2016 transmission issue

[Vgbu56]

So my friend has a 2016 4X2 with the 5.7 and 6 speed auto his issues is, he tows a 5th wheel TT, he will stop and gas up then sometimes when he tries to leave puts it in drive and when he applies throttle the transmission disconnects and the dash reads not in park and the rpm's go up like in neutral, he's tried to back up then and the same thing happens. Today we drove to the pasture 45 minute drive pulling a small utility trailer (6.5 feet by 4' box), stopped shut it off, looked around for 10 minutes, got in and backed it up, shut it off proceeded to load some rocks into the trailer decided to move the truck ahead same thing put in reverse feel it engage go to neutral it disengages, to drive it engages then the minute you give it throttle it disengages, messed with it foe 5 minutes let it idle and loaded more rock maybe 10 minutes still same thing, shut it off and scouted for rocks about 20 minutes, got in the truck and drove off worked fine. Anyone have this issue?

 

[pacofortacos]

Is the lightning bolt coming on on the dash?

 

[csuder99]

The 8 speed transmissions got a "feature" added (my 2014 didn't have it until one of the ubiquitous recalls...) which prevents the vehicle from going into gear when the driver door is not closed. Makes you a lot of friends in campgrounds when you are trying to get the trailer in the right position by yourself. Lots of door slamming.... It also puts it into park when trying to drive with the door open and you get message. I could see a problem with the door ajar sensor causing this, but I don't think that feature has been added to 6 speeds as the shifter would have to physically move.

 

[crash68]

The 8 speed transmissions got a "feature" added (my 2014 didn't have it until one of the ubiquitous recalls...) which prevents the vehicle from going into gear when the driver door is not closed. Makes you a lot of friends in campgrounds when you are trying to get the trailer in the right position by yourself. Lots of door slamming.... It also puts it into park when trying to drive with the door open and you get message. I could see a problem with the door ajar sensor causing this, but I don't think that feature has been added to 6 speeds as the shifter would have to physically move.

Your correct about the 6 speed not putting itself into park if the door is opened.
For those with 8spd, buy a 3" seatbelt extender and plug it in. https://www.seatbeltextenderpros.com/ram-pickup-seat-belt-extender/
The trans won't auto shift into park when the door is opened and you don't need to remove it to use the seatbelt as normal.

 

[Burla]

So it's a 2500? I have heard of this with the Cummins before, same thing it will work after a break. I wish I can remember for you what it was, the truck owner told me I just plain forgot. I believe he said it had something to do with some type of governor and a hill (load). I could even be wrong about that, I really did forget. But just to let you know I was there when he had this issue, he got stuck towing a light trailer on a slight hill. I offered to pull him out with the hemi, but like you said he waited 5 minutes and the truck started and worked fine. The one thing I do remember it happened to him many times.

 

[jejb]

That 5th wheel TT could be stressing his drive train pretty hard, especially in hilly terrain.

 

[Vgbu56]

Will watch the dash for the lightning bolt the next time it happens, if it comes on what does that mean? I didn't say but it's a 1500 ram.

 

[Vgbu56]

he will be going camping after labor day also update its the 8 speed not 6 speed transmission.

 

[csuder99]

he will be going camping after labor day also update its the 8 speed not 6 speed transmission.

Ok that makes more sense now, as I described above the 8 speed have a safety/nanny feature that either keeps the transmission in park when the driver door is open or puts it into park when the door is opened (at low speed of course).