Jusr read bold text if you dont want to read the whole content

Hello all, i have been reading posts for sometime and now and a first time posting a question. So here goes...

2006 Dodge Ram 1500 Mega Cab with 115K miles with AT...love the truck, gas mileage sucks but thats fine. Never seen a CEL since i own the truck.

Felt the transmission is slipping or trying to jump (felt a jerk) yesterday. First time was when i put it in drive (dead stop, was leaving the parking spot) and second time when put in reverse to park. Other than these 2 times never felt that the truck is trying to change the gear and felt a jerk.

A few other times i have felt (leaving the parking spot) that it does not move when put in drive (without giving any gas) and need to press on gas and it moves fine and everything is back to normal.

I found that there is a TSB for this year and mentions changing the 2 filters in the transmission). I bought this truck used, so not sure if this was done. TSB: RFE Transmission Filters - Delayed Engagement And Related Transmission DTC'S

Took it to a transmission shop today they dropped the pan and found metal shavings (see attachments) and confirmed that there is a problem with the transmission. I asked them to put the pan back and came home with the truck. They are asking for $725 to further disassemble, diagnose and inspect the transmission to find out the actual problem. The actual cost to fix the problem (when found) will be on top of the $725.

The guys who checked out the truck today were good and looking at the number of trucks in their shop (getting work done) were doing good and hopefully not going to rip anyone off.

I am in Dallas, TX and wanted to check if this amount ($725) sounds reasonable. I understand that $$ will vary and depends on your location.

Sorry for the long post and thank you in advance.

 

Here is an option. If you take it to them that is most likely just tear removal and tear down time and you are wondering what they will find. The only guarantee will most likely be 90 days or 3000 miles. If you go to a Chrysler dealer and let them install a chryser rebuilt exhange trans the guarantee is 3 yrs or 100,000 miles whatever comes first. If it fails it is under a good warantee and you will not have to fight to get it fixed. Just a thought. The other thing is how honest are these guys. They may tell everyone they have metal in the pan or did they show it to you. Some slight powder material is normal wear. I would take it in to the dealer and ask them to put the proper filters in and change the fluid and drive it before replacing the trans. The issue you complain of is common on these with dirty filters. Give that a try first and if it still has an issue, then look into a chrysler dealer reman trans.

 

Thank you for the quick response John.

They are going to stand behind 12000 miles or 1 year on all the work they are going to do on the transmission.

I am going by online reviews for those guys and they seem good.

Actually i only saw 1 piece of metal shaving in the pan (but that was the first time i ever saw a transmission pan dropped). I have attached 2 pictures to my original post that shows the metal shavings and one picture include the magnet that catches most of the shavings.

I can go to the dealer and get it checked out there as well, good idea.

 

X2 on the filter fluid change.

 

The amount of metal shaving which are very small is typical for 115kmi fluid thats never been changed.
New fluid and filters and keep driving. Should solve the problem.
You have two filters. There is an external filter that looks like an oil filter.

One or both of the filter was probably clogged. Again, typical for such old fluid.

 

Looks for like friction disk material …yes it magnetic.. but its normal if getting any slippage and its not metal from a bearing or hard part. And like Dirty dog said clogged filters would cause it..
if you see coppper shavings worry those are the interal bearing,

 

Cool, thank you dirtydog and rought.

Went to the dealership today and asked them about changing the filters and the fluid. They said they don't change the sump filter that often so need to check if they have it in stock. Will be getting a call tomorrow on the time it will take them to change the filters and fluid plus the cost.

Hopefully it should be done by sometime middle of next week.

As i got the truck when it had 90K on it, i got all the fluids checked out and was told that the transmission fluid looked good at that time (year and a half ago). So guessing the fluid was changed but not the filters.

Thank you once again.

 

sump filter needs changing every 100kmi.

Advance Auto and autozone should carry the kits. I can't believe for all the 545rfe trans that were used and they don't stock them. Just goes to show how little the mechanics like dropping the pans.

 

I would be looking for a new shop. Any shop that tells you that they don't adhere to the service schedule that the manufacturer has set down can't be relied on the do quality work.

Two things kill transmissions, 1 dirty filters and fluid and 2 heat. dirty/clogged filters can cause over heating when the fluid can't circulate properly.

 

Ok, got call from the dealer and they are going to change the 2 filters and fluid for $410. i think they are over charging.

Is it advisable to go to some other shop to get this done or better spend the extra buck and stick to dealership?

At first they quoted me $260 and the called back again and said it is now $410 because the labor to change the sump filter is more work that they expected.

I found another thread here on the forums where the dealer changed only the sump filter for $60. Search for "wix-transmission-filter-change-now-problems-sos"

I don't mind spending $410 if that is the genuine parts + labor cost to do the job.

Please let me know your opinion.