Just bought a brand new 2005 1500 Quad Cab - 4.7L with 6 speed manual. (3.92 rear end with 20" factory wheels if that matters..) Truck is GREAT except tranny shifts very rough (notchy) from 1st to 2nd. Doesn't really "grind" from 1st to 2nd but shifts s-l-o-w due to being notchy. Truck/tranny hot vs. cold makes no difference. Also no difference if I "wind up" 1st before shifting to 2nd or if I don't. All other gears shift ok... (Reverse is hard to get into, but, I expect that is normal (/??) as they don't want you dumping into reverse by accident when you are looking to go into 6th). Truck only has 400 miles on it. Had the dealer "shop foreman" look at it. Said "this is the way it is".. and "put some miles on it and then come back and see me.." He DID check the fluid level and said it was full from the factory. I've driven manuals all my life.. Sure, I know this is a truck tranny, but I expect it to be a little smoother?? I know this is a long post,but, I wanted to cover all the bases..I also know this is a brand new tranny for Dodge.. SO, my questions are:

1. Anyone else have this rough shifting 1st to 2nd problem?
2. Will this really get better once the tranny "breaks in" or is that standard dealer bs?
3. Anyone else find reverse really hard to get into??

Really appreciate any feedback!!!

 

I have read at least two other post complaining about rough shifting with the new 6 speed Getrag, such as this comment from a guy who works as a tester for a DC supplier:

"I've driven a couple of these prototype trucks, worked on them developing clutch parts, and the new tranny in the 2500/3500 Ram is a Mercedes Benz unit.
You are correct in that at this point the 1500 will get the 6 speed Getrag, which I have not driven yet in the 1500, but we have had a couple Dakotas with it in them, and it is a sorry excuse for a tranny. It's notchy, noisy, has a long throw, and according to some of our engineers, it has a few NVH problems (obviously). The NV 3500 was MUCH nicer, smoother, and quieter.
That's my opinion."
http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/show...ghlight=Getrag

Once you are out of warranty issues,
you might try one of the Moly Disulfide additives,
like:

http://www.molyslip.com/Products/MolySlipG.html

which usually help shift smoothness safely.

So much for the advertising hype:

"Getrag 238 Six-Speed Manual Transmission
The Getrag 238, six-speed overdrive manual transmission
is standard on all Ram and Dakota models. However,
it is not available with the 4.7-liter High Output engine.
The Getrag 238 offers a lower first gear ratio than its
predecessor to improve launch feel and low-speed
acceleration.....
For smooth easy shifting, the transmission features triplecone
synchronizers on first and second gears and
double-cone synchronizers on third and fourth gears.
Multiple-cone synchronizers ensure the gears will engage
smoothly and quickly, during both upshifts and
downshifts, with nominal effort."

Sounds like they needed to continue the triple cones to the upper gears.
http://www.newdodgeorderform.com/My_Homepage_Files/Download/Truck_Drivelines2005%20(1).pdf

 

what type of manual transmission came with the 02 1500s? Mine shifts alright but there is a big drop in gears from 2nd to 3rd. Once in 3rd my acceleration sucks.

 

I think they were still using the New Venture trannies in them.

 

Thanks for the feedback so far on the rough shifting.. Looking for more input before I figure out what to do next.. Regarding the drop in gears/acceleration.. I don't have that problem at all.. I will say this new 6-speed tranny DOES have close ratios and it feels like it.. I think the combination of the 6-speed manual with the close ratios coupled with the 3.92 rear end and the 20" factory wheels keeps the RPMs up in the sweet spot (2000-3000 RPM) throughout most of my normal driving.. I originally thought I'd only use 5th ad 6th only for highway, but, the way this truck is geared, I use them around town too..

 

I have the getrag in mine also, and it has loosened up some since I recieved it. I had an interesting thing happen when I took the truck in for the cap. The guy that put it on asked for the keys so he could pull it into the shop to tape and mount the cap, a few minutes later he came back in, along with his brother, both couldn't figure out how to get reverse.
The shift pattern is clearly on the shift ****---strong detent spring!!! So I ended up pulling it in for them---we all had a good laugh about it.

 

This is my first six speed manual.. I guess I'm GLAD reverse is hard to get into, given its location "down and to the right of 6th.." It would only take one "trip" into reverse from 5th to turn my rough shifting tranny into a bucket of bolts.. I sort of had the same experience with the shop manager who looked at my truck.. It took him 3 or 4 tries to get into reverse... Well, the truck is brand new, and I have the 3/36 bumper to bumper warranty so I'll just enjoy it for now and see if it loosens up..

 

Now that is REALLY STRANGE. Mine is all the way to the left and down, next to 2nd gear
I wonder if its a different tranny setup for the 3/4 ton versus the 1/2 ton, or the difference in engines, the 4.7 versus the 5.7.

Can anyone out there answer this?????

 

I THINK the Getrag 238 is only for the half ton trucks and the Dakota. If you look at page 13 of the last URL referenced by HankL in this thread, you will see the paragraph below stating that your truck has a G-56 tranny.. (I'm not sure who makes the G-56)..

G-56 Six Speed Manual Transmission
At the mid-year mark the DaimlerChrysler CVD G-56
manual transmission will replace the NV5600 on RAM
2500/3500 when powered with the 5.9-liter Cummins 600
Turbo Diesel engine. The G-56 six-speed manual
transmission will also replace the five-speed NV4500 on
Ram 2500/3500 when powered with the 5.7-liter
HEMI V8 engine.

Also, some new info here (and I'm not sure what to make of it..).. What I have found over the last week or so of driving my truck is that it is SMOOTHER (waaaay less "notchy") when I downshift from 3rd to 2nd as compared to upshifting from 1st to 2nd which is rough/notchy... I'm not a mechanic, but, this puzzles me.. IF this is a synchronizer issue, I always thought synchros were MORE involved in downshifting compared to upshifting.. I welcome any thoughts.. If I can find the time, I may go try to find another 2005 on the dealer lot with the 4.7L and the 6-speed manual to see how it/they shift compared to mine.. (and I know I better hurry!). Thanks again to all!

P.S. I'm really impressed with this forum.. Most if not all of the hundreds of threads I've read in the "3rd Gen" forum are answered with folks that do care and are responsible "forum folks".. Such a welcome change compared to other forums!

 

Thankyou very much,

You are right, it is the G-56 Tranny, with an nv271 transfer----I feel sooooooooooo stupid!

I checked the recommended lubes for these and it is still the ATF+4. I'd rather go to NEO synthetic but I don't know if the seals and such are compatible