545RFE Problems after Diablo tune

[BULLRAM]

Hello, I have a 2009 Dodge Ram 5.7 with 150,000 miles, the transmission shifted perfectly until a few weeks ago, I knew by the codes that the clutches were gone, I pull a heavy trailer, I had my transmission rebuilt and all was good, I decided to try a Diablo tuner instead of my Superchips, I have never had a problem one with the superchips tuner and I have the trans tune, after putting in the diablo tune with 91 tune I added the throttle sensitivity percent and it woke truck up COMPLETELY, after about a week I was going to try and get on the freeway had it at 40 mph and floored it to get out on the traffic, it went jerk, jerk ,jerk ,jerk--4 times them hits really hard downshift....it seemed like it was slipping, I repeated this MANY times to verify, so I removed the tune altogether and tried it again, it still did it, I took the transmission to the same reputable shop they put a new valve body and solenoid pack put it back together and it still did it, (IT SHIFTS PERFECT IN ANY OTHER WAY ) just not the downshift at 40MPH, they took it back in and took the transmission apart to check it over more closely and found nothing, they ordered and installed a different transmission that was rebuilt ( I saw the new transmission) and now it still does it exactly like before , Jerks 4 times then downshifts hard and it flies-----I am getting it back today and they told me it is doing the same thing, asking if the Diablo could have messed up the ECU , or maybe the tune did not fully get out of the computer ? the tuner is unlocked and I put the stock back in but no one knows what is going on, I am not trying to bash diablo but NO ONE can figure out what is going on with my truck. I am trying to get in contact with Diablo maybe they can tell me what is going on? I apologize this was so long of a post.

 

[HEMIMANN]

Yeah it woke the truck up beyond the duty cycle of the RFE transmission.

I installed Diablo Pulsar, but tow infrequently, knowing the RFE is marginal in stock form.

Not sure what you got going on with all of your various changeouts at high mileage.

Most guys here use HP Tuners today.

 

[Wild one]

Hello, I have a 2009 Dodge Ram 5.7 with 150,000 miles, the transmission shifted perfectly until a few weeks ago, I knew by the codes that the clutches were gone, I pull a heavy trailer, I had my transmission rebuilt and all was good, I decided to try a Diablo tuner instead of my Superchips, I have never had a problem one with the superchips tuner and I have the trans tune, after putting in the diablo tune with 91 tune I added the throttle sensitivity percent and it woke truck up COMPLETELY, after about a week I was going to try and get on the freeway had it at 40 mph and floored it to get out on the traffic, it went jerk, jerk ,jerk ,jerk--4 times them hits really hard downshift....it seemed like it was slipping, I repeated this MANY times to verify, so I removed the tune altogether and tried it again, it still did it, I took the transmission to the same reputable shop they put a new valve body and solenoid pack put it back together and it still did it, (IT SHIFTS PERFECT IN ANY OTHER WAY ) just not the downshift at 40MPH, they took it back in and took the transmission apart to check it over more closely and found nothing, they ordered and installed a different transmission that was rebuilt ( I saw the new transmission) and now it still does it exactly like before , Jerks 4 times then downshifts hard and it flies-----I am getting it back today and they told me it is doing the same thing, asking if the Diablo could have messed up the ECU , or maybe the tune did not fully get out of the computer ? the tuner is unlocked and I put the stock back in but no one knows what is going on, I am not trying to bash diablo but NO ONE can figure out what is going on with my truck. I am trying to get in contact with Diablo maybe they can tell me what is going on? I apologize this was so long of a post.

If you're letting the truck/computor do the downshift,you've probably killed both transmissions yourself. First rule of thumb with the RFE is manually downshift it,before you floor it,if you let the truck/computor do the downshift,you're on borrowed time

 

[HEMIMANN]

Also lock in 4th gear limit when towing.

Even though an OD clutch is still used in some of these gear ratios, both aren't at.the same time. Also use tow shift program that shifts at higher rpm to prevent excessive gear and clutch stress.

If you haven't been doing those things you killed it.

 

[BULLRAM]

no sir THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED....I always downshift with the ERS before doing that, this is a 0 mile transmission that does this, not a high mileage transmission that has problems, at the time I downshifted it w/o the ERS it does this, there is no way if you took a NEW truck that has 20 or so miles would do this with or with our manually downshifting it......and the transmission shop is the one who tried it today, first run on the transmission

 

[HEMIMANN]

Then it's between your shop and Diablo. We wouldn't be able to help you if its not the stock factory transmission.

 

[06 Dodge]

JMHO but if the new transmission was not built to handle the extra output of what the Diablo added then that is part of the problem, a stock 545 are not made to handle an increase in HP/TQ

 

[Sillygoose]

Might need a dealer to flash over anything that the diablo may have left behind. This was an issue on the 3rd gen rams when diablo first came out.

 

[jws123]

Not sure why so many people hate this transmission I like it better then the 8 speed at times lol I had 230k on my ORIG trans never once in my ownership did a trans flush and i beat the living hell out of it hauling boats car trailers ect it ate it up every time no issues maybe i just got lucky then?

 

[crackerjack1957]

Hemifever and Green never got my 65RFE to shift like it was suppose to with the 3k stall & 4:56 gears.
Matt Glad at Petty's Garage uploaded the latest drag tune for it with a Diablo i2 back in 2019 and it has been flawless since.
He now works for MMX

 

[buckeyexx]

Doesn't sound like a transmission issue to me. Sounds like programming to the trans is at fault. I would reflash the back to stock if possible and go from there. Im sure a relearn was done to the tcm when trans shop put new one back in but I would be certain they did. But Im betting its a tune that needs returned back to stock thats the culprit. Good luck

 

[Dusty]

Not sure why so many people hate this transmission I like it better then the 8 speed at times lol I had 230k on my ORIG trans never once in my ownership did a trans flush and i beat the living hell out of it hauling boats car trailers ect it ate it up every time no issues maybe i just got lucky then?

Some people hate it because other people hate it.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 107348 miles.

 

[Tom Davis]

Not sure why so many people hate this transmission I like it better then the 8 speed at times lol I had 230k on my ORIG trans never once in my ownership did a trans flush and i beat the living hell out of it hauling boats car trailers ect it ate it up every time no issues maybe i just got lucky then?

In this case I would say the problems more than likely originated with the tune and not the transmission. But as for problems with the transmission...this is the only one I have seen completely die with less than 75k on it, with all maintenance being kept up to date on the truck.