I've got a 98 Ram 1500 4wd with the 318 and auto tranny. It's got 137K miles on it. I got it for cheap and have replaced some sensors, tune up, tires, and some maintenance things the PO hadn't done. I've had GMC's and Fords and liked them fine, but I love this Ram.

Last night on the highway at about 75 mph the truck drops out of OD, and a minute later the tranny light comes on. I pull over and let it cool down for 20 mins. I drive off and I have OD on and no tranny light but within 5 mins of highway speeds the OD's off and the tranny light's on again. I get it towed home hoping it just needs a filter and new fluid, maybe delete check valve, but I won't have time to do that till mid week. Today, like a dumb ***, I decide to drive it around town a little to see if it happens again thinking it might help me diagnose things better. Shifted fine, except I couldn't switch out of OD using the button on the shifter. I decide to do a couple miles on the highway and as soon as I am away from civilization the tranny freaked out on me. lol Figures. I got no OD light or tranny temp light, no CEL. It just wouldn't shift up unless it mashed on the gas, but then It shifts up to 3rd, then slips. I got towed home again. Thanks AAA Plus.

I'm still hopeful new fluid and filter will solve this, maybe check valve delete, but I am probably dreaming. I'm thinking torque converter committed suicide, and from what I've read that means bad news for the tranny. Fluid is up to level and is red. It doesn't really smell badly burnt, but does smell a little toasty.

Should I bother dropping the pan and doing fluid and filter just to see if it helps, or just start buy some butt lube and start looking for a decent tranny shop? If i went with a rebuild it would have to be cheap. That or a used tranny, but I don't like the odds on a used tranny.

What do you guys think?

 

No such thing as a cheap rebuild. Probably what happened is the check valve clogged, and the trans got hot..... heat KILLS trannies right quick. You can try doing the fluid and filter change, along with a band adjustment, and take the opportunity to have a look and see what's in the pan.... if you find a bunch of metal shavings, get some K-Y jelly, as yer gonna need it.....

Used trans would be cheaper, but, keep in mind, its exactly that, a used trans. You have no clue how long it will last. If you go this route, be sure to still get rid of the check valve, and flush all the lines REALLY well.

 

If you can get a used trans cheap, I know my local trans shop charged me 160 to do a full service on my truck. They inspected everything that they could, adjusted the bands, flushed the whole trans, changed the filter and fluid. If my trans was bad, I would get a used one from a wreaked one in a junkyard and have it inspected.

 

The only problem is that it is highly recommended NOT to have these tranny flushed.

 

I would never have any Trans flushed, all the sediment crap gets to areas it shouldn't.
I prefer the Transfusion meathod.

 

I faced the same dilema recently. Used transmission=unknown remaining life. Dropping pan yourself if you don't know transmissions = trial and error. You may just have to find a good trans shop and hope your *** isn't too sore afterwards.

 

Thanks for the replies. Yeah I am not feeling warm and fuzzy about a used junkyard tranny. I won't know more until I get some prices from around my area on a rebuild, and then get it checked to see what is really needed.

maybe I'll get a Christmas miracle.

 

I had the same problem and it was just the torque converter. It is about a 600 dollar job to get that replaced. THey usually replace the gov solenoid as well.

When the TC does not lockup, it will get very hot. So you could pay for a rebuild and just need the converter.

If you replace the fluid and adjust the bands, you will still fry your tranny with a bad TC.

 

The guy at the tranny shop said that too about the converter heating things up when it goes south. Man I can't wait to find out. lol

Talking about converters, if I have a choice, what's the opinion on a good stall speed? I don't tow more than a lawnmower trailer. I mostly use the truck as a daily driver.

 

For a truck, 1600-1900 I should think. You don't want a really high stall speed.