hey everyone, i recently bought a 98 dodge ram 1500 sport. The first day i had it everything seemd to run great! Than the second day a u-joint whent on me. after getting that fixed i did a little maintence spark plugs and oil change. i started to realize my transfer case was leaking (a seal) and a small chip is missing. Than i took a better look at the exaust and when i touched the muffler a whole callapsed. after a couple days the tranny started to act up shift up and down shift at one speed and high rpms. so id throw some lucas in and be good for a couple days. Than one day i realized my tranny fluid was dark. so i think the hole in the muffler was causing me to burn my fluid being less efective. so i changed my transfer case fluid and tranny filter/ fluid. runs alot better however im getting high rpms and have to "work" the gas peddle i.e press it once let it go and press it again to refrain from high rpms before catching. i dont know where the band thats on the outside of the tranny is i cant seem to find it maybe adjusting that will help? when the pan was off what looked like to be a band had play to rock side to side where as the other band that has the band adjustment on the inside had no movement or play. Another thing i noticed is the line that goes from the air intake to the transmision may not open the same the one next to the carburator opens quick and easy where as the one on the tranny opens a little stuck kind of slow. Please give me some advice on this. Thank you

 

I just bought a 98 dodge ram sport that has been giving me a head ache. the second day after having it a u-joint whent than the muffler got a hole (Rust) since having it ive repaired the hole with a heat shield put new spark plugs oil change transmission filter/ atf4 and transfer case atf4 as well. it's running alot better however it doesnt gain speed to quick slowly but surely you cant just floor it and take off. when coming to a stop than taking off again i have to press the gas let go of the gas and press it agian to keep my rpms down around 2500 after that its ok but still not too much power behind the gas peddle. when i was changing the tranny fluid what looked to be a band had play was able to rock back and forth i believe this to be the band that can be adjusted from the outside of the tranny because i seen the other band and and lock nut. that band was firm no play. The other thing ive noticed was the throttle cable that goes from the carburator to the tranny doesnt seem to open as freely next to the tranny is that because the spring in worn? the one next to the engine opens smooth and quick and as i said the one under the truck next to the tranny opens slow and sluggish. please some give me your advice or comments

 

Go to the DIY section and download the service manual. It will give instructions on throttle valve cable and correct band adjustment.

Was the trans fluid burned? Was there a lot of debris on the magnet in the bottom of the pan? Another suggestion is to install a drain plug in transmission pan if it does not have one already.

 

Sounds like the tranny is slipping. There is a band adjustment inside the pan and one outside. Adjust both. Get a Haynes or download the service manual from the FAQ/DIY section for procedure. And read before attempting. As far as the cable goes, that's sounds normal. The two cables are on different leverage/fulcrum points (or whatever you want to call it).

 

i have the haynes manual however it doesnt show the placement of the outside band to adjust it

 

yes the fluid was burnt it was very dark. the transfer case fluid was almost like engine oil. the previous owner had it for 18 months pulling a snow mobile and did absolutely nothing to maintane it. and i will try to get that service manual. i am thinking of getting a bigger pan and a cooler to put in to help the tranny. If its going i just hope it will hold till tax season

 

God knows how I hate to be ther bearer of bad news....

Really fluid burnt is not the problem. Things like the frictions and bands burn, and the fluid picks up the debris, and gets dark as well as the burnt smell. If this is the case, adjusting bands may buy a little more time, but a rebuild may be in it's future.

I also installed a larger pan and a cooler after my rebuild in an effort to increase the life of the transmission. But that in itself will not compensate for any damage that has already been done. Hopefully you are catching this early enough.

The Haynes manual is not real helpful on the transmission internals. The faxtory manual that was mentioned in the DIY section is excellent resource for this and provides all necessary info. Follow the directions and use a torque wrench as specified.

 

Although the factory service manual is better, on page 1-27 of the Haynes, is pretty clear on the location of the front band adjusting screw.

 

Welcome to DF.

First, before anything else, please read this:
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/dodge-ra...s-section.html

I will move this to the 2nd gen section for ya.

 

Were there any shavings or sludge in your tranny pan when you changed the fluid