Drove 45 miles today and it is -10 degrees out (without windchill) and my ram would not shift into 4th. I let it warm up for about 5 minutes, pull out on the interstate and it would not shift into 4th. I recall haveing a transmission technician tell me one time when my dakota's tranny went out that this was because gears 1,2,3 are mechanical with 4th being electronic, and in really cold weatherthese types of transmissions sometimes tend to just stay in the mechanical gears. Is this correct or might i have a problem ?? Its weird though, because yesterday was 0 degrees and i drove the same distance and everything was just fine....

 

any temp below -2deg the tranny locks out OD.. its normal

 

Thank you shott

 

shott8283, is this FACT, or just what you have heard around the block..

I have an 01, and never had this happen untill just this last week..

I also got an engine code of P1740.. and was told, while having the diagnosed.. the converter was shot... as it would not lock up.

Karl

oh, it's an 01, with the 360, 46RE. 4.10 gears

 

You should throw that in the FAQ, its a very common question.

 

This is straight from the 2001 Owners Manual:

NOTE: If the vehicle is started in ambient temperatures of -5F (-21C) or below, the transmission will not shift into Overdrive. Normal Overdrive operation will resume when the ambient temperature has risen to approximately 2F (-17C).

 

Thanks for 2nding that glideman88...glad to hear that its normal !!!