him he is a trans guy. Tell em Thumpper told u about em, and see if he has any ideals for ya. he was very helpful with me.

 

This truck could have either a NV3500 or a NV4500.When you say it wont shift to any gear but 4th, do you mean the stick wont go into any other gear or does the stick go to the gear you select and nothing happens. If you can move the stick to any gear and nothing happens except into 4th, that's telling me you have a broke counter shaft. 4th is the input shaft and that's why you would have it and no other gear if the counter shaft is broke or the teeth on the input gear or counter shaft are gone. If it was a shifter bushing or something like that, you would be able to hear it grind when you try another gear or something like that. Not saying that the shaft is broke or stripped teeth on a gear, but that's kinda what it sounds like.

 

+1 for trans guy and montec.

 

+2 for transguy and MonteC

 

Id drain the fluid first. Just to get an idea of what youre in for. If pieces of metal come out then there you have it.