Hi guys, I have an issue that started tonight and I REALLY need help. I drove the truck off and on all day with no issues. Its a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi 5.7L 4x4. I drove it tonight and turned onto a road with a slight hill. It suddenly started jumping as if it were trying to get into O/D. I let off the gas and it seemed ok. (I used to have a similar problem with an F150). I turned it around to drive home. The more I drove, the worse the problem got. It seemed to be jumping and slipping when going into O/D. So I ended up turning the O/D off. As I drove more, it started happening in the lower gear. The check engine light was on and would start to beep and flash going up hills. The check engine light has been on for a while because of another issue I have. Finally before I got home I would have to pull it down into 2nd to get up a hill. The vibration and "slipping" was so much worse. I am very concerned I am looking at a $3000 bill. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. P.S. - I drive past an Autozone on my way and had them check codes. 2 codes are old ones. I seem to have a broken neck on the gas tank. I cant fill it up completely because where the neck goes into the tank seems to be cracked or something. The Gascap display comes and goes. The other code they pulled was cylinder 7 misfiring. This started to happen at the same time the shifting issues occurred. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

 

How many miles you have on it and have you ever had the trans serviced?

 

Welcome to DF
If you have a misfire on a 5.7L. The most likely cause is a broken valve spring.This will also cause the transmission to go nuts. Fix the misfire problem first and then go from there.

 

Just turned about 72k. I have never had it serviced. I bought it used in 2008 with about 35k on it. I had noticed that it seemed to be shaking a bit going into O/D but figured it was my imagination cause my F150 had done that for years and I knew how to get around it driving.

 

Master tech, I am kind of old school. When you say valve spring I am thinking head. That isnt making me much happier. Is that a DYI job? I did get on it this afternoon. The problem didnt occur til much later though.

 

Its been sitting for about 3 or 4 hours now and is cooled down. I went back and cranked it and it is still idling rough. So I guess it is still misfiring. I was hoping something got wet. How can I tell for sure its a valve spring? could there be anything else? Thanks for the info.

 

If you have compress air either at home or in a shop, the spring can be replace with pulling the head.But you will need the tools, that dodge uses to do the job. Let me know if you need the part numbers for the tools thats needed.

 

Yes, I am afraid I will need the numbers. Any idea how much and how long this will take? I do have a compressor and most all general tools I need.

 

Do a search on here about 5.7 springs and you will find a lot of info about their replacement.
You can buy a special tool from a guy called "dragginaccord" I think his name is, for around $80 or so.
It's a specifically designed valve spring compressing tool, that a lot of people on here have used to remove the 5.7 springs when they either replace them as it's a common issue unfortunatley so they upgrade to 6.1 exhaust springs and push rods, or just replace the damaged spring.
You WILL need to check the top of your piston with a "boroscope" to look inside the cylinder, if you opt to not remove the head.
An unfortunate problem that can and very often happens when a spring lets go, is the top of the piston and head can be damaged along with a bent valve.
I have known people get away with no damage at all except the snapped spring. A guy on here recently did just that. HE replaced his spring and then went the wholer hog and replaced the lot with the 6.1 upgrade as he didn't want to leave things to chance again. I do hope this is whats happened to you.
A lot of checks are therefore needed and if your not a competent mech, I'd suggest you get somebody who is.
Al.

 

Thanks abarmby, I will will do the search. I have rebuilt many engines back when they were called 350's, 302's and 318's. That was a while back. I will slowly take a look and gauge whether or not I want to get into it. I may have more questions as this goes on. I am hoping to get it done quickly as I will need this truck soon. My only other question is, before I start taking this apart, it sounds like this is a common problem. Are there other things i need to check before hand to see if it may be a more simple issue? Thanks for all your help.