I just bought a 1996 Ram 2500 4x4 about a month ago. I use it for alot of stop and go runs (delivery driver). Once the transmission heats up to about 210 every couple of days i put it in drive to take off and the motor tachs up like it is in third gear but truck moves really slow. If you put it in neutral and then manually shift to 1 it will go to first. Also I noticed that it loses kickdown, and overdrive when this happens. I ran the on-off-on-off-on test and I got a code 37 which according to my chilton manual states a Torque Converter Lockup (open or closed short) Please any ideas to help me with this????? One other trick to get overdrive back and downshifting back for about one cycle of the gears is to turn key of then back on while driving which I figure can't be good on the engine....... If tranny cools back to cold temp it will begin to shift fine again for a while (maybe an hour maybe a couple of days)

 

Seriously, I would replace the tranny temp sensor. If it doesn't give the proper signal to the PCM/tranny, then the TC will not lock up and the tranny will act weird.

Is 210 degrees a normal running temp for you? I never get above 190-195, even on a blistering summer day.


Anyway, if your tranny temp sensor is factory (10+ years old), I would bet a days wages that it has done it's time.


You may very well have some other internal issue, but that sensor can create chaos.....especially in moderate temp changes.


Fluid is good, level is correct, etc? Filter clean?

Your TC may have done it's time as well. Hopefully not though.




Good luck.

 

Also, if your fluid is 210 degrees, my thoughts are your TC is not locking up at all. Running in first or second gear, or not achieving lockup on the converter would cause high fluid temps.

Again, I hope it just your sensor and maybe a band adjustment.


Good luck.