Guys, I just my my truck a week ago, 2004 1500 and in reading the owners manual, I noticed that there was an option for either a 4 or 5 speed auto.I tried e-mailing Dodge to get a build sheet to decode my vin, but they said that the info is not availaible. I think it's only a 4 spd. My Shift pattern is P-R-D-2-1. Funny though because my wifes Sebring is a 4 spd. and hers is P-R-D-3-1. I know this may sound like a stupid question but I'm new to Dodge and this forum seems like the best place for info. Thanks.

 

I think all the hemi trucks came with the 545rfe tranny which is a five speed automatic. but I could be wrong.

 

all hemis came wit 5 speeds. or m anual

 

There is a tag on the left side of the trans. It'll tell which trans.

545 = 5 speed
45 = 4 speed

 

Normally you have 4 forward gears. The 545 is fitted with a 2nd 'prime' (passing gear). When you kick it down, then trans drops to this gear from 3rd or 4th so it doesn't have as far to go. Think of it as a normal 4sp auto with 2 different 2nd gear ratios.

 

Nope - the 545 has 6 different forward gear ratios
1st 3.00:1
2nd: 2.67:1
2nd downshifting 2.5:1
3rd: 1:1
4th 0.75:1
5th 0.67:1

 

then why don't they call it a six speed.

 

My bad, I stand corrected, straight from the FSM:
GEAR RATIOS
The 45RFE gear ratios are:
1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.00:1
2nd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.67:1
2nd Prime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50:1
3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00:1
4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.75:1
Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.00:1
GEAR RATIOS
The 545RFE gear ratios are:
1st . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.00:1
2nd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.67:1
2nd Prime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.50:1
3rd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00:1
4th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.75:1
5th . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.67:1
Reverse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.00:1

 

I thnk i figured it out why they call it a five speed. I'm guessing because just acceleratiing up to speed you don't use second prime at all. is that only whenyou try to pass someone on the heighway and it downshifts?

 

Yeah, 2nd prime is your passing gear only. It comes into play on a downshift, not upshift.

Cuban, if you have a hemi, its a 545.