chris22888
Junior Member
Ok maybe not but I am stuck at work trying to put my mind at ease. Changed all the fluid on my 2016 Ram 1500 this weekend, did the transmission pan and fluid with MOPAR fluid on Sunday. I followed the green sheet to a T on fill. Here's what I did and what just happened.
Removed the fill plug on the side, had to cut down my 8 mm Hex because all I had was a long one. Fluid drained out because at this point, I didn't have the transmission level yet. Couldn't get to the drain plug because of the exhaust, so I said screw it, removed the 3 cross-member bolts, and jacked it up. This allowed me to get to it and drain the fluid into a new pan didn't want it going into my oil pan because it still had oil in it, and I wanted to measure what came out. Removed all the bolts from the pan, had a nice short t40, thanks to my brother for leaving that behind, so the bolt on the driver's side above the exhaust was easy. Cleaned off the side of the pan with a rag with brake cleaner on it, making sure not to mess with the valve body. Let it sit and drain for a bit. Put the new pan on torquing to spec in a criss-cross pattern like we have all done for years. Let the transmission down, put the 3 bolts back in the cross member. Pulled the old fluid into a 5-gallon jug, and it was approximately 4.75 quarts.
Jacked up the rear of the truck, measured it was 9 inches off the ground, got under and put a level on the transmission, and it was still tilted towards the front. Had to put a 6-inch block under my jack, got it up about 12 inches, and it was level. I am checking it at the level boss on the pan. Filled it up, and it took about 4 quarts. Started it, turned off the traction control, hooked up Alfa OBD 2, and watched the temp. Let it run for about 5 minutes, and it was finally at 23 degrees Celsius. Stupid Missouri weather had dropped so even though I am in an unheated garage, this took a bit, it had gone from 75 degrees Sunday morning to 12 degrees by 3 pm. I turned off traction control, put it in reverse, and let my foot off the brake for 5 seconds did the same in neutral and drove. Then, in the drive, I got it into second gear and held it. I did this twice because it was helping the temp rise. After 17 minutes, I was finally up to 30 degrees, exactly got under the truck, pulled the plug, and added about another half quart, so I ended up putting in 4.5 quarts. It was dripping out. Torqued the plug, let the truck down, cleared all the traction control codes, and took the truck for a drive, running and shifting great. I drove it to the gas station, filled up on gas, and drove it around for 5 minutes or so drove it to work a mile yesterday. Everything seemed great.
I had to let my Nephew take it to pick up a dog yesterday, about a 50-mile trip. He reported no issues, but he is 16 years old. I got in this morning, driving it to work, turned, and got a service transmission. Do not move from D, or you may not be able to shift back to park. I went ahead and shifted to park, and the message went away. Drove the 3/4 mile to work when I turned into the parking lot it popped up again now both times it was when I turned so am I A slightly low on fluid maybe there was a air bubble he got out while driving and when I turn its dropping low enough to pop the light or B is there a wire that i pulled on that I need to check. The truck recently had the camshaft lifter and oil pump, and oddly, was fine as well. Let my nephew drive it, took my stepson to school, and the check engine light popped on, but I had no code when I went to check it. It then went off, and it did not come back on so I am starting to think there a ground somewhere that is not tight, but that was 2 weeks ago, with no other issues until this morning. I am stuck at work with an ADHD mind that can't check anything until after work and going over all possibilities in my head lol.
Removed the fill plug on the side, had to cut down my 8 mm Hex because all I had was a long one. Fluid drained out because at this point, I didn't have the transmission level yet. Couldn't get to the drain plug because of the exhaust, so I said screw it, removed the 3 cross-member bolts, and jacked it up. This allowed me to get to it and drain the fluid into a new pan didn't want it going into my oil pan because it still had oil in it, and I wanted to measure what came out. Removed all the bolts from the pan, had a nice short t40, thanks to my brother for leaving that behind, so the bolt on the driver's side above the exhaust was easy. Cleaned off the side of the pan with a rag with brake cleaner on it, making sure not to mess with the valve body. Let it sit and drain for a bit. Put the new pan on torquing to spec in a criss-cross pattern like we have all done for years. Let the transmission down, put the 3 bolts back in the cross member. Pulled the old fluid into a 5-gallon jug, and it was approximately 4.75 quarts.
Jacked up the rear of the truck, measured it was 9 inches off the ground, got under and put a level on the transmission, and it was still tilted towards the front. Had to put a 6-inch block under my jack, got it up about 12 inches, and it was level. I am checking it at the level boss on the pan. Filled it up, and it took about 4 quarts. Started it, turned off the traction control, hooked up Alfa OBD 2, and watched the temp. Let it run for about 5 minutes, and it was finally at 23 degrees Celsius. Stupid Missouri weather had dropped so even though I am in an unheated garage, this took a bit, it had gone from 75 degrees Sunday morning to 12 degrees by 3 pm. I turned off traction control, put it in reverse, and let my foot off the brake for 5 seconds did the same in neutral and drove. Then, in the drive, I got it into second gear and held it. I did this twice because it was helping the temp rise. After 17 minutes, I was finally up to 30 degrees, exactly got under the truck, pulled the plug, and added about another half quart, so I ended up putting in 4.5 quarts. It was dripping out. Torqued the plug, let the truck down, cleared all the traction control codes, and took the truck for a drive, running and shifting great. I drove it to the gas station, filled up on gas, and drove it around for 5 minutes or so drove it to work a mile yesterday. Everything seemed great.
I had to let my Nephew take it to pick up a dog yesterday, about a 50-mile trip. He reported no issues, but he is 16 years old. I got in this morning, driving it to work, turned, and got a service transmission. Do not move from D, or you may not be able to shift back to park. I went ahead and shifted to park, and the message went away. Drove the 3/4 mile to work when I turned into the parking lot it popped up again now both times it was when I turned so am I A slightly low on fluid maybe there was a air bubble he got out while driving and when I turn its dropping low enough to pop the light or B is there a wire that i pulled on that I need to check. The truck recently had the camshaft lifter and oil pump, and oddly, was fine as well. Let my nephew drive it, took my stepson to school, and the check engine light popped on, but I had no code when I went to check it. It then went off, and it did not come back on so I am starting to think there a ground somewhere that is not tight, but that was 2 weeks ago, with no other issues until this morning. I am stuck at work with an ADHD mind that can't check anything until after work and going over all possibilities in my head lol.
