So i just bought a brand new dodge dakota this past friday and today it did something kind of wierd. Its about 35 degrees outside and i drove to get gas then to the store on my way back the transmission was stuck in one gear, I think it was in 3rd( i have a 3.7 Liter v6 w/4 speed automatic transmission). it was like this from when i started it till i eventually pulled over turned the truck off restarted it then itwas fine, before i did this i pulled over and went from park to drive just to make sure i wasnt in 2nd or first. But it wouldnt down shift or upshift at all. I read in the manual that if its extremely cold that the transmission will pick a gear and stay in that gear until it heats up. but it didnt do this as i was driving to the store so im kind of stumped, Any help would be appreciated greatly thanks!

 

Congrats on your new Dakota!

I test drove a new 08 Dakota Ext Cab 4x4 V6 Automatic, it was also around 35 degrees that day, and had no shifting issues.

If you drove it to the gas station without shifting problems, then it was well warmed up on the way back, so I wouldn't think the transmission would pick a gear at that point (although I've never heard of that before). 35 degrees isn't extremely cold, sub-zero is extremely cold!

Definitely take it to the dealer and have it checked out and documented in case you continue to have an issue. However, I'd check the tranny fluid before taking it in, check it after warming it up with the engine running and on level ground. Also, smell the tranny dipstick for any burning odors.

I hope your new Dakota will prove to be a great truck for you, I just sold my 99 Dakota to build up cash for an 08 and now the Finance Mgr says we don't want any car payments. I miss my truck and now I'm jealous of all you Dak owners!

 

That sounds odd. I have an 07 but with the 5 speed and thank god no quirky things yet, but then again it has the lifetime warranty so what the he77. You are right about it not shifting in to OD when its cold, but like ColoRocky said, it has to be way colder then 35. Justhave it looked atand I think you're playing on the safe side. I doubt they will say anything unless they can reproduce the problem.[sm=signs003.gif]

 

went to the dealership nothing happned...put it on the dyno and everything checked computer for bugs it found nothing......so im thinking it could be jsut a hick up in the truck becasue its brand new 1300 miles....it did it one more time since my last post and i drove it for a while to see if it would shift nothing happened turned it off turned it back on and it ran like new. so.....No engine light no record of it in the computer.....i pretty much dont know what to do