Okay so I did something really stupid but caught it early enough I believe before I really did damage. Last week I changed the oil in my truck (1999 dodge ram 1500 5.2L) along with other simple maintenance checks. When I did the change I didn't put the oil cap back onto the valve cover. I drove it all week that week maybe 100 miles? Didn't notice any big changes in the truck till one day I'm driving and the truck all of a sudden was revving up when trying to shift from first to second and second to third. I pulled over checked the truck and that's when I realized my dumb ads forgot to put cap on. The cap was still where I left it in the engine bay. I put the cap back on an drive it. Throughout that Tim of a week I didn't have any oil leaks as if the oil came back up through the top where the cap is. After I put the cap on the truck was back to normal. Now a week later it seems the tranny in temperamental. One day drives fine then the next it still revved up from first to second and second to third. Doesn't it all the time and I can't put a pattern to was causes this. My guess I the tranny depends on vacuum to operate functionally. Now what did I do or what is causing all this in your opinions. Any input is greatly appreciated this is stressing me out bad and I hope I don't need a new tranny. Now the truck has 250,000 miles but the tranny was replaced 3 years at 180,000. I took it to aamco and they couldn't find anything wrong.

 

What year is your truck?

Trans doesn't care about engine vacuum.

Welcome to DF!

 

It's a 1999, 1500

 

Might try changing the solenoid and sensor.

 

Okay so i brought the truck to aamco transmission and they said it was the differential in the rear. Does this make any sense because i dont see how it does. I was still able to drive the truck slighty till i hit stop and go traffic then it would act up.

 

No, that doesn't make any sense. What are they trying to sell you?

 

I guess a new diff, bow i dont call myself a "mechanic" but i know how things work and i know how to do many things on the truck. The guy said the diff is slipping i didnt argue with him on what i thought i just said im taking in somewhere else for a second opinion. He wanted $2300 for a new diff. Now iv experienced bad diffs in axle and when that happens im not able to drive the vehicle at all. Bad diff doesnt explain why im able to drive for an extended amount of time till my rpms start climbing in stop and go traffic. Ill let you know what the other shop has to say. And i appreciate the feedback.

 

Nope, they are trying to scam you. What they are really saying is: "We don't know what's wrong with it, but, we'll sell you this, just to get some money from you."

Diffs don't slip. Not in the sense this guy is talking about. It's all gears in there. If it had the ability to freewheel like this guy is implying, it would make some REALLY rude noises as well.

No, you have a trans problem, not a diff problem. Likely, just changing the electronics in the trans would solve your issue.

 

I haven't changes the govenor or sensor yet in the trans cuz tge two sensors would run me almost $200 not including the filter gasket and fluid. I knew i was eventually going to bring it in so sense in dumping money in it even if its a few hundred dollars. Now the mechanic called me today, he hasnt plugged anything into tranny yet but he took it for a quick drive and said the tranfer case is most likely shot. I have been hearing a whinning noise these last few weeks and just thought that maybe it was trans or diff but i never did anything about it. Now my question is can the transfer case give me issues that im experiencing? As far as the shifting is concerned?

 

No.

Aren't there ANY honest shops in the area? There really is very little to go wrong in the transfer case. The chain stretches, and that's about it. So long as you keep lube in it, it'll outlast the truck..... (aside from the chain.)