I have a 2001 Ram 1500 Offroad Sport 4x4 auto with the 5.9L and 120,000 miles. So here's the problem.....lately I've been getting the P1740 code. I've researched that on here and found many differents things it could be. What is happening is that after the truck has been sitting for a while, when I start it and put it in gear it takes a few seconds for it to build up enough pressure to move. It didn't do this before, but it's been doing this for a while now. It drives fine, nothing unususal, it just does this on start up after having sat for a few hours. I finally decided to change my transmission filter and fluid last night. I found what looks like a piece of a piston ring in the pan. The piece appears to be from a ring that is approximately 5 inches in diameter, the metal is slightly over 1/8 inch wide in the same plane of the diameter and it's slightly over 1/16 inch thick. I only found about a quarter of the ring, I guess the rest is still somewhere in the trans. Do you know what this piece is? I can send a photo if it would help. Also, do you think this will require a rebuild or can I drive it as is but have the issue of pressure bleeding off when not running? If I continue to drive it as is am I asking for it to eventually fail? Thanks for any help you guys can give me.

 

Sounds like its time for a rebuild to me. Thats about the same milage mine went at ( same truck but an 00). Could you post a pic, it could be a few things. Slip ring, bearing..shim. Prolly a bearing from what it sounds like, unless im picturing it wrong in my head.

 

pic#1

 

Here are some pictures. I had to reduce the quality to get them to fit on here. When you open the file, zoom out some and it will be clearer.

 

wow a piece that big cannot be good

 

Sorry to say but the only rings that I can think of that are that big hold the pressure plate in the clutch packs. Your tranny needs to be rebuilt. I honestly cant believe that it still works with that big of piece missing.

 

Yea, it drives and shifts perfectly fine. The only issue is that it won't move first thing in the morning till it has built up enough pressure......just takes a few seconds. Also I've noticed that it does have a slight noise to the transmission when driving.........not really a grinding or a whine.....almost sounds kind of like a motor that has a gear drive instead of a timing chain.....if you know what I mean.

When I saw that piece I pretty well figured it was due for a rebuild. Since it drives fine I'm contemplating just driving it to see how far I can go before I need a rebuilt one. It's gone a good 5-10k like this.

 

I've also contemplated rebuilding it myself. I know I could do it, just have little experience with transmissions. For anyone else who's done it, how difficult was it and about how long did it take you to do? Thanks.