Hi Everyone, need some urgent advice and input.... (This is Insane)

Was backing out today, and just as I was applying brake...stopping to switch to Drive, heard a grind almost sounded like rusty rotors. I pulled forward a bit, got out and found a 3" diameter piece pine branch lying there. We live in the woods, long 1/4" mile gravel driveway, so this is common picking up small branches, etc.

I get 500' down drive, started on an incline and truck stops moving, engine rev's high. I back down the incline and started receiving the "Shift to P then Desired Gear" notification on dash and the Drive selector LED flashing. Looked it up, thought I had a malfunctioning switch or software issue. Disconnected battery to reset 'puter, to no avail.

Start walking all the way back to house and found ATF fluid mixed in gravel a couple hundred yards up. Get under truck and found what is shown in the photos. Speechless. Truck is stuck in driveway 600 yards away.

I'm not a transmission guy at all.

Here are my major questions:

- Engine ran for about (5) minutes before shutting off and found the damage.

- Can/does running the engine without ATF cause harm to trans?

- Can I have the engine running to have someone pull me back to house so that I can steer (long and winding drive). They would be pulling me from behind, my truck moving in reverse.

- Without ATF, by using the gear selector switch, will the trans switch to Neutral? I have no idea what gear it is in now....if it's in Drive, Park, etc.


If it's in Drive or Park now, I am screwed on getting it back to house to perform the repair. It's definitely not in a position to where I can change the pan, etc.

Head swirling and majorly confused right now.

Truck is 2015 Ram 1500 | 4x4 | Big Horn | 5.7L | 8-Speed

I thank you all in advance.





WHY they create a pan that is plastic is beyond me!

 

Punctured the transmission pan. Need to replace that and fill it back up to determine if any more damage was done. Unfortunately, you will need to tow it.

 

Thanks for your response. Can you expand on these questions in my post?

Here are my major questions:

- Engine ran for about (5) minutes before shutting off and found the damage.

- Can/does running the engine without ATF cause harm to trans?

- Can I have the engine running to have someone pull me back to house so that I can steer (long and winding drive). They would be pulling me from behind, my truck moving in reverse.

- Without ATF, by using the gear selector switch, will the trans switch to Neutral? I have no idea what gear it is in now....if it's in Drive, Park, etc.

 

The trans uses the ATF to lubricate everything, so, running it low DOES do damage. You don't wanna do that. I know it's an inconvenient spot, but, you have a choice, change the pan right where it sits, or, haul it back to the house without power steering...... I would NOT run it like that.

 

Absolutely. The pump runs at engine rpm at all times. While the rest of the trans will just cease to function, the pump is lubricated by the very fluid it pumps. Best case you didn't run it long enough to burn it up. Worst case scenario you burned up the pump and pump bits may have gone through the trans. Only one way to find out, which SUCKS because the fluid for these transmissions is EXPENSIVE and no, you cannot cheap out. Best case, you replace the pan/filter, fill it up and see what happens. Worst case, you've spent some serious coin on fluid to no avail AND you have to buy a trans or pay for a rebuild.

No. I mean yeah, if you aren't too concerned about doing more damage.

No, and I can tell you have NEVER read your owner's manual ever because at some point you might have stumbled across this:

 

Ok, thank you. It's completley drained, so that was my question regarding running the motor. As previously stated, motor ran for several minutes before finding the damage. In your professional opinion, motor running it for several minutes, (not driving), should be I be ok?

Won't be able to haul it back, it's definitely in gear, including front transfer case. I rocked it back and forth and had someone confirm they saw the front & rear driveshaft moving.

Question, with it losing all of its ATF and rapidly at that, why or what causes the truck to not allow changing gears or see what gear it is in as shown in the 1st photo?

This was one insane freak accident man, this really sucks.

 

Thank you very much for this input, specifically regarding the pump running at engine RPM at all times. Let's hope for best case as it only ran for about 5 minutes. Yeah, I'm looking at the BLAU Automatic Transmission Fluid Filter Change Kits, not cheap.

That's why I asked the question.


No need to get snarky on this question brother. I was only asking:

That's for if the vehicle is in Park. More than likely it's not in Park.

The truck was in Drive and 4H when the drivetrain stopped. I run it in 4 Auto on the incline every time I leave to lubricate internal components and prevent parts from seizing due to inactivity.

So, I am taking your response as..... with no ATF, the selector switch will not change from drive to neutral, etc.

With it being in Drive & 4 Auto when this happened then the Manual Release would serve this function as well with the transfer case engaged?

And yes, I knew of this function, but not by the manual.

Your time in responding was much appreciated as well.

 

The trans shifts hydraulically, controlled by the electronics, if there is no hydraulic pressure, well, it just ain't gonna do much, and it will stay in the condition it currently is in.

Did it survive though? Only one way to find out. Change the pan, add fluid, see what happens. Best case, you shortened is life some, but, it'll still last a while. Worst case, it's toast, and will require a rebuild/replacement. Only one way to find out.

Yep. It sucks. But, there it is.

 

Correct, it will not. As for the release, I would try it anyway; it won't hurt anything. If it doesn't work and the trans is indeed still in D, then hit your t-case to N (key/pushbutton will need to be set to 'on'). If it isn't instantaneous (I would try it while it's sitting there just to see) then it will once the truck starts rolling. The worst resistance you're gonna get in D is overcoming engine compression.[/QUOTE]

 

Thank you, that's what I needed to know, makes sense on the hydraulic pressure. As stated, I know zero about the trans. Much appreciated!
My gut feeling and faith have me thinking it will be ok once I can get it back to the house and install new once I have everything in hand. Otherwise, it will have to be done where it is, not a good spot for that at all.