MonteC's Transmission Corner (For Info Only)
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 2
From: North Charleston, SC
Hello, and thanks for your time, having friendly people out there who have been around the block with these sorta things really helps out, and I appreciate your time..
Yesterday I bought a 97 dodge ram 1500 long wheel base 5.2 4x4 automatic with 157,000. In 2002 it had a jasper tranny installed (thats all I know, I found out by calling them myself with the refernce sticker inside the door) the feller I got it from had only owned it for a couple of months and he traded for it from another guy and yada yada it makes its way to me lol.....The truck has been sitting probably 99% of the time, based on the numbers on the title since the first of Feb 2009 its had less than 700 miles put on it so I am expecting some gremlins....
It starts and runs fine, I drove it 50 miles home after buying it yesterday but the tranny seems to have a sweet spot. When going slow and between shifts it seems to wanna shift pretty harsh, if you feather the throttle any, however it seems to shift firm and fast as it should when you just hold it down and let it wind out. Tranny doesnt slip, fluid levels are fine and look and smell good. This is my first dodge ram, I bought it as a fixer and I got a pretty good deal on it.
Today I began my ritual of getting it back to being road worthy and to be honest from the looks of things this is probably the first maintenance this truck has seen in a long time (ancient oil filer, dirty oil, needed plugs / air filter....etc) I plan on getting around to dropping the pan and changing the filter in the next couple of days, I bought the hayes manual I consider myself mechanically inclined and I have enough tools to get about any job done....
Is there anything that it would be in my best intrest to inspect and/or change considering the way this truck shifts....I mean if you pull out and drive normal (I am heavy footed) it shifts awesome, but if you pull out and let off the gas its harsh (feels like a bad engine or tranny mount harsh)
Im sorry for the novel I guess its better to overexplain than underexplain lol...I read like the first 14 pages of this sticky and really didnt find any info that I thought pertained to my situation, thanks for the time have a nice day....
Yesterday I bought a 97 dodge ram 1500 long wheel base 5.2 4x4 automatic with 157,000. In 2002 it had a jasper tranny installed (thats all I know, I found out by calling them myself with the refernce sticker inside the door) the feller I got it from had only owned it for a couple of months and he traded for it from another guy and yada yada it makes its way to me lol.....The truck has been sitting probably 99% of the time, based on the numbers on the title since the first of Feb 2009 its had less than 700 miles put on it so I am expecting some gremlins....
It starts and runs fine, I drove it 50 miles home after buying it yesterday but the tranny seems to have a sweet spot. When going slow and between shifts it seems to wanna shift pretty harsh, if you feather the throttle any, however it seems to shift firm and fast as it should when you just hold it down and let it wind out. Tranny doesnt slip, fluid levels are fine and look and smell good. This is my first dodge ram, I bought it as a fixer and I got a pretty good deal on it.
Today I began my ritual of getting it back to being road worthy and to be honest from the looks of things this is probably the first maintenance this truck has seen in a long time (ancient oil filer, dirty oil, needed plugs / air filter....etc) I plan on getting around to dropping the pan and changing the filter in the next couple of days, I bought the hayes manual I consider myself mechanically inclined and I have enough tools to get about any job done....
Is there anything that it would be in my best intrest to inspect and/or change considering the way this truck shifts....I mean if you pull out and drive normal (I am heavy footed) it shifts awesome, but if you pull out and let off the gas its harsh (feels like a bad engine or tranny mount harsh)
Im sorry for the novel I guess its better to overexplain than underexplain lol...I read like the first 14 pages of this sticky and really didnt find any info that I thought pertained to my situation, thanks for the time have a nice day....
Most likely your shifting concerns are in the valvebody.
Registered User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Hey thanks for the heads up I believe your right also cause to be honest it seems like the more I drive it the better its getting maybe something in the valve body is freeing up, I got up this morning and took it to the muffler shop and when I pulled out I was bracing for impact lol and to my suprise it actually shifted fine, Ive drove it intermittenly about 30 miles today and its shifting characteristics have not been an issue I still plan to check everything out but for now its acceptable, to be honest Ive owned it a few days I really havent ran it enough to understand its quirks yet but Ill be happy if it stays like it is......Im plesantly suprised by this truck I use to only think Fords fixed themselves lol.....
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Loretto, PA
I was wondering how you think an NV3500 would stand up in my truck. I have a 97 1500 that put Dana 60's under with 5.13 gears and 38.5" tires with the 46re and i have really been thinking about swapping in a manual. I use the truck mostly for on road but i do the occasional offroad adventure and it can get pretty hairy. I also use to pull my Rhino around on a trailer kinda often. So do you think a 3500 would standup to the 38's or should i keep looking for a 4500??? I dont know if your just an auto guy or not but i figure you would be the man to ask.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Trans problem
I thought I should re=post this here:
2 weeks ago I bought a 2001 Dodge RAM 4x4 SLT 5.9 from a local dealer. It had 104k miles. I test drove the truck it seemed to run great and appeared in very good condition. Last weekend I took a 150mile round trip drive. When I was almost home the O/D off lite came on, shortly followed by the trans temp lite.
