Hi Guys,

Hope you guys can help me figure this out.

I’ve got a ’98 1500 Ram 5.2L, 4WD manual tranny that I’ve had for about 3 years. I wrench on it and my other cars for most minor to medium stuff and I’ve owned a dozen cars over the years and never seen anything like this before.

Few weeks ago I was headed to the parts store and was a few miles from home. Everything was completely normal driving and shifting up to this point when things had warmed up (this will come up again). I’m pulling away from a stop sign in 1st gear and as soon as I get the clutch all the way out, the truck starts bucking like it does when you’re teaching someone to drive a stick and they don’t give it enough gas and they’re almost stalling the engine.

I pushed the clutch back in and the truck is idling fine, try it again and the same thing happens - note that this isn’t me messing up the start. The clutch is all the way out, the engine is pulling and not stalling, but the truck is bucking/surging and kept at it until i pushed in the clutch again. Pulled over, hood up, under truck - engine idling strong, no weird sounds, no signs, no odors.

I try one more time and this time I slip the clutch out more slowly and give it more gas and I feel something catch or slip - or I don’t know what and it goes into gear.

I turn around and head toward home and it gets worse the longer I drive it. It starts doing the bucking thing while at speed after shifting into higher gears unless I slip the clutch slowly and rev it (which is weird to do between 3rd and 4th) and then I feel that slip or catch or whatever it is right before it smooths out. And when I get it home and push the clutch in to the floor, but the engine is slowing like the clutch is half way out and then it releases and idles fine.

Next day (when everything was cool) took it out for a drive but stayed close to home. Everything seemed totally normal for the first few miles then it started happening again and I brought it home.

Haven’t gotten very far in troubleshooting because I’ve never done clutch or tranny work. I know this thing has a hydraulic actuator and the problem does seem to be with engaging or disengaging or both, but I don’t have the cash to just change that out and hope that’s the problem.

The nearest shop is out of driving range so I’d have to have it towed, can anyone help me troubleshoot this. Any ideas. Anything you would suggest I try or test or check?

Thanks ahead of time.

John

 

If it only does it after the engine warms up, try unplugging the front O2 sensor, and see if the problem goes away.

 

Sorry to piggyback this thread but can a bad o2 sensor cause a simular problem on an auto trans? Thanks!

 

Sounds like the clutch is bad. Or at least the throw out bearing has grenaded. Time to drop the trans and get the kit. No biggie. I'm on my third in 260k.

 

Yep. Sure can.

 

Thanks for the quick reply Ramman - Quick question -- If the clutch / throw out bearing is shot does it make sense that it shifts fine for a few miles or about 5 minutes before the symptoms occur? Just want to understand, seems like it would be dead in the water in that case. Also since you've had it done a couple times, how much does the rebuild typically cost?

Thanks again

John

 

Thanks HeyYou. I'll try it.

John

 

Sure. Bad bearing can cause all kinds of shifting issues. Slow engagement, slipping, burning, grinding, etc. There's really no use in trying to diagnose it. A good clutch will work perfectly. Anything not perfect is bad components. You might try the hydraulics route first as the full bled kit is only about 100. If the slave is weak it can cause slipping. But it seems like you have bad pressure plate springs. The clutch job is 3-400 diy or 800+ at a shop.