Quick question, I have owned a 97 dodge ram 1500 sport for a few years now, and have had zero problems with my tranny, well all of a sudden it is acting up. I dont know if it is the tranny or possibly something else. when it idles in Park it revs up and down when first started up. then when I first take off it chug a lugs and feels like it is trying to warm up. then at 50-60 mph it doesnt want to shift right. The shifting is all messed up right now. it doesnt feeel like it is slipping cause when i get on it, it still goes. so at 55 down the road it wil hit the kick down and then if i let off it will shift down and be normal. is this a tranny issue that means its going or is it a vaccumm line or something else?

 

Could be a vacuum leak, failing TPS, or internal sensors in the trans getting gummed up with normal crap.

When was the last time you did a fluid/filter change on the trans?

 

check the basics first. tps,iac,governer preasure,vaccum leaks its wut i did on mine but when mine was acting up it was just my tv cable next to the tb but i doubt thats your case

 

I had those symptoms with a bad TPS (Throttle Position Sensor). So thats not a bad spot to start. I think there is a way to test it detailed in the haynes manual?

 

Ya u use a volt meter take the clip on the tps hook yhe meter up to it turn key to on dont start. Then slowly open ur tb if the numbers go crazy or it dont read its bad but if u get a solid reading all the way to full open ur good should be 3.5 or around that fully open and .6-.8 closed or .60-.80 or 600-800 depends on wut u set the meter to. While slowly slowly opening the throttle to full make sure u get a solid reading. Dont go to fast or it will look like u got a faulty tps

 

Another awesome thread title in the Tech section! LOL

Look in the FAQ/DIY section and download one of the FREE service manuals and get a Haynes manual. The procedure for testing all the sensors are in one or both.