After researching on this site, I bypassed the trans coolant line check valve. It was definitely clogged. Could not blow air through it. Drove the truck tonight about 50 miles, lights no longer come on, but now trans slips like crazy in all gears, will barely get going from a dead stop, lurches in 1st to 2nd.
I assume I need to rebuild the trans. When I got home I checked fluid and it registered above max on dipstick.
Fluid on stick appears nice and red, doesn't smell burnt.
Using the key trick, I saw no codes
Any suggestions, does my conclusion seem right, is a rebuild in order?
2 weeks ago I bought a 2001 Dodge RAM 4x4 SLT 5.9 from a local dealer. It had 104k miles. I test drove the truck it seemed to run great and appeared in very good condition. Last weekend I took a 150mile round trip drive. When I was almost home the O/D off lite came on, shortly followed by the trans temp lite.
After researching on this site, I bypassed the trans coolant line check valve. It was definitely clogged. Could not blow air through it. Drove the truck tonight about 50 miles, lights no longer come on, but now trans slips like crazy in all gears, will barely get going from a dead stop, lurches in 1st to 2nd.
I assume I need to rebuild the trans. When I got home I checked fluid and it registered above max on dipstick.
Fluid on stick appears nice and red, doesn't smell burnt.
Using the key trick, I saw no codes
Any suggestions, does my conclusion seem right, is a rebuild in order?
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 2
From: North Charleston, SC
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 2
From: North Charleston, SC
I thought I should re=post this here:
2 weeks ago I bought a 2001 Dodge RAM 4x4 SLT 5.9 from a local dealer. It had 104k miles. I test drove the truck it seemed to run great and appeared in very good condition. Last weekend I took a 150mile round trip drive. When I was almost home the O/D off lite came on, shortly followed by the trans temp lite.
After researching on this site, I bypassed the trans coolant line check valve. It was definitely clogged. Could not blow air through it. Drove the truck tonight about 50 miles, lights no longer come on, but now trans slips like crazy in all gears, will barely get going from a dead stop, lurches in 1st to 2nd.
I assume I need to rebuild the trans. When I got home I checked fluid and it registered above max on dipstick.
Fluid on stick appears nice and red, doesn't smell burnt.
Using the key trick, I saw no codes
Any suggestions, does my conclusion seem right, is a rebuild in order?
2 weeks ago I bought a 2001 Dodge RAM 4x4 SLT 5.9 from a local dealer. It had 104k miles. I test drove the truck it seemed to run great and appeared in very good condition. Last weekend I took a 150mile round trip drive. When I was almost home the O/D off lite came on, shortly followed by the trans temp lite.
After researching on this site, I bypassed the trans coolant line check valve. It was definitely clogged. Could not blow air through it. Drove the truck tonight about 50 miles, lights no longer come on, but now trans slips like crazy in all gears, will barely get going from a dead stop, lurches in 1st to 2nd.
I assume I need to rebuild the trans. When I got home I checked fluid and it registered above max on dipstick.
Fluid on stick appears nice and red, doesn't smell burnt.
Using the key trick, I saw no codes
Any suggestions, does my conclusion seem right, is a rebuild in order?
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: New Mexico
Wittrans.com
MonteC,
You mentioned this website when I posted that I needed a transducer and governor pressure solenoid. I found the parts I need, but for the transducer, it lists a 4 prong rectangular or a 4 sprong round connection. Also, for the governor pressure solenoid, it lists about 5 of them and they all say they will fit.
Which parts do I get? I have tried calling and emailing them numerous times and cant get call backs or replies to my emails. I already got a transducer from Dodge, but wittrans is cheaper by about $30, if I could ever get ahold of them. Im about ready to just order that governor pressure solenoid that is the GM kit, but Im not sure if its worth it on a never rebuilt tranny with 94k miles, but shifts well?
Thanks and sorry for all the questions
You mentioned this website when I posted that I needed a transducer and governor pressure solenoid. I found the parts I need, but for the transducer, it lists a 4 prong rectangular or a 4 sprong round connection. Also, for the governor pressure solenoid, it lists about 5 of them and they all say they will fit.
Which parts do I get? I have tried calling and emailing them numerous times and cant get call backs or replies to my emails. I already got a transducer from Dodge, but wittrans is cheaper by about $30, if I could ever get ahold of them. Im about ready to just order that governor pressure solenoid that is the GM kit, but Im not sure if its worth it on a never rebuilt tranny with 94k miles, but shifts well?
Thanks and sorry for all the questions
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
THen when it started slipping so bad, I checked it and it was high.
I am thinking about ordering the K46 level 3 kit from PATC, do you have any opinions on this?