UPDATED - Failed Tranny 2.0

mtofell · Feb 1, 2020

Well, 1 month to the day I finally got my truck back from the 2nd rebuild. Drove it home and all seems to be good.... or, at least as good as this tranny ever can be.

It's kind of funny when you get in a 66rfe truck and really focus on the tranny. Even at its best it just shifts like crap and is a pretty poor piece of equipment. For the last month I've been driving our extra car - a 2008 Honda Odyssey minivan. The tranny in that thing is butter smooth compared to my Ram. I guess the joke is one me since I test drove this truck at one point and happily bought it.

Anyway, the repair seems to be good and I'm rolling again. Only time will tell. I've attached the repair invoice and welcome any thoughts. Definitely lots more part were replaced.... again.

CVX20 · Feb 1, 2020

Just putting in the bare minimum of parts is not just FCA.I was the tranny guy at a GM Dealer for 15 years.I never had any come back that I repaired or rebuilt but I did have 2 that I couldn't make work right.One was a 2004R that just had ****** shifts but worked.Could have cured it with a mild shift kit but can't do it under warr.The other was a 4L80e that was totally destroyed by the customer(plow truck).That one I told the service manager that we shouldn't be trying to build but he made me do it anyway.Was getting ready to replace the case the 2nd time around but then numpty decided a GM rebuild(SRTA) trans was the way to go.No such thing as a brand new trans from GM unless it's a brand new trans design and pulling one off of the line is the only option.

ScrubsR1 · Feb 1, 2020

My 68rfe has major shift flare at only 22,000 miles...common quirk with this particular transmission. I felt like it was excessive so I took it to a reputable transmission shop. Their lead technician took it for a spin to monitor the TC lockup during shifts. Afterwards he laughed while shaking his head and said "it's operating as designed". He followed up by saying Dodge and Ram are the lifeblood of their shop. Oddly enough his personal truck is a '16 Ram 2500 Cummins, go figure...

mtofell · Feb 6, 2020

I probably should start a new thread - failed tranny 3.0

Driving to a job today I get a really harsh 4-5 shift and into limp mode it went. Turned on/off and it seemed okay for a bit but I didn't drive too far. Heading home it slipped/banged through gears, went back into limp mode and threw a code. This time it's something about overdrive fluid.

I'm only about 100 miles from the rebuild so obviously this is related. Definitely frustrated but also happy to have a warranty. Just want it fixed by RV season.

Dropped it off at the dealer tonight... hoping for less than 30 days this time.

68PowerWagon · Feb 6, 2020

mtofell said:
I probably should start a new thread - failed tranny 3.0

Driving to a job today I get a really harsh 4-5 shift and into limp mode it went. Turned on/off and it seemed okay for a bit but I didn't drive too far. Heading home it slipped/banged through gears, went back into limp mode and threw a code. This time it's something about overdrive fluid.

I'm only about 100 miles from the rebuild so obviously this is related. Definitely frustrated but also happy to have a warranty. Just want it fixed by RV season.

Dropped it off at the dealer tonight... hoping for less than 30 days this time.

Holy Crap this is getting ridiculous! Shouldn't say getting... it is ridiculous! Tell them to put a Aisin in it & you will call it even for all of the time that they have had it! LOL When I went to auto mechanics school back in the 80's I remember anytime you would open up a tranny you were opening up a bag of worms. If one little piece of dirt gets in there upon reassembly, & it will screw things up. Sometimes we would disassemble one, find nothing wrong, put it back together & everything was fine. :shakehead:

They really should give you a new one, but as someone said earlier in the thread, that probably isn't gonna happen.

mtofell · Feb 6, 2020

68PowerWagon said:
Holy Crap this is getting ridiculous! Shouldn't say getting... it is ridiculous! Tell them to put a Aisin in it & you will call it even for all of the time that they have had it! LOL When I went to auto mechanics school back in the 80's I remember anytime you would open up a tranny you were opening up a bag of worms. If one little piece of dirt gets in there upon reassembly, & it will screw things up. Sometimes we would disassemble one, find nothing wrong, put it back together & everything was fine. They really should give you a new one, but as someone said earlier in the thread, that probably isn't gonna happen.

Yeah, the service writer is hoping for the same. He said something about a 65% rule - basically, if the repair is more than 65% as much as a new one they won't repair it. He called the tech and was told the code was somewhat good news and that it may not need to be pulled out of the truck and opened up but I'm pretty doubtful. The way it was slipping and banging gears I think the inside it trashed again.

One thing is for certain - I'm definitely ******* off the Maxcare warranty bean counters!

RamCares · Feb 7, 2020

mtofell said:
I probably should start a new thread - failed tranny 3.0

Driving to a job today I get a really harsh 4-5 shift and into limp mode it went. Turned on/off and it seemed okay for a bit but I didn't drive too far. Heading home it slipped/banged through gears, went back into limp mode and threw a code. This time it's something about overdrive fluid.

I'm only about 100 miles from the rebuild so obviously this is related. Definitely frustrated but also happy to have a warranty. Just want it fixed by RV season.

Dropped it off at the dealer tonight... hoping for less than 30 days this time.

