2018 2500 RAM TD transmission problem

[mikeah21]

Truck has 88K, no mods. Transmission decided to not drive or reverse anymore after short trip, check engine light came on before. Was towed to the dealer but they haven't called back, its Monday morning and perhaps there are extra donuts with higher priority.

Anyway, for months the check engine light has come on then gone off on a recurring basis but the truck didn't show signs of trouble. Could still drive, tow as needed daily driver. Earlier this summer I was towing a 2k# utility trailer up a steep incline and the it appeared there was a problem with the transmission where it wouldn't pull, seemed like it was under a lot of pressure. I pulled over, shut the truck off, restarted and put in drive and the truck drove like nothing was wrong. I never stopped to figure out code(s) for when check engine light was on because it would always shut off after a period of time, and generally when I restarted the vehicle. I did notice that it would come on at times if I shifted quickly after starting the vehicle.

I know that codes would be helpful to the discussion but wanted to get a sense of what could be going on before I get the news from the dealer.

 

[AFMoulton]

Habe you monitored the trans temps?

There is a thermostatic valve in the lines going to the cooler which kills these transmissions. It could have stuck closed not allowing fluid to flow to the cooler which then burned up the trans. That is the most common failure


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

 

[mikeah21]

Never thought of cycling through dash monitor to see what temp was as I expected that if something was wrong with transmission that a warning besides check engine light would come on.

Hope that it isn't a toasted tranny.

 

[mikeah21]

Another thing that I noticed over the last week before the failure was that the pickup felt like it was lurching forward after coming to a stop, like the transmission/engine were over reving and that more pressure would have to be applied to the brake to prevent the vehicle from moving forward. This usually occurred before the vehicle was warmed up, first starting out in the morning.

 

[Murdock188]

Sounds like the truck gave you a few clues that something was wrong, not trying to be mean but if it was doing all that why keep driving it. I would have taken it to the shop when it first started showing issiues shifting. Might be too late now.

 

[Burla]

This is a known issue on your trucks, and the answer has always been turn truck off and eventually you can pull. I was in front of a guy this happened to and he as well had the Cummins. I offered to back up and tow him up the hill with my hemi, was gonna be fun he had to be at least 10k pounds, but he turned truck off and we were able to get it up the hill on it's own power.

I used to know what this is, but long forgotten sorry man. It could be some kind of governor or something like that, I had looked it up just because of that experience I had, I was curious why. I'm doubting if you fix the CEL it will fix this, it was bigger then that. The guy told me happened all the time when he was going up a hill towing, and every time he shut it down he could make it work, but yeah it was freaking annoying to say the least.

might check out tdr, just a ton of Cummins and they know everything Cummins.

 

[mikeah21]

Thanks for replies.


Wasn't consistent, majority of the time the truck drove normally, seemed to occur over 6 months. Chalked it up to software glitch. It's had dealer maintenance service over that period. Could have mentioned the random stuff that occurred but always thought would need codes, unless its torn down. It had transmission service during that time and checked out.

 

[mikeah21]

I tried starting the truck several times, with a delay then checking to see if drive or reverse worked. Neither, just engine rev stepping on the fuel.

 

[AFMoulton]

I tried starting the truck several times, with a delay then checking to see if drive or reverse worked. Neither, just engine rev stepping on the fuel.

Sounds like the valve body is gone in the trans if it’s doing that. Which can also be from heat.


2018 Ram 2500 6.4L 4x4
Amsoil SS 0W-40

 

[TheEnder]

Truck has 88K, no mods. Transmission decided to not drive or reverse anymore after short trip, check engine light came on before. Was towed to the dealer but they haven't called back, its Monday morning and perhaps there are extra donuts with higher priority.

Anyway, for months the check engine light has come on then gone off on a recurring basis but the truck didn't show signs of trouble. Could still drive, tow as needed daily driver. Earlier this summer I was towing a 2k# utility trailer up a steep incline and the it appeared there was a problem with the transmission where it wouldn't pull, seemed like it was under a lot of pressure. I pulled over, shut the truck off, restarted and put in drive and the truck drove like nothing was wrong. I never stopped to figure out code(s) for when check engine light was on because it would always shut off after a period of time, and generally when I restarted the vehicle. I did notice that it would come on at times if I shifted quickly after starting the vehicle.

I know that codes would be helpful to the discussion but wanted to get a sense of what could be going on before I get the news from the dealer.

What transmission is your vehicle equipped with, the RFE, or the Aisin?


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