Had an employee of our business while driving the truck the lower transmission hose that hooks to the radiator come off and drove the truck until the engine would just rev. Had the truck towed back to the business and I put 4 quarts of tranny fluid back into it to get it back to the full mark. Let it warm up put it through the gears and slowly tried to drive forward and it will start to engage if I rev the engine up between 1500-2000 RPM. Put it into reverse and the same thing. Any ideas I am hoping it won't have to be rebuilt.

 

Welcome to DF. What model year of truck is it exactly? Judging by the engine, I'm assuming its a 2nd gen Ram (1994-2001), so I'll move it there. Let me know if its a different model year.

Was the tranny fluid level checked while in "Park" or "Neutral"? It has to be checked when in Neutral on these trucks, otherwise the fluid level will be to low. It will always read too high in "P".

 

If he drove it until it just revved with no fluid was left in it then it sounds like your tranny's on it's way out.

 

I guess it would be good if I mention the year it is a 1998. I did check the fluid level in nuetral. Is their a certain procedure to bleeding the air out while putting the fluid in after a situation like this and could that cause a fluid level reading of "ok" even though the fluid level is actual still low?

 

It pumped out a lot more fluid than just 4 qt's.

 

I would agree that it pumped out more than four quarts. Is there a procedure to bleed air out while putting the fluid in? Keloid think it would take at least 7 quarts.

 

I would agree that it pumped out more than four quarts. Is there a procedure to bleed air out while putting the fluid in? Keloid think it would take at least 7 quarts.

 

Nope, just pour it in, and check the stick. Trouble is..... ya pour it in, and some stays on the walls of the tube, so, it is difficult to tell if the trans is actually full, or, if you are just seeing smears on the stick from the stuff sticking to the tube....

 

How long do I need to let it idle in order for it to take up the extra fluid and reflect the proper level? Am I wrong in thinking that it should take at least 7 quarts?

 

Well usually you are suppose to take it for a drive, but in your case you can't. Put it in neutral and apply the parking brake. Alow to run like this for about 15 minutes before checking the fluid. Check the fluid with the engine running and the transmission in neutral.