Ok Just I got a 1999 Ram2500 4x4 Diesel with the automatic trans. Problem is when you put the truck in drive 1 out of 4 tries the engine will stall out. Seems to me the converter is locked up. The other 3 times it seems the truck is really lugging down. If the converter is locking up where do I start diagnoseing this issue? I do have bad battery cables and am about to fix that. Is there something to do with tps? I am waiting to get a code reader put on it soon. Will this help find the problem?

 

First would be to get a code scanner on it.
How many miles on the truck?

Check the trans cooler lines for kinks or smashed hoses

If the trans cooler is plugged or a line kinked you will have the converter clutch locking up when you put it in gear.

You can do a shade tree check by removing the rear transmission line, putting a hose on the line (NOT THE TRANS) and putting the other end of the hose in a container.
Start the truck in NEUTRAL (best if you have someone in the cab to do the starting while you watch the can). Watch the fluid flow into the container. It should be steady strong flow. You should get at least one quart of fluid in the container in approximately 10 seconds.
DO NOT RUN THE ENGINE THIS WAY FOR MORE THAN 15-20 SECONDS AT A TIME!
DO NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE, DRIVE, OR PARK WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING WITH THE LINE DISCONNECTED FROM THE TRANS!

 

really? i had a tranny line blow a few weeks ago (rubber line that goes int radiator) and it blew 3 times...then i put a fuel line clamp on it, and it hasnt lost a drop.

BUT, sometimes when i shift from park to reverse, its very hard, and when it does go theres a loud clunk. does it 1 out of 15 times. could this be related to why my tranny line blew? and my clutches not engaging cuz thers a clog or something?

 

That clunk from Drive to Reverse or Park to Reverse is very normal for our trucks.

 

Ok I put the scanner on it and got nothing. I noticed that the voltmeter was dipping down to 12 volts when idleing in neutral. I haven't checked the cooler lines for kinks or fluid flow like you said. So if it is flowing good then what does that mean? Does a plugged cooler cause the converter to lock up? Or what would the cooler be plugged with? Lol
The trucks got over 300K kilometers on the od showing. History is a unknown.
Thanks for the insight Saineperf.

 

thank god...thought it may be the tranny...since it was rebuilt 19K ago......