Ok so I know that the auto trannys in these trucks are crap. I am trying to decide what my next truck is going to be. I have at 97 ram 2500 with the 360 right now. Are the transmissions in the newer style 2500's with the hemi's any better? Are there any aftermarket trannys that are built better?

 

APS Precision makes bullet proof trans for these. Also the trans are not crap when properly maintained. ie fluid changes when recomended and kept very cool.

 

Ok true, but definately a weak point for these trucks. How about the new ones?

 

Yeah, the only problem I've had with mine was self induced. If you can keep the fluid regularly changed and the bands adjusted they should hold up fine.

 

yea iv never had a problem with my trans and it has 130,000 miles on it to maybe im lucky or I just changes the fluids alot.
weird thing is I drive her hard.

 

First this is my first Mopar I have owned EVER. My truck is a stock 2001 4x4 with 5.9l, 46RE transmission and 3.55 gears.

I was driving on the hi way the other day and it seemed like the lock up feature on the converter was slipping or engaging and disengaging. Is this the first sign of the transmission going or the converter going?

Here is what seemed to make it happen. Driving along at a constant speed and very lightly lifting off the gas pedal (or with the cruise on when the cruise tried to reduce speed by lightly lifting the gas pedal) the engine would increase in RPM by about 200-300rpm for a 1/2 second and then drop back down again.

Obivously an unlocked converter will generate more heat which could over heat the transmission, but it is unlocking and locking up again quickly so I don't think heat would be an issue.

Some other questions. How does Dodge control the lock up feature (obivously, electronically but how and under what circumstance is it locked and unlocked)? How is the mechanical end of the lock up feature work? Is the mechanical end of the lock up converter a "clutch" or "brake" type mechanism that can "wear out"? I'm concerned that the constant locking and unlocking will accelerate "wear" in the locking mechanism.

Questions, comment, concerns are greatly appreciated

 

As far as the new ones go, i dont know from personal experience, but i heard they were worse off. I know one guy who has a hemi 4 door and needed a transmission at 52k on the truck. Dodge did replace it though. On another note, my friend has the same truck as me in a 2500, its a 99 with the 360 in it at 88k on it. Just went to dodge for a trans, broke in 2 weeks, they fixed it, got about a month out of it, than it went back and had a 2nd new trans put in it. So far he made it a month with out any new problems lol. I'm goin on 18k now on my rebuild so far. I was wondering if i should change over to synthetic oil in the trans.

 

hmm if its serging it could be your TPS as well

 

97Ram2500- Understandable. You can get the new and I think rebuild trans from www.apsprecision.com You pay for quality and they're expensive but just as much as 2 trans rebuilds. If you do tow alot and beat up your trans this would be a GREAT investment because you will rarely have a problem. They have trans from mild to wild.

boisvenue- HI JACKER!!! Just kidding. It you search for this problem there is TONS of info in it. Most likely though it is your TPS like sugested. Common problem with an easy fix.

 

The key to long transmission life is maintenance. 99% of all car owners DO NOT read their owner's manual. If you read it, you'll see that the fluid and filter should be changed every 24,000 miles along with the bands being adjusted. Adding an external cooler will be even better, because heat helps create wear on parts. The cooler the transmission runs, the longer it will live.

I got smart and am having my dad check with a junkyard buddy of his for a 42RE for me to have as a rebuilder (I'm going to do it myself). Then, I can pull my transmission out and install the new unit with no downtime.