I have a 2002 Ram 1500 5.9l 4x4 with I guess the 46RE trans.... While driving at a constant speed 65 or 70 the RPMs fluctuate about 200-300 RPMs up and down up and down. Then it wont do it for a little bit then it will start again. Almost like its in between gears or something? Its pretty rythmic though so I don't know if its the trans slipping or not and it doesn't do it all the time. I don't know if a solenoid is acting up or not. Usually I notice it more when I'm traveling into the wind or its really windy where its harder to keep a constant speed. But if I travel with the wind it doesn't do it...... Its weird. I should probably do a trans service with filter because I have had the truck a year now and I'm not sure when the previous owner had it done. The fluid looks and smells fine.

 

Well one thing about it, servicing the tranny can't hurt if you don't know when it was done last imo.

 

Yeah, thats what I thought. But I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas of what it could be. How many quarts of ATF+4 does it take if I drop the pan and change the filter? Anyone know off hand?

 

Sounds like the torque converter locking and unlocking.

 

If I remember mine took around 7 or 8

 

+1 I agree with that assumption.Turn off the OD and see if it still does it...

 

Entered in error...

 

Dropping th pan is a por way of changing all the fluid. Most of it's in the torque converter. I dunno that it's 7 or 8qts. I was thinking more like 5 or 6 topps. Torque converter holds like 8 or 9qts.

 

I know its not the preferred way to change the fluid but I do not have access to a flush machine and simply flushing it isn't enough. The filter needs changed.

If I took it out of O/D the RPMs would be higher and I'm almost positive it wouldn't do it then..... Its just when its at a steady speed and it will go from about 1800 or so to 2000-2100 rythmically then it will stop and will eventually do it again. On the torque converter... Think that might be the torque converter clutch solenoid?.... Not sure if these trucks have those or not??

 

could it be the torque converter itself?