Hello mtofell,
We are certainly sorry to hear about your ongoing concern. Please keep us updated with your dealer visit. If we can be any assistance please do not hesitate reaching out to our team.
Laura
RamCares

coobie · Feb 7, 2020

WOW Crazy ****.Glad I also bought the life time warranty.I wish they offered life time warranty for my 2018 SRT challenger.

mtofell · Feb 7, 2020

RamCares said:
Hello mtofell,
We are certainly sorry to hear about your ongoing concern. Please keep us updated with your dealer visit. If we can be any assistance please do not hesitate reaching out to our team.
Laura
RamCares

Thanks Laura - I appreciate it. So far, the dealer has been great and the delay is just waiting for parts. Of course, I wish it had been fixed the first time but stuff happens. I'll let you know if I need anything.

reek · Feb 7, 2020

mtofell said:
I probably should start a new thread - failed tranny 3.0

Driving to a job today I get a really harsh 4-5 shift and into limp mode it went. Turned on/off and it seemed okay for a bit but I didn't drive too far. Heading home it slipped/banged through gears, went back into limp mode and threw a code. This time it's something about overdrive fluid.

I'm only about 100 miles from the rebuild so obviously this is related. Definitely frustrated but also happy to have a warranty. Just want it fixed by RV season.

Dropped it off at the dealer tonight... hoping for less than 30 days this time.

you can't make a story like this up. not even several beers into a ******* contest. I sure hope they replace even more parts this time around... say about 100% of them.

Iron Outlaw · Feb 8, 2020

I dont understand why they cant just swap it for a reman unit. Seems like it would be cheaper and better success than having a random tech trying to build it in a shop.

reek · Feb 8, 2020

I know in todays world its not realistic but something like this should be a NEW unit not a reman. reman to me is just someone else's throwaway.

RamCares · Feb 11, 2020

mtofell said:
Thanks Laura - I appreciate it. So far, the dealer has been great and the delay is just waiting for parts. Of course, I wish it had been fixed the first time but stuff happens. I'll let you know if I need anything.

Hello mtofell,
That is great to hear, and thank you for touching base with us! Please let us know if assistance is needed from our end. We look forward to hearing from you.
Laura
RamCares

mtofell · Feb 11, 2020

Got an update today.... replacing the valve body.... again. Not sure why this wasn't replaced when they were just in there a couple weeks ago. Of course, the part is on back order.

boxofrokx · Feb 11, 2020

My dealer had my truck for 5 months. Went thru a couple rebuilds and a valve body. None of it fixed it. Ended up with a rebuilt unit. I had loner trucks while it was in shop. I put near 20k miles on them. At just $0.30 a mile that would be $6k. Well, it would have been far cheaper if they just put in a rebuilt to start with, plus they lost future business. Several of my friends lived thru it with me.

mtofell · Feb 12, 2020

boxofrokx said:
My dealer had my truck for 5 months. Went thru a couple rebuilds and a valve body. None of it fixed it. Ended up with a rebuilt unit. I had loner trucks while it was in shop. I put near 20k miles on them. At just $0.30 a mile that would be $6k. Well, it would have been far cheaper if they just put in a rebuilt to start with, plus they lost future business. Several of my friends lived thru it with me.

I suppose I should be pushing the loaner thing harder but I have a spare vehicle and I pay myself mileage from my company when I drive it. The whole thing is just so frustrating that I am really trying to not let it get to me. Getting angry with Ram (or any big company for that matter) is like yelling at the DMV. Is it really going to matter? All I really end up accomplishing is ruining the day of the poor service writer who doesn't have any control anyway. He's been overall great and I believe he's doing all he can for me. I'm trying to look at the bright side of things that it's winter and I'm not missing RV towing season. And that I have a warranty so this isn't costing me anything. If I'm still screwing around with this in a few months I'll become a whole different person

68PowerWagon · Feb 12, 2020

Is this the same dealership you bought the truck from? I think I would have a long talk with the management & tell them you would like a new truck for the same or less payment you have now. If they can't do that then you will no longer buy from them in the future. They could sell it at an auction & you both would be rid of it's problems. You know the first one I could have swallowed. Things sometimes prematurely break, but this is your 3rd tranny for Gods sake! Somebody needs to make this right!

mtofell · Feb 12, 2020

68PowerWagon said:
Is this the same dealership you bought the truck from? I think I would have a long talk with the management & tell them you would like a new truck for the same or less payment you have now. If they can't do that then you will no longer buy from them in the future. They could sell it at an auction & you both would be rid of it's problems. You know the first one I could have swallowed. Things sometimes prematurely break, but this is your 3rd tranny for Gods sake! Somebody needs to make this right!

No, different dealership. I really can't stand the one I bought from but they had the truck I wanted at the time. If/when I ever buy another Ram I'll likely build and buy through Dennis Dillon in Idaho. This one is paid off so at least I'm not paying for my truck to sit in the shop. I've thought of buying another but am really enjoying not having a payment. And, in theory, with the lifetime warranty I shouldn't have to worry about repairs for a while. At this point I'd just be happy to make it through a tank of gas without stopping at the shop.

G. Mcpherson · Feb 12, 2020

Just think of the no Payments and no Gas payments.Win Win.

mtofell · Feb 12, 2020

G. Mcpherson said:
Just think of the no Payments and no Gas payments.Win Win.

Yeah, the 2008 Honda Odyssey backup family wagon actually does pretty well.

It's funny, I actually like driving it. It's a bit easier to zip in and out of places and park. If not for towing my 5th wheel there's no way I'd drive an HD truck daily. Our 3rd vehicle is a Hyundai Tucson SUV that my wife mostly drives. When I walk out to the garage for a quick store run I just automatically grab the minivan keys. Even though it's the oldest and least glamorous vehicle of the 3 it's just super easy to drive, easy to load groceries into and easy to get in/out of. I just can't find anywhere to mount the 5th wheel hitch

UPDATED - Failed Tranny 2.0

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