Hello all,
My name is mike and I'm a new poster.
I just yesterday picked up a 1997 1500 4x4 SLT Lariat pick up. The 360 engine runs fabulous, the transmission is a different story! It feels like it slips when your first taking off, but then grabs good in 2nd,3rd, and over drive. But it does shift erratically while at highway speeds also.
What is REALLY odd is that in 1st gear while its "slipping" it'll burn the tires! What's up with that?!
I have read in the forum of similar problems but not exactly like mine.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have never had one of these automatics opened up, and have not even identified it as an H or an E yet!
Thank you all in advance,
Mike

 

Your trans is a 46re. I've had 2 1997s myself and both have been the 46re.

Is the check valve still intact on the truck? If you start it and let it idle for 30 seconds, then put the truck in drive, does it still act like it's slipping?

What does the fluid look like? How is the fluid level?

 

Thanks for the tip 1997 JollyGreenGiant! I do not know where this check valve is located, or anything really about this trans! It was dark the price was right and the engine is definitely worth what I paid for the whole truck!! I'm gonna check it out today as I played hooky from work to play with it!!!

 

Start searching and reading. Here are a couple of threads to get you going:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...agnostics.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...46rh-46re.html

 

Thank you jkeaton! Those links are going to be very helpful! I'm getting ready to go check things out right now!
The fluid level was low yesterday evening before I drove it home. I added some 7176 to the appropriate level and the issue remained there. This morning I checked fluid, the level was still good, the fluid looks like kinda grayish red in color, but doesn't smell burnt. I'm going now to go check to see if that check valve is in the return line

 

No prob. There is literally tons of information on these transmissions in the sections here. I encourage you to use the search function first before asking any question, because more than likely it has been asked and answered before. Good luck!

 

Say something about this photo





It appears the check valve is still in line doesn't it?





Upon first inspection the return spring didn't have the lever all the way pulled to the front

 

Yes, check valve is still in there. If the fluid has a greyish color to it, that would scare me a little, could you have a bunch of metal shavings in the fluid? I'd drop the pan and see.

After letting it idle in park for 30 seconds after starting the truck is the issue still there? Mine did that but after a fluid change with ATF4 the issue went away.

 

Yes after 30 seconds of idling in park, still there, I too was a bit nervous and plus the fact the trans was1 qt. Low on ATF when I checked the level last night before I drove it. The P.O. Clai.ed it acted like this so CE he bought it 3 years ago?! I'll get a filter kit and 5 or 6 quarts of the recommended ATF and try a change?

 

Yes, that's definitely what I'd do first. Just get the ATF4 at the store, the trans will call for the ATF3, but the 4 supersedes the ATF3 and will do great.

You might look into adjusting your bands while you are in there. I'd also be tempted to install a drain plug on your transmission pan.