Hey all,

One thing I've always wondered about with my truck is why is the transmission so reluctant to go into high (O/D) gear? For example when cruising on a flat section of road it will not upshift into high gear until about 75 kph (50ish mph). Also, (and this makes no sense to me at all) when I disable O/D and cruising at 60 kph, the transmission will actually drop from 1800/2000 to 1500 under normal driving conditions. Can someone educate me on this? The truck has been like this ever since I have had it (4 years) and there are no noticeable noises, burnt trans fluid or anything. In fact, it seems totally normal. A friend (who drives a chev 1500) was asking me the other day why my rpms are always around 1800 -2000 so I am finally asking the minds here at DF. Can anyone tell me what the shift points should be on my truck? It is a 2003 QC SB with the 5.7 - no mods.

Thanks,

Glenn

 

No takers?

Oh well had to bump!

 

There are actually 2 overdrive gears, so when you say your "waiting forever" for it to shift into overdrive, that's because it's in 4th already(which is an overdrive) and the programming is delayed because if it shifts into the 2nd O/D too soon(5th), then you'll be lugging the motor with any throttle pressure. It's pretty standard to have a delay. If the Ram shifted into 5th immediately upon getting onb the highway, I think I would turn it off. My truck rarely ever sees 5th gear.

With O/D off and you feel the truck shift or drop in rpms...That's the torque converter locking.

 

Ok so after doing some more digging I have found out that there were 2 transmissions available for these trucks - the 45RFE and the 5-45RFE, the latter having an extra O/D gear. Maybe I have the 45RFE. I will check this afternoon.

 

I'm pretty sure all Hemi's had the 545rfe, the 5.9L had the 45rfe because the tranny swap was right around mid 2002??

 

Thanks Dog. Well I guess that makes sense. it just seems strange to me that other trucks I have driven in seem to upshift quicker and mine loves to be between 1800 to 2000 rpms, especially when below operating temp. So I guess what I am describing is normal then?

 

Yep, 50mph before 5th is quite normal.