Ok so, What I have is a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 318 v8 4x4 x-tended cab with an auto-tranny. Cant remember which tranny but its the one that holds 7-qts. Today i noticed the common sound that it makes when you put in reverse on cold day. Only it wasnet that cold, the truck was already warm and it was a hell of a lot louder. After a couple hours and several times of starting driving and shutting off it starts making the same noise in all gears R-N-D-2-1 even idling, except park. No noise in park. Then much to my "suprise" i felt a loss of power on acceleration right about the time to change from 1st to 2nd, then it went ahead and got to 2nd. Then at my next stop, I push the gas, rpms go up, truck barely moves till i think it was around 2,500 rpm then it drops back down and starts to accelerate. Then seems to bypass 2nd altogether so i left of gas then shifts-not sure what gear it went to cause by this point im very pissed about all this. I dont know a word to describe the sound. Its not a tick or a knock. More of a vibrating off balance fan with a sort of whine to it and its louder under the truck than sticking you head in the hood. I did get the code a while back for the torque converter but felt nothing of that nature, and i hear the are over sensitive so i just cleared it and it hasnt came back on. Also within the last year i have replaced-governor pressure sensor and solenoid and the fluid temp sensor in my tranny. any suggestions on where to start.

 

Welcome to the forums.

I dont mean to be the bearer of bad news, but the 2nd gen 1500 rams have weak trannys (46RE) by 150K they usually need a rebuild. And the TC typically are the first to go, so that code may have been a sign and been the start of the end for the tranny.

 

Trust me you are not the bearer of bad news. Ive had problem after problem with this damn truck. I did forget to mention though I just hit 85,000 miles. How much money you think im looking at for repair on the TC at a honest shop. as it seems everything Ive done to the tranny is only a fix until something else goes wrong. Would i be throwing money away to replace TC if only till a rebuild is needed?

 

did you check the fluids but it can also be a valve sticking in there

 

fluid is dead nuts. A sticking valve? whats a quick way to rule that out?

 

does it take a little bit longer to shift while driveing down the road. and low fluid can cause it shift hard and not even shift at all

 

I went a back road home so i could take it easy. But i try and break down best i remember.

Stopped--Pushing on the gas for a normal take off in 1st seemed fine, but didnt change to 2nd when it should have and rpms just kept rising.

I do believe it did go into a 2nd a time or two and seemed to be ok. And it also went into 2nd and felt like it was neutral. The sound that its making is really throwing me off too. I know nothing about spark plugs but could that possibly have anything to do with this?

Ive drove a car with a transmission slipping before and didnt exactly feel the same as this. Pretty close though.

Fluids are good and only put about 10k miles since new fluid went in. Nothing was in my old fluid, pan, filter or magnet. I was happy bout that.

 

if its taking a lil bit to shift then you got valves stick usally its a little ball in there that gets stuck if i remember right take the valve body off (drain all fluid) and you should see the ball. since you got all that off mine aswell put a new filter on too to be on the safe side

 

i'll try that. since thats only about $25 for fluid and filter. im not a total newb but still pretty newbish. do u know of a sort of diagram or something that would be of help. i did drop my pan and replace the gov sensor/solenoid and temp sensor and filter myself with relative ease. it sounds like i can manage to do this too. but i do like to know as much as i can before i start. i appreciate all the help.

 

oh yeah, once i do get to this ball, what do i do it? give lil poke? what causes it to stick and how can u help prevent it? thx