Why is it my ram wont downshift until one really puts their foot into the gas to create the need, but yet the need is already there beforehand? Basically at lower speed turns the tranny will not down shift from say 3rd gear as i roll onto the gas. The truck obviously needs to downshift to accelerate better but instead is bogged down trying to get going. To fix this I end up pushing the gas pedal until it recognizes the need to downshift and then finally does so.

Is there a true fix, hopefully a cost effective and easy fix, one that wont ruin my tranny? The way it currently shifts really takes the fun out of driving it around town.

 

Probably a tuner would help....

 

All shifts are computer controlled. I don't know if unhooking the battery for awhile to reset the PCM will help or not. It's free and worth a shot.

 

Yeah I get this too. You can sometimes trick it to downshift by pressing the od/off button.

 

With my Diablo tuner you can adjust pedal sensitivity (I think it's still called that) and I can tell you on my truck, with a little engine load and more pedal it will downshift quickly

 

Pressing the O/D button is not "tricking" it - it's a downshift (all the way down to third). I often use that for moderate braking. If I need more, I pull it down to second.

 

My truck seemed sluggish and slow to shift. I knew something was not right because it didn't use to drive that way, and there would be an occasional day that it drove fine. I finally decided to try replacing my MAP sensor this past weekend, and also disconnected the baterry to clear the PCM. So far this has made a profound improvement in the way the truck drives and shifts.

No telling if your issue is similar, but for $40 and 15 minutes of your time, it may be worth a gamble. Also, are you due for a transmission fluid change?