I just bought a 2000 Ram 5.9 Magnum automatic. The 2 major problems its having are slippage(which someone told me could be a valve body) and first thing in the morning when i throw it in gear it has to set for about 60 seconds before actually engaging in drive or reverse(with full fluid level). After the trans warms up it engages just fine. The trans fluid level drops when its been driven all day, but doesnt drip when its setting, and i havent noticed any wetness or smoke.

 

Is the check valve still in the transmission line?

 

My guess would be "no".

Also, bear in mind, you have to check fluid level in neutral. Checking in park will give an artificially high reading.

What's the fluid look like?

 

Yes i know to check it in neutral. I usually top it off at night, since it goes down over the day only when driven. It doesnt drip or deplete if i dont drive it all day. Either way, it still hesitates to engage when the trans is cold. Rolls through all 5 gears on time.

 

Where do i find that? All of my previous vehicles have been manuals, im new to this automatic thing.

 

How many miles on it. Sitting overnight and then waiting a bit to go into gear sounds like the front pump seal is worn. What this will do is let the fluid in the torque converter seep back into the transmission body. Next time it sits overnight, put it into neutral and wait a moment then go into drive. Neutral will let it pump up right away. If it goes right into gear then, your transmission is worn. I had a car like that and drove it for years before the transmission finally went south.

The slipping, it MIGHT need a band adjustment but I am NOT a transmission specialist. I can put them in, but that's about it.

 

It had 213k miles. Ill try to check that pump seal later. Is that something pretty easy to replace?

 

I would check the fluid level after the truck has been driven, that way you will have a good reading. Transmission would have to come out to replace the pump seal. And you need to stand the transmission up on the tail so you don't misalign your clutches. Then you could hard seals on the clutch pack or a drain back valve at the radiator. I'm also a retired Mopar transmission specialist. With 30 years with the product.

 

You also can get the pressure readings and see what they are.
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