Engine screams, but truck stops moving, pulling uphill

[DenverDrake]

2002 Ram 3500 dually, 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel. Bought used, has had this problem since the beginning. When pulling a gooseneck trailer with roll-bales, if you start up much of a hill (even with a good run at it), the truck will eventually stop moving, while the engine just winds up and is screaming out the power. You would swear that you have no traction and are spinning the wheels (especially when this is often on grass). We found that the tires were not moving, and very quickly the engine will overheat, to the point of blowing all the coolant out of it, if you let it. We took it to a transmission specialist place a few years ago, spent about $3,000 to rebuild it. Did not change the problem. Replaced fuel pump, filters, cleaned the tank. Have had the cooling system checked top to bottom. Have gone round and round with it for several years now. Transmission place swears it is not a transmission problem (I think they are idiots). Here's what I think is happening: Engine is putting out huge amount of power, to the transmission, no movement coming out the other end of the transmission. Where is all that power going?... It turns into heat, and overwhelms the entire cooling system.
Anyone else hear of this issue? Any ideas? Am I crazy, or is the transmission the problem? If we could afford it, this truck would have been gone a long time ago. Cannot afford to pay for another transmission rebuild either.

 

[Travelin Ram]

All the power is dispersing in the torque converter and just making heat, as you say. But I would expect the trans to overheat and burn up, not the engine.

How much gross weight are we talking about. Those transmissions were definitely a weak link.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

2002 Ram 3500 dually, 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel. Bought used, has had this problem since the beginning. When pulling a gooseneck trailer with roll-bales, if you start up much of a hill (even with a good run at it), the truck will eventually stop moving, while the engine just winds up and is screaming out the power. You would swear that you have no traction and are spinning the wheels (especially when this is often on grass). We found that the tires were not moving, and very quickly the engine will overheat, to the point of blowing all the coolant out of it, if you let it. We took it to a transmission specialist place a few years ago, spent about $3,000 to rebuild it. Did not change the problem. Replaced fuel pump, filters, cleaned the tank. Have had the cooling system checked top to bottom. Have gone round and round with it for several years now. Transmission place swears it is not a transmission problem (I think they are idiots). Here's what I think is happening: Engine is putting out huge amount of power, to the transmission, no movement coming out the other end of the transmission. Where is all that power going?... It turns into heat, and overwhelms the entire cooling system.
Anyone else hear of this issue? Any ideas? Am I crazy, or is the transmission the problem? If we could afford it, this truck would have been gone a long time ago. Cannot afford to pay for another transmission rebuild either.

When the problem begins going up a grade, do you feel the transmission downshift?

Are you towing in 3rd gear with overdrive turned off?

When the truck finally comes to a stop going uphill, and you attempt to accelerate, do you smell anything?

Do you have an infrared temp gun so you can take a spot temperature on the trans pan, the trans case and the overdrive unit?

I have a feeling that I know what is happening. Inside the overdrive unit is two sets of clutches. One clutch is for 4th gear and the other set is a direct clutch that is always engaged. If the direct clutch in the overdrive unit is slipping the trans will feel like it is slipping in every gear and if you are towing and pulling an uphill grade it will only amplify the problem.

When is the last time the transmission pan was off for service or inspection?

You might find the 4th gear snap ring and wave washer laying in the bottom of the pan.

 

[DenverDrake]

We're probably around 8,000lbs, but depending on bale weight, as much as 15,000. We have tried just manually moving the shifter to 1st gear, instead of drive. Still does the same thing. We've had it to the transmission place 3 or 4 times, since they "rebuilt" it. I assume they have pulled the pan and inspected each time. It has been doing this for the entire time we've owned it (12 yrs or so). It usually smells "hot". Just a general hot engine smell. No specific smells like rubber or electric.
What's best for pulling? In drive? In first? Overdrive on or off?

 

[Fast69Mopar]

We're probably around 8,000lbs, but depending on bale weight, as much as 15,000. We have tried just manually moving the shifter to 1st gear, instead of drive. Still does the same thing. We've had it to the transmission place 3 or 4 times, since they "rebuilt" it. I assume they have pulled the pan and inspected each time. It has been doing this for the entire time we've owned it (12 yrs or so). It usually smells "hot". Just a general hot engine smell. No specific smells like rubber or electric.
What's best for pulling? In drive? In first? Overdrive on or off?

When towing heavy, or over 5,000lbs, it's best to press the O/D button to turn 4th gear off. This way the trans will shift 1-2-3 and then engage the converter clutch. No 4th gear unless light weight.

I bet the direct clutch in the overdrive unit is slipping.

 

[DenverDrake]

I don't think we've ever had O/D (4th) engaged, when pulling a load. Would the overdrive clutch still be affected? I can't actually swear that the transmission people ever did anything with the overdrive unit.

 

[DenverDrake]

Follow up, in case anyone wants to know: (this is my Dad's truck, I don't actually drive it, I just go along to help load/unload). So, we were going to get a load of hay, worried that we may not make it home, with a full load. I asked Dad, who was driving, "So, how do you turn the O/D on or off, is it a switch?" He said he didn't think so, and that he had never "messed" with it. I looked over and said, "What's the button on the end of the shifter?" He had no idea, and so pushed it. The dash immediately lit up with "O/D OFF". Seems like the O/D is always on, unless you hit the button, which he had never done. We loaded hay, and upon startup, hit the button again to turn the O/D off. Drove home fully loaded, with no further incident.
Apparently, in the several years of problems with this, including a $3,000 trans. rebuild, $500 engine chip replacement, endless arguments with the trans. guys, engine guys, etc.... nobody had ever said, "did you turn the O/D off?"

 

[Fast69Mopar]

Follow up, in case anyone wants to know: (this is my Dad's truck, I don't actually drive it, I just go along to help load/unload). So, we were going to get a load of hay, worried that we may not make it home, with a full load. I asked Dad, who was driving, "So, how do you turn the O/D on or off, is it a switch?" He said he didn't think so, and that he had never "messed" with it. I looked over and said, "What's the button on the end of the shifter?" He had no idea, and so pushed it. The dash immediately lit up with "O/D OFF". Seems like the O/D is always on, unless you hit the button, which he had never done. We loaded hay, and upon startup, hit the button again to turn the O/D off. Drove home fully loaded, with no further incident.
Apparently, in the several years of problems with this, including a $3,000 trans. rebuild, $500 engine chip replacement, endless arguments with the trans. guys, engine guys, etc.... nobody had ever said, "did you turn the O/D off?"

Yes, 4th gear, which is overdrive, is always enabled unless you press the O/D Off button on the end of the shift lever.

When you press the O/D Off button the transmission will shift like this...

1-2-3 and then engage the converter clutch.

Towing in 3rd gear, which is a 1:1 ratio, is the best way to tow with the 47RE especially if you are hauling heavy.