1999 Dodge Ram 2WD with a 318 and 42RE transmission. A cooler line blew and all the transmission fluid pumped out while driving. The line was repaired and replaced the fluid.
The transmission doesn't shift till the RPM's get over 4000 sometimes, other times it will shift if you left off the gas. It does not slip and all the gears are working as I have shifted them manually as well as reverse. Any ideas what may be wrong??

 

If it shifts manually I would look at the gov solenoid in the transmission.You probably sucked up some trash when it ran low on atf .About 50bux and you can replace it. If it is the gov solenoid make sure you get the bw replacement its a lil more fluid vol to it. real simple to replace.

 

Check the fluid level with the trans in neutral. In park, you get an inaccurate reading.

 

Check your TV cable. Make sure it's adjusted properly. If it's too tight, it shifts too early. If too loose, it shifts too late (sometimes accompanied by slippage). Vise versa. Just trial and error. And that's IF your truck isn't throwing any error codes. Don't go off replacing things you don't need to replace.

 

Food for thought... if you have a V8, unless there was some sort of custom work done, you don't have a 42RE. All V8s came with 46RE transmissions. Only engine that came with 42RE is the 3.9L V6. That makes no difference for your current problem, I just wanted to point that out.

I second HeyYou's comment. You must check it in Neutral, with the engine running (preferably warmed up). If the fluid level looks good when in Park, that means you are actually quite low on fluid.

Hope you used ATF+4 for your fluid. Anything else will cause issues, either now or in the future (or both).

 

Your right 46RE..Sorry.