First off, I got a coupon in the mail the other day from my local Dodge dealer for a trans service for $89. Too bad I already did that myself recently. Anyway, I stopped in there to see what they would charge me to adjust the bands, since I don't own an inch pounds torque wrench, and didn't do it with the other stuff.

The service manager said there was no need to adjust the bands on these newer transmissions. They haven't done an adjustment in at least ten years. I told him I thought I had read in the service manual that it is a recommended service. He stuck to the no need for it story.

The reason I asked about it is my trans has started slipping a little bit, and I want to make it last for as long as possible. I already did the check valve delete, and have a remote filter setup.

I think I'll go to the local tranny shop and ask them.

Secondly, talking to a coworker about it, he said to just dump a quart of brake fluid in it. It'll make it so it won't slip anymore. He said he did it in an old Ford, and it cured it. I find it VERY difficult to believe that would be good for the seals and such in the long term

 

Your coworker needs his **** kicked... And whilst you're at it, go ahead and 'service' the dealers **** too.. they're both wrong..

Don't let your truck be a learning experience, lessn its you who does it.. take it to a real tranny shop for the bands, or invest roughly the same for a good wrench and do it yourself..

For the love of all that's holy, don't put brake fluid in it!

 

First - Don't pur brake fluid into anything except breake master cyylinder. It will screw uyp rubber that is not designed for it. I would not add anything to the trans.

They do need adjusting periodically and the service manager is uninformed. It is an easy task. Go to a trans shop that you know or know someone that trusts them - or they may say tranny is shot and try to sell you a rebuild that mnay not be necessary.

My BIL owned the Ram that I have, and had let trans slip for a long time. I had to rebuild it, in fact, I just came back into the house after putting it back in this afternoon.

Got to the faq/diy section and search trans adjustment. Should be able to pick up in pd torque wrench from harbor freight or northern tool for about $15.

 

+1 on the no brake fluid. you should never put any fluid in your transmisson that is not atf+4. even lucas stop slip. yoyu may think it will cure the slipping but all it does is hide it, and the it make the rebuild a PITA on your tranny mechanic

 

Thanks guys. I fully expected the responses I got to this!

I didn't believe either one of them, but I thought I would share to amuse you all, too.

 

Duly amused...

If something sounds wierd, I would stay away from it.

 

if it sounds to good to be true then it almost certainly is

 

If you are asking him to adjust the bands, he still needs to DRAIN IT and TAKE OFF THE PAN to get to the reverse band.

So you will end up getting the whole service. You can't just get the bands done.

 

Depends on where slipping occurs, the front band may take care of it. The band on the direct drum seems to need adjusting more often than rear - and it is located on the outside. I usually try to do what is accessible first - but if that does not correct it, then you are correct - drain and pull pan and adjust rear band.

Josh, go to the faq/diy section and download the manual. It ahs good troubleshooting in the trans section. It can lead you to which band may need adjusting and how to do it.

 

Buddy of mine had an old cutlass he had a band slipping in. He did brake fluid and I believe lacquer thinner to get it home. It works, for awhile. Something about it swelling up the bands to get them to catch.

Wouldnt suggest pouring it into a trans that you have hopes would last more than 10k