I am trying to help out my son. He has a 1997 Ram 1500 4x4 with the 360. He will be driving down the road and it will pop out of gear. If he shifts through neutral, drive, 1st and 2nd and then back into drive it usually works. He just called me and said that its happening more frequently now. I usually help him with his vehicles but I'm not going to be home for another month. Can someone help with possible problems. Any information would be greatly appreciared. If there are any diagrams or pictures that would be great. Thank you.

 

Automatic trans? How many miles on it? When was the last time the filter/fluid was changed? Have the bands ever been adjusted? Is the shifter physically moving, or will it just basically start slipping? Hows the fluid level? How's the color? Smell? What size shoe does he wear? Hat size? What color is the truck?

Welcome to DF!

 

Automatic tranny..172,000 miles..filter/fluid was just changed and everything looked good..it always kicks out of drive into neutral and the shifter moves alittle when it happens. He just bought the truck a month ago and we don't know if any work was done on the tranny.

 

Assuming an automatic, Is the TV cable intact and properly adjusted?

 

Does it make it into Overdrive?

Have him count the shifts. 1-2, 2-3, 3-O/D, TCC lockup. See what is missing. I am wondering if the O/D clutches are smoked......

 

It goes into all the gears P,R,N,D,1,2...He did just tell me that the marker on the dash is slightly off too..and it usually pops out of drive into neutral when he hits a bump...

 

Adjust that linkage as well as the tv cable while you are there. Procedure can be found in the FSM downloadable from the diy section.

 

Check trans and body mounts as well. If one or the other are moving.... that can bump it out of gear.