The 5 spd trans in my 4.7 shifts into overdrive way too early. When I'm easy on the gas it's into overdrive by 35 mph, and then it will shift back down into 4th for a second, then right back into o/d and lug the motor at around 1,300 rpm, staying in o/d. Is this normal? Will the excessive shifting wear out the trans prematurely? I've been keeping it in tow/haul mode around town, which keeps the revs up and stops the gear hunting, but sometimes I forget to put it back in normal mode on the highway, which probably costs me mileage. Just thought I'd see if this is normal operation before I deal with the stealership hassle.

 

My 4.7L 4x4 2007 does the same thing, and I hope it's not normal. It makes driving in ice and slush real "FUN". The last thing you want to have happen while driving on slippery roads is an inadvertant or unwanted shift in the middle of applying light throttle to get up to speed.

I hate it.

--Matt

 

yes, it is quite annoying. Try the tow/haul mode like I did. It stops the problem, but you gotta remember to put the o/d back on once you get up to highway speed.

 

That's what I do as well, but you gotta wonder about wear and tear on the electrical switching etc. doing that for years on end...

Another weird thing mine does is if you are driving at say 45 mph without cruise, and you apply say 500 more RPM's and hold your foot there the RPM's then will drop down steadily. WHAT IS THAT!? Who wants this? Who'd program a throttle to work like this?!


--Matt

 

We can probably thank the pinko folks at the EPA with their crippling CAFE standards and the mindless dolts in the gov't that allow them to continue existing. Has anyone else had this problem and been to the dealer? Could this be attributed to the 3.55 rear end? I've noticed the steady RPM drop under light accel in top gear too....its annoying as hell. I don't take it out of tow/haul until I'm runnin around 50-55, which is almost never.

 

Hey guys i have a 1500 quad cab with a 4.7 and a 3.55 rear end and i have the same annoying problem as you guys. i just seems like the trans is always confused! my friend has a 2004 toyota tundra and i hate import trucks! but i gotta say that trans is rock solid. it shifts instantly and hard and no up and down on the needle when shifting. i've been trying to look for some kind of electronic override you can put to the ecu to controll the shifting like the one they put inside the 08 diesels. now i wish i had that on my truck. its like a automatic sequencial shifter for the driver. its awsome!

 

Yep, it's normal. It's the programming Chrysler designed to extract as much mpg's as possible. To "fix" this, just keep the truck in o/d off mode around town, and don't forget to turn o/d on if you hop on the fwy.

I'd use the o/d off over the tow/haul around town. Tow / haul is better suited when you're climbing long grades to keep the trans from shifting around then, the o/d off is better for around town to keep the trans from shifting into o/d and bogging the crap out of the motor.

 

from the many ram's i have driven it seems like a problem in all of them... best solution, get a manual so you can tell it when you want it to shift and when you don't. but other than that more drastic solution, just learn to play with the o/d off and tow/haul mode.