Haul/Tow button use question
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Yeah no TDTIPMO your right, i talked to the technician at dodge and he said all it does is shift a lil later and downshifts
like you said. Who ever said it cancels the 5th gear and uses 2nd prime
instead with towhaul activated is wrong. Thats why i was confused because my truck wouldnt do that but now it makes sense.
like you said. Who ever said it cancels the 5th gear and uses 2nd prime
instead with towhaul activated is wrong. Thats why i was confused because my truck wouldnt do that but now it makes sense.
On vehicles equipped with 4.7L or 5.7L engines, use of
ERS (or TOW/HAUL mode) also enables an additional
underdrive gear [2Prime] which is not normally used during
through-gear accelerations. This additional gear improves
vehicle performance and cooling capability when
towing a trailer on certain grades.
When To Use TOW/HAUL Mode
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission shifting occurs,
press the TOW/HAUL switch. This will improve
performance and reduce the potential for transmission
overheating or failure due to excessive shifting. When
operating in the TOW/HAUL mode, fifth gear is disabled
and 2-3 and 3-4 shift patterns are modified.
Shifts into Overdrive (fourth gear) are allowed during
steady cruise (for improved fuel economy) and automatic
closed-throttle downshifts to third gear are performed
(for improved braking) when driving conditions warrant.
Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 605
Likes: 1
From: Canada
From the owners manual
When
operating in the TOW/HAUL mode, fifth gear is disabled
and 2-3 and 3-4 shift patterns are modified.
Shifts into Overdrive (fourth gear) are allowed during
steady cruise (for improved fuel economy) and automatic
closed-throttle downshifts to third gear are performed
(for improved braking) when driving conditions warrant.
When
operating in the TOW/HAUL mode, fifth gear is disabled
and 2-3 and 3-4 shift patterns are modified.
Shifts into Overdrive (fourth gear) are allowed during
steady cruise (for improved fuel economy) and automatic
closed-throttle downshifts to third gear are performed
(for improved braking) when driving conditions warrant.
I'll have to talk to the technician again and see what he says about this, if he doesn't know how the tranny really works then maybe thats not a good sign for me. They haven't called me in a day so they must have found something wrong hopefully. I'll see how this goes.
Another thing i was wondering is when is the torque converter utilized? Is it for every gear or just 3-4-5?
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
I'm still confused about this.
from my understanding when tow haul is off
Evic (Ratio)
1 (3.00)
2 (1.50)
3 (1.00)
4 (0.75)
5 (0.66)
And when Tow Haul is activated it should be
Evic (Ratio)
1 (3.00)
2 (1.67)
3 (1.50)
4 (1.00)
5 (0.75)
Now i tried this today and went through all the gears manually with tow haul off and ended up at about 1600 rpms at about 60mph. Then i did the same thing with TowHaul on and ended up in 5th gear at the same rpms as without tow haul, only difference i noticed was holding the gear a lil longer, meaning theres no difference between tow haul on and off. And with tow haul on the torque converter still locks and unlocks (about 300 rpm drop) thats when it works.
Second what is the difference with the overdrive and torque converter, isnt the torque converter our overdrive?
I'm just thinking my Tow Haul doesnt work properly and trying to figure this out, ive done alot of towing and i dont think it ever performed right.
My truck is at the dealership because of code p0742 (torque converter clutch selenoid stuck on) This usually happens when towing (long hills or strong headwind) and the torque converter goes on a power trip and locks unlocks and cant decide and eventually just unlocks and stays stuck on like that, then it throws the code and engine light. First time it happened went away on its own but now happens often and have to clear the code then its fine for a bit. But finally had the chance to bring it in see what they say.
from my understanding when tow haul is off
Evic (Ratio)
1 (3.00)
2 (1.50)
3 (1.00)
4 (0.75)
5 (0.66)
And when Tow Haul is activated it should be
Evic (Ratio)
1 (3.00)
2 (1.67)
3 (1.50)
4 (1.00)
5 (0.75)
Now i tried this today and went through all the gears manually with tow haul off and ended up at about 1600 rpms at about 60mph. Then i did the same thing with TowHaul on and ended up in 5th gear at the same rpms as without tow haul, only difference i noticed was holding the gear a lil longer, meaning theres no difference between tow haul on and off. And with tow haul on the torque converter still locks and unlocks (about 300 rpm drop) thats when it works.
Second what is the difference with the overdrive and torque converter, isnt the torque converter our overdrive?
I'm just thinking my Tow Haul doesnt work properly and trying to figure this out, ive done alot of towing and i dont think it ever performed right.
My truck is at the dealership because of code p0742 (torque converter clutch selenoid stuck on) This usually happens when towing (long hills or strong headwind) and the torque converter goes on a power trip and locks unlocks and cant decide and eventually just unlocks and stays stuck on like that, then it throws the code and engine light. First time it happened went away on its own but now happens often and have to clear the code then its fine for a bit. But finally had the chance to bring it in see what they say.
PS The Gear Indicator in the truck numbers them 1-6. If you are showing a 5 you are not in high gear.
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Are you saying that you have seen a "6" on the EVIC display?
Professional
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
Unless you have a large boat, you shouldn't need the Tow/Haul button. We have a 96' 3500 Dodge Ram Dually Diesel that we use to hual a landscape trailer with three mowers. We just recently had to get the tranny rebuilt. The mechanic (family friend) said we had good intentions pressing the TOW button when hualing, but since it was so light for this heavy duty truck, we ruined the tranny. He said if we were hauling stones or dirt then we should press it. Or if we were hauling a car or horse or maybe a big camper. Other than that, we are doing damage to the tranny. He said a good rule of thumb, if the thing your hauling makes the truck squat in the rear then hit the button.
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
How many miles were on that 15 year old Dodge?
Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 605
Likes: 1
From: Canada
I think this qualifies for the tow/haul button. Theres a big difference between a dually and a 1500. But i understand what your saying about the tow haul.
My truck is still in the shop since last friday and havent got a call back so im assuming they found something wrong with the truck. will keep updated.
Record Breaker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
From: Ila Georgia
DodgeRam09. Guy that worked on that 96 3500 full of do do. !996 didn't have TOW/HAUL it had OD on OD OFF. It had a 47RE trans.Thats not tow /haul. You could drive it for years with OD off. It just killed 4th(overdrive) gear is all. Don't use it till the bumper squats LOL thats a new one.