Hi, I have a 1995 Ram 1500 4X4 with auto transmission. The engine dies down when you put it in drive or reverse. Do you think I could have a problem in the transfer case? I removed the axle disconnect and freed it up. It was frozen with mud, from 4 wheeling before I got the truck. The trans. worked before I moved the transfer case shifter. I'm out of idea's as to what is wrong. Thanks a lot!!! for any help!

 

Did you move the transfer case shifter back to where it was when the truck still moved? I'll be you have the transfer case in neutral and that is why it won't go anywhere. If that isn't the problem have you checked the fluid in the transmission? You need to let the tranny warm up then move the shifter thru the gears and then bring it back to neutral. With the engine running get out and check your tranny fluid level.

 

Does the truck still engage in gear and then die ?
If Yes-torque convertor failure is my guess . I can only describe it like holding the brake , and popping the clutch on a manual trans .

Before jumping to conclusions , I'd check the wiring connections first given the mud play

 

I check the fluid and it was over full by 1 gallon. I tried the gears after taking out 1 gallon of ATF + 4 . I moved the transfer case shifter to all the gears with no luck. It only drops by 50RPMS when I put the trans. in drive or reverse. It still wont move.

 

Does it even try to move?

 

No the truck doesn't even try and move at all!

 

Time for a new trans.

 

Sounds like the trans is junk. If I read that correctly, it was working, until you shifted the transfer case, and now it wont move? If that is the case, there is a chance that the range fork in your T-case is worn out/broken and the ring gear that is supposed to engage one of the ranges is just free floating in between. Happened to me in my Dakota while going down the highway. Thought my trans junked out, but it was a $68 aluminum range fork in the T-case. Might check it out before buying a new transmission. Much cheaper.

 

If the transfer case were stuck in neutral, the transmission would still be outputting, correct? Is it possible to drop the transfer case and observe for transmission output? I haven't played w/ transfer case/transmission before, so I don't actually know this. I'm just wondering if that's something OP could do to test for t-case/trans issue. Is there an easier way?

 

You *can*.... but, it will be extremely messy, right quick. LOTS of fluid will come out if you run it without the t-case. I would suggest two people for that, one to sit in the truck, and one to watch, so, if the guy on the ground starts screaming SHUT IT OFF! SHUT IT OFF! There will be someone right there to do so.

With the truck in park, and t-case in some drive gear, will the truck move if you push it?