Stupid torque converter clutch
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 422
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
I have the light notification but I can feel it on mine. Since I put the Mufflex on, I can hear it now. My 07 didn't have a light but you could feel it kick in and out. 3.92 rear end on both trucks. I've read somewhere on here that it is not noticeable with the 3.55 and 3.21.
Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 731
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
I have the light notification but I can feel it on mine. Since I put the Mufflex on, I can hear it now. My 07 didn't have a light but you could feel it kick in and out. 3.92 rear end on both trucks. I've read somewhere on here that it is not noticeable with the 3.55 and 3.21.
Champion
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,563
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
After reading my owners manual (Section 5, page 313), I figured out why my tranny feels like crap when driving around town. Apparently Dodge engineered a clutch in the torque converter to "help fuel economy". It basically locks your tranny in 4th or 5th gear and prevents it from downshifting. When you come to a complete stop, the clutch disengages and the tranny will shift normally through the gear range. I personally hate the way the truck suddenly feels heavy, unresponsive and bogged down when driving in town under 40 MPH. WTF were the Dodge boys thinking, who wants to drive around stuck in 5th gear. I literally have to stomp on the gas to force the tranny to downshift. I am really disappointed with all the stupid "fuel saving" tactics the green weenies have engineered into such a high performance truck. I did not buy this truck for fuel economy. If I wanted to save gas, I would have bought a Honda. Using 5w-20 oil on a monster V8 was unheard off a few years ago. Now it turns out Dodge electronically tied one arm behind the trannys back to save gas. Don't get me started on the wimpy shift from 1st to 2nd at WOT either. I drove around town in my friends 08 Tundra, and was really impressed with the 6 speed tranny/V8/rear gear combo. Toyota at least nailed the drive train down and did it right. I still love my Ram, but there is a bunch of room for improvement. If the aftermarket power performance programmer guys are listening, please make a tuner that will disable this feature and give the tranny its ***** back!!
Professional
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 122
Likes: 1
diablosport programmers are going to fix all this for us (I HOPE) besides dodges were made to run at 2 speeds idle and wot. As far as our truck performing like a truck and not a sports car. My only comment is if you can figure out how to pack 10 desktop computers and monitors (and a 4 wheeler on occasion) in a sports car i will buy one tomorrow 
Lee
Lee
Amateur
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Ok, it happened again yesterday and I paid real close attention to what to what was going on. I was driving in town doing 35 to 45 mph and I slowed down to turn into my subdivision, my mph dropped to 13 to 15 mph when I turned (did not make a complete stop). When I accelerated into my neighborhood, the truck felt like it lacked power and had the parking brake on. I have the shifter on the steering column, when I tap the - button on the shifter one time, the truck indicates what gear you are currently in, in that moment I was in 4th gear. I progressively gave the truck gas and it refused to downshift, until the gas pedal is near WOT. I tried pressing the tow/haul switch and it did not affect the condition. I tapped the -/+ button on the shifter and manually dropped into 3rd gear, much better. In my opinion, when my speed drops to under 20mph the truck should be shifting into 2nd or 3rd. You guys tell me, what would cause the tranny to stay stuck in a high gear and not downshift? I'll be taking in my truck to the dealer Monday I'll keep you posted.
Unless I am missing something in your description you put the truck in manual mode to see the gear so thats what kept it in high gear. You are trying to accelerate in 4th gear from 13 mph. While in manual mode it won't automatically down shift except as you said at WOT.
Disconnect the battery to reset the computer and try different scenarios in Drive.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Torque Converter issues
After having my 2009 Ram 1500 Quad cab for 64,000 relatively trouble free miles I had the same issue come up. Returning from Wisconsin I had my check engine light come on and my trans would not go into "fuel saver mode". Drove the truck for 3 more hours with no further issues. I then called local dealer (crown dodge in Chattanooga) and told them what my issue was. Took truck in Tuesday afternoon and waited. Wednesday got a call from service manager and he stated "the transmission had suffered a catastrophic failure" and it was good thing I had a power train warranty. Bad news is that they would cover some items but I would be on hook for $1150.00. I told them I would be right over to discuss this. In the meantime, I had called two other dealers and told them what dealer here had told me. Both said they had "reservations" and both also said something wasn't quite right. After getting to dealer, they now where back pedaling and stated that the torque converter had failed and had littered my transmission with metal particles. They would fix the torque converter but since they had no way of flushing trans cooler, I would be on hook for a new cooler plus labor and the updates would cost another $150.00 (after calling Hayes in Atlanta they told me updates should be no charge since they were an emission situation. So Now I have them telling me a lie-I don't know if a can truct them do even touch my truck which as stated earlier, has given me 3 years and 64,000+ of trouble free driving. I had no vibration with MDS system-I love mine-got over 20mpg going to Missouri at 75MPH. After reading this thread, I don't know if I want them to even try and fix it-anyone have good luck after changing clutch and/or entire torque converter?
