Truck was run for about 30,000 miles without a automatic transmission service. This was right before I got it. about 15,000 miles before I got it the transmission started leaking. It needs about a quart every 2,000 miles. The previous owner thought it was oil when he saw spots on his driveway which turned out to be the transmission fluid. He also thought it was oil because it had the plenum failure and ate oil like crazy. So about 10,000 miles before I got it he lost Overdrive. BTW, he checked the transmission fluid level wrongly and got a false reading of full. So now I get the truck and check the transmission level and realize what's going on. I top the fluid off with ATF-4. I then changed the filter and eventually all new fluid. Overdrive still won't come back. What can I do?

 

Posting multiple threads won't help. Keep in one thread, and clearly explain all your symptoms. Saves a lot of redundancy.

 

What's the transmission's fluid level look like right now?

 

Getting any codes?

 

Fluid level is full and the color looks like it came right out of the bottle. I get a CEL when i go above 2300. I don't know how to pull codes because it's OBD1. I can cruise at 50 MPH turning 2000. I get 15MPG at this speed believe it or not but I would like O/D eventually lol.

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen-dakota-tech/182034-obd-1-codes.html

First post gives the procedure for reading CEL codes on OBD 1 vehicles.

 

Will try this as soon as my plenum is done

 

Just to clarify one thing...When the CEL comes on, i turned the truck off and started it back up and the light went away. Is that normal with OBD1?

 

Depends on what the code is. The PCM will reset codes after so many drive cycles that the condition doesn't occur again.

 

my trans is probably shot. don't matter i'll just put a new one in. only paid $500 for the truck