Here is the situation and just want opinions here. 97 Ram 1500 5.9L stock. It's my paps truck. When he engages reverse sometimes it takes a few seconds or he has to rev the motor, then it bangs into reverse. After that it engages fine until it is shut off. I checked the fluid in neutral on a level surface, it was fine. No other shifting problems. Any ideas?

 

Is the check valve gone? If it is, that's pretty normal. The check valve was to prevent the torque converter from draining, when the truck was just sitting. If the valve ain't there, then at cold start-up, need to put the trans in neutral for a few seconds to refill the t/c. Either that, or do the Sonax Sure Cure, part of that is modifying the valve body so the t/c will charge in park. (which means you can also check fluid level in park.)

 

Yeah the check valve is still there, and I just noticed that the colder the tranny gets it engages smoothly until it warms up.

 

Try adjusting the bands.

 

I can't adjust the front one. It's a square head bolt and I don't have a socket that fits it.

 

8 point socket. Everyone and their cousin sells them.

 

I tried them, can't get one to fit. I'll have him take it to the garage and I'll just tell them back off 2 turns

 

Well that didn't fix it. The tech tightened both to 72in lbs and I had to argue with him to take it out 2 turns instead of 3. So now they are looking into the issue.