Transmission Shift Question

[Rambling]

I have a question regarding my transmission on my '03 Ram 1500 4.7L. When driving at highway speeds and climbing slight/moderate hills should the truck not downshift into a in between gear before downshifting into the next lowest gear when it starts to lose speed..? I ask this because I've noticed when climbing such hills that my truck doesn't seem to do this even when I apply more gas to try and get it to downshift. Only after I press the pedal far enough will it actually downshift into the next lowest gear to pick up the speed I've lost.

I'm real curious about this as I would think it should have a in between gear. My car does this very thing when it starts to lose speed and will only downshift into the next lowest gear when the speed drops to much or a hill is to steep. My transmission on my Ram according to my build sheet is the 545RFE transmission. Any insight on this is would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Rambling]

No one have any insight on this..? Just want to know if it's normal or if I need to get it looked at.

 

[usaf2006]

Does your year have the MDS? If so, it could be the lag time from kicking the other 4 cylinders back on and then down shifting.

 

[Harley Harrold]

Does your year have the MDS? If so, it could be the lag time from kicking the other 4 cylinders back on and then down shifting.

MDS wasn't available on the trucks until 2006 model year.

 

[usaf2006]

Ah, wasn't sure

 

[Rambling]

It might be normal I'm not sure. I was only asking because I thought it would be similar to my car where it would kick down a half gear then kick down a full gear if it didn't have enough power to climb a hill.

 

[xb1230]

What you are referring to might also be the Torque Converter Lockup that is not acting up as quickly as it should.

Not versed enough in automatic trannys to really point you in the right direction but if that is the case there could be issues with your TC. If you feel you are having issues with the transmission I would seek out a specialist in your area and have him take a look. Transmission overhaul can be costly so if a simple review can spare you some more expensive work it's probably worth it...

My 2 cents

 

[Egress]

I havent had any issues with the transmission shifting, so I'm not going to be much help with this one.

 

[Rambling]

The truck shifts fine through all the gears nice and smoothly. It's just once it hits O/D that I notice it doesn't seem to have that half gear when climbing slight hills or needing moderate acceleration. It'll just get to the point where I have to push the gas farther or I lose speed before it actually downshifts completely out of O/D. I don't know, maybe it needs a tranny flush/filter change. Could that be it..?

 

[NWRQC]

I think what you're referring to when you say "half gear" is actually the torque converter unlocking and allowing the RPM to rise making it appear that it's going into a "half gear".

What gearing are you running and what size wheel and tire?
When I had my 05 w/3.92 gearing and 35's I would have to manually downshift when towing and pulling a slight grade. It would stay locked in 5th for too long and I would lug until I shifted it or floored it.

 

[justin13703]

I think what you're referring to when you say "half gear" is actually the torque converter unlocking and allowing the RPM to rise making it appear that it's going into a "half gear".

What gearing are you running and what size wheel and tire?
When I had my 05 w/3.92 gearing and 35's I would have to manually downshift when towing and pulling a slight grade. It would stay locked in 5th for too long and I would lug until I shifted it or floored it.

I agree with this. My 08 does the same thing. I think these transmissions once they get the TC locked they like to stay there. I have to give mine a hell of a lot of gas to get it to downshift once the TC is locked in 5th. Almost full throttle

 

[Rambling]

I was mainly asking because I wanted to know if it was normal or if it was something I should of been concerned about. But it appears to be normal from what you guys have said. And I'm running 17" wheels with 265/70 tires. Gearing is 3.55.