I have a 98 dodge ram 1500 extended cab, 5.2 litre v8 with a manual transmission. Recently when I back out of the driveway I can't shift it into any gear, after a few seconds I can get it into gear and after that it shifts fine. When I use to get my oil changed by somebody else I always use to ask about the traany fluid and they always told me all it has is a small area that you check and if it has fluid in it leave it alone.

My truck has about 240,000 miles on it and never had a problem shifting, and like I said once it's going no problem shifting.

Any advice would be great, and I thank you in advance as folfs on here have helped me a great deal.

So thanks again and enjoy the rest of the summer, 102 here in Illinois today

 

Check the fluid level in your trans.

 

What's the symptom of "can't shift"? Do you hear/feel gear clash? Does the transmission whine following engine speed? How far up is the pedal when the clutch fully engages after a gear change?

 

No grinding or clash, it just won't go into any gear, the clutch works fine.

When I try to push it into any gear it just feels like it's blocked, like your pushing it into a wall. I don't mean to sound too stupid but everytime I would get the oil changed they told me it was fine don't worry about it on a mannual as long as it is shifting fine.

I should have been more pro-active that's what I get for listening to them.

I will check the tranny fluid, and is there a proper procedure to flush it, and what is the best fluid for it?

Thanks again everybody.

Junie

 

did you pump the pedal afew times before it went into gear?did you just try first gear or was it all gears?

 

I did not pump the clutch before I got it in gear, and it is all the gears. Second gear seems to be the best when I finally get in in gear, then when I get a mile or so down the road to my stop sign I can go through all the gears.

Thanks again,

Junie

 

I'm wondering if someone just dumped in whatever gear oil he had on hand rather than using the factory specified lubricant. The lack of gear clash, though, has me thinking that maybe it's just low. Either way, that's something to look into.

How does the stick feel, first thing after startup and later at normal operating temperature? Is it sloppy? Heavy? Binding in places? Anything less than just what you'd expect from it?

 

or your throw out bearing is on its way out...