I just recently got a 1996 Dodge Ram with the Magnum V6 and 4 speed with O/D automatic transmission. When I started to drive the truck home, I noticed that it was slipping in and out of gear very often and was shaking when pulling off from a stop. I stopped at a gas station and checked the transmission fluid and noticed it was bone dry. Nothing showed up on the dipstick. So, I added almost 3 qts of +4 transmission fluid and 1 qt of Lucas stabilizer. The dipstick now indicates that it has sufficient fluid in the pan. However, the transmission still gidders and shakes when taking off from a stop. If you press on the pedal slowly, it sometimes doesn't do it at all, but if you give the gas pedal any type of pressure, it'll for sure shake and stumble. Most of the time it will eventually shift into 2nd gear, but not before it usually makes a noise (a metal on metal grumble noise) like when it's shifts. It's more of a creaking noise (Like the Titanic made in the movie Titanic). What is wrong with my trans and what needs to be done to fix it?

 

When you filled it with tranny fluid, did you shift threw all the gears to disperse all the fluid? Did you check the fluid while in neutral? When you got that all squared away, you need to figure out why it was bone dry in the first place.

 

Yes to both of those questions. I'm not for sure why the tranny was bone dry, because I haven't seen any leaks yet. I sprayed the under-carriage and then whipped it down with a rag. I'll see if it's leaking anywhere by tomorrow.

 

My 96 ram magnum slips in and out of passing gear. plenty of fluid, no grinding sounds. what do I do?!?

 

Read this https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...um-thread.html

 

I recommend starting a new Thread with your specific problem, and make sure to include ALL of the information about your truck when you do.

-JT