Hey guys, I'm new to Dodge and I must say I am impressed... really impressed.
I just picked up a 06' Ram 1500 6 speed and I've got a few questions about it.
Now I am a vintage vw mechanic and my father has been a mechanic his entire life so I know my way around a garage and I've got great advise if im stumped.
I don't know the answers to these questions because I've never really had a need to repair a vehicle newer than 78' though my ol' man took it for a test drive and he said everything is kosher and I'm just being paranoid.

First off when putting the truck into first and second gear I am getting two clicks on the shifter rather than one solid click like 3-6th gear. I thought maybe the shifter needed to be adjusted but a few people told me they clicked twice as more of an assurance that you are in gear for towing. Any ideas?

Second, I just noticed yesterday(I've had the truck about a week) that in 3rd and 4th gear I am hearing a very faint higher pitched rotating noise that I could just barely hear over the exhaust. It only happens when the truck is in gear and is driving. It almost sounds like a U joint but it looked good and only happens in 3rd and 4th. Again.... any ideas? I might be able to get a video of it but its so faint it may not show up on sound.
Thanks for your help guys!
Corey

 

05+ Dakotas have the same transmission, and I know what you're talking about. I attribute it to 1st and 2nd having triple cone synchros. My trans often does the double-click into 1st and 2nd. Especially when cold.

Having the clutch 100% to the floor helps. With such a long pedal travel, I find myself sometimes barely making it to the floor before I'm pushing for the next gear. Sometimes I get a little skip or hitch in the shifter because of it.

As for the whining, my transmission is very very quiet. Compared to a NV4500, it's almost undetectable. The only whine I get is downshifting without double-clutching into 1st. The gears spin up quite a bit and usually whine.

I think it's a great transmission. After 47,000 miles, mine feels as solid as the day I bought it. The NV4500 in my work truck is rubbery and loose after barely 80,000. 6 speeds are huge for moving such a heavy truck with low power and torque.

 

Thanks for the input cramerica.
Glad to know the clicking is nothing to worry about. I try to only push the pedal down to the point to where it gently goes into gear. I've overextended a few pressure plates before in my beetle and its a pain in the dick so I've adapted my driving style.
With a stock pressure plate and the factory pedal adjustment do you think its even a possibility I could overextend the pressure plate pushing it all the way to the floor?

Also the noise coming from the transmission is not a whine at all. Its a very faint rattling noise that sounds like its rotating. Like I said it almost sounds like a U joint rattle but much quieter and only in 3rd and 4th.

Oh I forgot to mention its the 3.7L and its got about 46k miles on it.
Corey

 

If the pressure plate can be damaged by pushing the clutch to the floor, then it's a terrible design. Maybe for a vintage VW it's OK, but for a modern vehicle, I don't worry about it.

Obviously the clutch is disengaged before the pedal hits the floor, but feeling it out through the shifter means more synchro wear.

 

Yea, that's what I thought.
Stock adjustments and stock pressure plate should be fine. I'd imagine if you switched to an aftermarket pressure plate and messed with the adjustments it should be very possible to over extend it if you put the friction point at the top of the pedal.
Anyone else have an clue on the trans noise?
Corey

 

The first thing I noticed from my 03 5speed to my 06 6speed when new was the 3rd and 4th 'wirrrr' or whatever it is, so it is common. But, now that I think of it, haven't noticed it for a long time. Have to listen on way to work...it now has 34k on it.