hey guys new to the forum, as you can tell by my user name im a chevy guy. but i couldnt pass up this great deal on a dodge. it is a 1997 ram 1500 single cab 5.2 auto 4x2. motor and trans has 20k miles on rebuild for $1,000. i just changed to plugs, wires, coil, cap and rotor, air filter, pcv valve and breather valve. the motor at idle(idles at about 700 in park) runs just a lil rough. my rpm doesnt change but its just enough to feel it shake in the cab. sometimes worse than others and sometimes runs perfect. after 1k rpm it runs perfect. cant figure out why. my cat. converter is bad( i think) it has something in it rattling. it did pass smog tho.could that affect it.

now the trans i just changed oil and filter(castrol ATF+4 fluid) and adjusted the bands per spec( they were way off). it wont shift into third until about 2100rpm, or let off the throttle completley, idk if this is normal but it seems high when just accelerating. if shifts fine and super smooth but from 2-3 it just seems like it shifts at a higher rpm. any help would be great, thanks guys

 

That's really not bad. I would give it some time on the fluid change....that tends to loosen up alot of crud in the trans which will cause all kinds of goofy shifting until it works it's way out of the valvebody.

the cat is probably shot so if you replace that and the o2's it should correct the idle and help your shift schedule on the trans.

Did you adjust the TV cable from the TB to the trans. It really takes 2 people to do it correctly. you basically want the trottle and the lever on the trans to move simutaneously. too short will keep the trans side from coming forward all the wayrolloing right thru the gears) and too long will hold your gears.

 

i didnt adjust my TV yet. ill check it out, and thanks.

 

fix the plenum gasket. that helpped my truck more than anything else

 

well the motor was rebuild 20k miles ago and has a new plenum gasket

 

I know a lot of people that adjust the bands and things get worse. I have neer adjusted my bands, and would never do it myself. I have an el-cheapo torque wrench, so that is the main reason. And my truck only has 50K miles on it.

 

i did forget to mention i had the problem before i did anything to it. it did help when i changed oil and adjusted to bands. shifted smoother. its really not that hard. took about 10 minutes per band. ive delt with my fair share of these (RE) series trans. few jeeps with 42re's and a dodge with another 46re. i like to change oil filter and adjust bands every 25k miles becuase i know these trans are prone to failure if not porperly kept up