Going from a standard to a 03 auto is a bit of a disappointment. The trans options now being offered by tuners does not apply to the 03. However we can do the TMR mod which really tightens things up. One of the inputs the TCM has is the TPS, so do a reboot to the PCM which will also clear the TCM memory and then do a TPS calibration and the PCM/TCM will relearn your driving style and hopefully suit you better. If you really want to enjoy your truck I suggest a gear change. The general rule is 33" and taller tires use 4:56. Less than 33 use 4:10. When it came to gear strategy Dodge clearly got it wrong with the truck. OBTW, you can't lug an engine with a automatic trans, the TC won't allow it. Good luck...

 

I have the 545RFE, and it does this. It is quiet the irritation, and is always there to **** me off when I actually feel like driving like a civilized human being and not an ***. Its almost like driving a manual and being in 5th gear at 35 mph.

 

Looks normal to me. The factory shifting is meant to improve fuel economy, even though it doesn't seem that way. I say this because I watch the fuel flow in my truck regularly and the changes in it between shifts. Odd as it seems, the tranny is set to short shift, as it were, in an effort to reduce fuel consumption. True, this is not good for acceleration. I have noticed I can get the tranny to shift into 3rd/drive at about 22mph, and it will hit 4th/1OD shortly thereafter...and I can get over 20 mpg if the road is pretty flat...at that speed.
If you run a Superchips 87 tune, it raises the 5th/2OD shiftpoint to 45mph. 3rd and 4th seem unchanged.

 

I was always under the impression that it is not good to ever lug the engine in a manual, yet the factory sets my auto to lug the engine. Its ironic.

 

This "lugging idea" that I thought was in my head too is real noticeable now after the Torque converter install (feels like a quick slip and grab 3-4 times then disapears (35-45 MPH)). As OlDirty said I beleive the cure in my case will be when I do my Gears (4:56) as the 3:55's are a dogs **** unless you wanna flip your truck at highspeed on the Highway.

Silvernos: Answered your PM, and then read this thread again...LOL.

 

The only problem with the 4:56 change is RPM's will change alot on the highway... unless you plan on dragN the truck i would not change it
03moparamman

 

Out of all who have done gear changes I have only heard of one 2nd hand report that this one person didn't like the change and it was said he was running 35's, so I really doubt if that report was correct. If you go through the many threads reporting on gear changes you will find many say they get better MPG then with the stock gears. If you want to enjoy your truck's potential it requires you do a gear change. Dodge just plain got it wrong. I have 30" tires with a 4:10 and wish I had gone with the 4:56 gear and will probbly change them again in the future.

 

No complaint here with my 456s and 36s