I have 1998 Dodge Ram1500 with 119K miles that suddenly takes a long time to shift from 1st gear to 2nd. Usually it takes about 2000 rpm to feel the shift but now it takes 3200rpm or so and in the mean time the engine is going fast but Im not moving as much. After the first gear everything is good though. Plus the "Check Engine" light comes and stays ON all the time. What can it be? I'ts time for the shop?

 

You should get it to an auto parts store and get the trouble codes read (those are what cause the Check Engine Light, or CEL, to come on). Any national chain (Autozone, Advance, O'Reillys, etc.) will read them for free. That may give you/us some hint of what exactly is going wrong.

 

sounds to me like the gov. pressure selenoid is getting gunked up....but FIRST do what jason said.....