Banned
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,770
Likes: 1
After having my 2009 Ram 1500 Quad cab for 64,000 relatively trouble free miles I had the same issue come up. Returning from Wisconsin I had my check engine light come on and my trans would not go into "fuel saver mode". Drove the truck for 3 more hours with no further issues. I then called local dealer (crown dodge in Chattanooga) and told them what my issue was. Took truck in Tuesday afternoon and waited. Wednesday got a call from service manager and he stated "the transmission had suffered a catastrophic failure" and it was good thing I had a power train warranty. Bad news is that they would cover some items but I would be on hook for $1150.00. I told them I would be right over to discuss this. In the meantime, I had called two other dealers and told them what dealer here had told me. Both said they had "reservations" and both also said something wasn't quite right. After getting to dealer, they now where back pedaling and stated that the torque converter had failed and had littered my transmission with metal particles. They would fix the torque converter but since they had no way of flushing trans cooler, I would be on hook for a new cooler plus labor and the updates would cost another $150.00 (after calling Hayes in Atlanta they told me updates should be no charge since they were an emission situation. So Now I have them telling me a lie-I don't know if a can truct them do even touch my truck which as stated earlier, has given me 3 years and 64,000+ of trouble free driving. I had no vibration with MDS system-I love mine-got over 20mpg going to Missouri at 75MPH. After reading this thread, I don't know if I want them to even try and fix it-anyone have good luck after changing clutch and/or entire torque converter?
MBJ, you shouldnt even be paying a single dime on this repair, that transmission problem is under 100% warranty...! And HELL NO i wouldnt let them touch the truck for the simple reason, they dont have the proper tools to EVEN flush the trans cooler...!
And who ever does work on it for you, make sure you get the latest updated torque convertor...!!!!!
The first ones had issues with the turbine shaft being loose fit and rattles horribly.
From what i understand now is, they`re press fit so they dont rattle.
Last edited by LU229; Jul 10, 2013 at 11:58 PM.
Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 626
Likes: 1
From: Colorado Springs
After having my 2009 Ram 1500 Quad cab for 64,000 relatively trouble free miles I had the same issue come up. Returning from Wisconsin I had my check engine light come on and my trans would not go into "fuel saver mode". Drove the truck for 3 more hours with no further issues. I then called local dealer (crown dodge in Chattanooga) and told them what my issue was. Took truck in Tuesday afternoon and waited. Wednesday got a call from service manager and he stated "the transmission had suffered a catastrophic failure" and it was good thing I had a power train warranty. Bad news is that they would cover some items but I would be on hook for $1150.00. I told them I would be right over to discuss this. In the meantime, I had called two other dealers and told them what dealer here had told me. Both said they had "reservations" and both also said something wasn't quite right. After getting to dealer, they now where back pedaling and stated that the torque converter had failed and had littered my transmission with metal particles. They would fix the torque converter but since they had no way of flushing trans cooler, I would be on hook for a new cooler plus labor and the updates would cost another $150.00 (after calling Hayes in Atlanta they told me updates should be no charge since they were an emission situation. So Now I have them telling me a lie-I don't know if a can truct them do even touch my truck which as stated earlier, has given me 3 years and 64,000+ of trouble free driving. I had no vibration with MDS system-I love mine-got over 20mpg going to Missouri at 75MPH. After reading this thread, I don't know if I want them to even try and fix it-anyone have good luck after changing clutch and/or entire torque converter?
At about 38K my transmission went, it was throwing (2) codes and shifting hard from 2 to 3 if I recall correctly. The dealer told me it just needed a "reflash". On the way home from that reflash the transmission went into limp mode. They ended up doing a rebuild on the transmission and installing an upgraded torque converter while they were in there. The dealer treated me fairly on the work, my total cost was 0$ as it was completely covered under the 2009 lifetime warranty. No charge for fluids, materials, *nothing*. I would RUN from the dealer wanting to charge you for the transmission work. So far my transmission is purring along perfectly. LU229 is absolutely correct on your transmission warranty coverage.
Last edited by HEMI_ROM; Jul 11, 2013 at 12:37 AM.