Ok, kinda long winded here but wanted to get some other input from other knowledgeable people. Truck is a 2001 4x4 1500 with a 5.9 and an auto tranny with 60k on it now. My wife was driving the truck back from Cleveland to my parents place in Erie Pa last June with about 45k on the truck. Along the way the truck would surge in RPM's according to my what my wife said. Ok, I took the truck out and drove it and didn't do it. I drove the truck for awhile with no issues. Then in August it did it again for me when travelling from my house in Maryland to my parents place in Pa. Well, made note of it and where it did it at. Cruise was set of 70 mph and it was almost like the torque converter was locking and unlocking. Took the truck out of OD and drove it like that and it didn't do it anymore, but once I reengaged the OD it did it again. Stopped put gas in the truck and didn't do it anymore [sm=headbang.gif]. I thought ok this is weird. Anyways thought about taking truck in for service being I have a warranty on it, but I didn't do it because it just seemed to be so hit or miss. Well, I had the rear diff blow up in the truck and had it replaced under warranty, I had a tranny service done by the dealer and I told them what it did do occasionally and to check everything out really good because now is the time to fix it being the whole rearend it torn out of it. Well, everything was good according to them. They checked the bands and all they said and it all seemed to be fine that was 2 months ago. Well, fast forward to this past Tuesday - Friday. Going into work Tuesday (which is a 60 mile one way drive) it started it again but worse than it had ever done it before. Also did it on the way home. Did it again Wednesday, but not thursday. Did it Friday on the way home but not on the way in. WTF!!! I'm thinking it's the torque convertor. Problem is that you have to have it locked up in OD for 20 minutes or so (IE the long drives) for the problem to show up. I tried swapping out the relay for the torque convertor lockup thinking maybe it was overheating and clicking in and out. No dice there. It doesn't matter whether the truck is going up hills or down or on the flat. It just decides to do it. I have an appointment with another dealer Monday to have them look at it but I'm suspecting that they will give it a clean bill of health too. I'm thinking the converter is on it's way out. Anybody else have any ideas?

 

how much is it serging could be as simple as the TPS a 30$ part on the throdle body that tends to go bad and cause serging of 200-300 rpms usally makes pepole think there tranny or tc is going

 

TPS(throttle positioning sensor)on the throttle body.
I prefer the NAPA sensor as it seems to be a sturdier and better built unit. Just two Torx screws holding it in on the driver's side.
An easy DIY.

 

surges 200-300 rpms or so.

 

ok then deffanatley replace the TPS id almost be willing to bet thats the prob kinda susprised the dealer dident think of it wen you told them about it. its a fairley common prob on 2 gen rams

 

Count me in for #3 person saying TPS. If you can unhook one small wiring harness and take out two torx screws your capable of doing this yourself, but then again that is beyond some peoples mechanical skills

 

I would take it to the dealer since it is under warranty. Mention what a few have said about the sensor. Let them do the trial and error. Their dime. Just don't let them BS you. Get it resolved before it's your dime...

 

You may just blow them away if you say yhat you found the problem and that it IS the torque converter kicking in and out.
If it is warranty, then tell them you want it replaced and if it isn't the problem, you'll pay for the part. My truck had @28,000 and it needed replaced, so milage is not an issue.
I was told it is usually a "lightfooted"driver that starts the problem.The contacts wear spots from the accelerator being held in the same spot over and over.
Not a problem with me and definitely not a problem with the wife.
She knocked the MPG in our 03 Neon down to 13

 

I hope my transmission doesnt go out soon =( I'm a starving college kid!!! lol

Seriously though, I've been reading horror stories =( Its been scaring the hell out of me! Lol.

 

id still check out the TPS before the TC #1 its cheaper (not that it matters much cuz its still under warrenty) #2 its the most common cause of serging 200-300 rpms and #3 its easer like Socha_62 sed unplug harness, remove 2 torks bolts, remove old one, put in new one, put back torx bolts, plug it in and go for a drive. id just do it my self if it fixes the problem take the old one with the recipt back to them and say you want some cash