1999 1500 Dodge

 

It doesn't want to.

We need a LOT more information than that.

 

Hi!

I borrow this thread because I have about the same problem.
When I start driving the transmission goes in to 4th gear and as long as I stay over 50 mph (about 80km/h).
If I go under 50 mph and have to get up in speed again or have to drive on small (slower) roads before I can reach highway speed it´s stuck in 3rd gear.
It´s as if when the transmission is at working temperature it fails to engage 4th gear.
The indicator for overheated transmission does not light up but is working.

It´s a 1999 RAM 1500 4X4, 5,2L Auto.

Kind regards//
Micke
Sweden

 

Does the O/D off lite come on?

 

Hi!

No, it does not.
No indication what so ever.

It started a few months ago, when cruising at about 40 - 45 mph it started to shift hard between 3rd/4th.
Now instead (when warm) it shakes rather bad at 35 - 50 mph so I´m afraid that I have a issue with the transmission.

 

Hhhmmm...... shaking at 35-50 may not be the trans at all. Once it starts shaking, if you push the O/D Off button, does the shaking stop? If so, that is an engine miss. (though, it really shouldn't shift into O/D until you hit 45mph......)

How many miles on the truck? Last time the trans was serviced?? Have you had a look down the throttle body yet? Any oil pooling in the intake?

 

Hi!

Thank you for those thoughts!

I´ll have to take it out for a drive and see what it does, and I´ll take a look down the throttle body at the same time.
I hope that the working temperature in the transmission will be cold enough (89F outside today :-)) when I get to the highway.

It has run for almost 110k miles and had a service for 750 miles ago.
I wait for new sparkplugs and then it´s time for a new service.

I´ll be back in a few hours.

Kind regards//
Micke

 

So, that was the testdrive :-(.

I had to drive for about 4 miles to access the nearest highway and I guess it was at working temperature.
The 4th gear would not engage, I tried to manipulate it with the O/D button but no reaction.
Vibrations are really severe at 40 - 50 mph and over that not so much.

I could not see any oil in the intake.

I have read a few articles about this and as I understand it it might be a couple of things that can cause this.
One is the solenoid/temperature sensor for the overdrive within the transmission.
The other problem as I understand it is the shaft that goes in to the overdrive from the gearbox.
The bearing for it can get worn out and the shaft it starts to vibrate and due to the vibrations it leaks
oil internally and can´t hold the pressure so that 4th gear can hold.

This is my first RAM 1500 so I have a very limited experience about this vehicle.

Kind regards//
Micke

 

Don't suppose you have a scanner, that can read trans temp, etc. Do you?

 

I wonder if this shaking they're feeling isn't a failing OD solenoid. Like what the Governor Pressure solenoid does when it fails. That weird shimmy between first and second. Just tossing an idea out there while things are figured out.