Shift to P then Desired Gear - 2017 RAM 1500 Limited

[Jeepwalker]

OP & WileOne ...thanks for sharing.
Really good info!

 

[RodRamCar]

OP & WileOne ...thanks for sharing.
Really good info!

@Wild one what i don't get is where did the idea that the pan must be level come from when I don't believe I found that in that attachment you just shared yet it's commonly stated?

 

[joesstripclub]

@Wild one what i don't get is where did the idea that the pan must be level come from when I don't believe I found that in that attachment you just shared yet it's commonly stated?

Reread step #1.

 

[RodRamCar]

Reread step #1.

Yeah, disregard my blindness hahaha. Still it's hard for some reason to get that right when I tried doing that on my last refill so I just did my best.

 

[joesstripclub]

Yeah, disregard my blindness hahaha. Still it's hard for some reason to get that right when I tried doing that on my last refill so I just did my best.

No worries. I didn't get my transmission completely level and I haven't had any issues with it. I think there is a little room for error in the fill level but you need to at least get it close.

 

[RodRamCar]

No worries. I didn't get my transmission completely level and I haven't had any issues with it. I think there is a little room for error in the fill level but you need to at least get it close.

I raised rear of my truck up about 8 inches I think and filled it according to @Wild one attachment. it's been fine but I have noticed that the truck has always had more noticeable cold running shifts and when its warm its smooth as butter. kinda weird and Ive heard that changing fluid won't affect that if the truck has always had it because it's more due to shift logic, not really how clean the fluid is. I would figure clean fluid would make a difference but maybe not? idk.

 

[Wild one]

I raised rear of my truck up about 8 inches I think and filled it according to @Wild one attachment. it's been fine but I have noticed that the truck has always had more noticeable cold running shifts and when its warm its smooth as butter. kinda weird and Ive heard that changing fluid won't affect that if the truck has always had it because it's more due to shift logic, not really how clean the fluid is. I would figure clean fluid would make a difference but maybe not? idk.

The transmissions do seem to be very sensitive to their fill point.I've seen where guys have yelled about how they shift after doing a pan and service on the 8 speed,then they jack it up till the pan rail is level,and get maybe another 1/2 to 3/4's of a litre of fluid into the transmission,and it cures their ill shifting issues.

 

[SwiFtEnRo]

Good afternoon fellow forum readers I just got back from work and the dealership still has my truck tonight (now 48 hours total) but just because they didn't have all the oil in stock.

I just want to start out by saying @Wild one and @RodRamCar came up with the solutions to my problem.

Here is what the dealership told me. First, this morning I had the same issue and it wasn't even cold maybe 32°F, I started my truck remotely as normal for about 15 minutes and it wouldn't move, still the same, "Shift to P then Desired Gear". After restarting the truck it still had the check engine light but at least I was able to make it to the dealership. The first issue they called me to let me know about was the fluid that came out was red, they said it was supposed to be green. I was a bit confused since I thought isn't all transmission fluid red? They wanted me to tell them what fluid I had put in when I did my transmission fluid replacement. I called O'Riley where I bought the fluid and they were able to find out I purchased 5qts of Valvoline ATF+4. As mentioned by @Wild one green sheet says at the top of the sheet "This fluid is not compatible with ATF+4 or any other current Christler transmission fluid". So red flag #1 (no pun intended), but in my defense when I drained the transmission fluid from my truck it came out red so I didn't think anything of it. Someone must have replaced it before I even got to it.

The second issue they told me was I was about 1qt short of oil in my pan (as mentioned by @RodRamCar "a lift is actually not going to ensure a level fill properly. the rear of the truck usually has to be lifted higher than the front to have the transmission be completely level"). So when I filled the truck with oil I didn't add enough because it wasn't completely level.

I find it very strange that I never had a single issue for 18 months running ATF+4 fluid UNTIL I changed my battery. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe when you replace the battery in these trucks it runs through a full diagnostic and the computer picked something up? The world may never know...

So what did I learn? That Mopar MZ is very expensive. I needed 9 quarts of it and after it was all said and done I had a bill of $550 (this included the diagnostic and the new gasket plus the mechanics time). I also learned why I was having this issue only when it was cold outside because ATF+4 is more viscous than the Mopar tears they call "MZ". Also, the reason why the 2017 RAM 1500 Limited doesn't have a dipstick is that its a fully sealed transmission and requires no maintenance (as referenced on pages 679 and 685 of the owner's manual http://owners.mopar.ca/en/manuals/2017/2017E-RAM-15_25_35-OM-4th.pdf).

So what can you do if you see a "Shift to P then Desired Gear" error come up on your RAM? Start with the basics, are your doors open? Next, what have you done to your transmission? If you are like me did you add the wrong oil?

P.S. the dealership did mention this may have caused a bigger issue but they won't know until after getting the oil tomorrow and test-driving the truck. So if any further issues come up I will for sure let everyone know.

Again thank you for everyone's input and I hope you don't ever have this issue but if you do hopefully this forum will be able to give you some insights into how to fix it yourself.

 

[Wild one]

Good afternoon fellow forum readers I just got back from work and the dealership still has my truck tonight (now 48 hours total) but just because they didn't have all the oil in stock.

I just want to start out by saying @Wild one and @RodRamCar came up with the solutions to my problem.

Here is what the dealership told me. First, this morning I had the same issue and it wasn't even cold maybe 32°F, I started my truck remotely as normal for about 15 minutes and it wouldn't move, still the same, "Shift to P then Desired Gear". After restarting the truck it still had the check engine light but at least I was able to make it to the dealership. The first issue they called me to let me know about was the fluid that came out was red, they said it was supposed to be green. I was a bit confused since I thought isn't all transmission fluid red? They wanted me to tell them what fluid I had put in when I did my transmission fluid replacement. I called O'Riley where I bought the fluid and they were able to find out I purchased 5qts of Valvoline ATF+4. As mentioned by @Wild one green sheet says at the top of the sheet "This fluid is not compatible with ATF+4 or any other current Christler transmission fluid". So red flag #1 (no pun intended), but in my defense when I drained the transmission fluid from my truck it came out red so I didn't think anything of it. Someone must have replaced it before I even got to it.

The second issue they told me was I was about 1qt short of oil in my pan (as mentioned by @RodRamCar "a lift is actually not going to ensure a level fill properly. the rear of the truck usually has to be lifted higher than the front to have the transmission be completely level"). So when I filled the truck with oil I didn't add enough because it wasn't completely level.

I find it very strange that I never had a single issue for 18 months running ATF+4 fluid UNTIL I changed my battery. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe when you replace the battery in these trucks it runs through a full diagnostic and the computer picked something up? The world may never know...

So what did I learn? That Mopar MZ is very expensive. I needed 9 quarts of it and after it was all said and done I had a bill of $550 (this included the diagnostic and the new gasket plus the mechanics time). I also learned why I was having this issue only when it was cold outside because ATF+4 is more viscous than the Mopar tears they call "MZ". Also, the reason why the 2017 RAM 1500 Limited doesn't have a dipstick is that its a fully sealed transmission and requires no maintenance (as referenced on pages 679 and 685 of the owner's manual http://owners.mopar.ca/en/manuals/2017/2017E-RAM-15_25_35-OM-4th.pdf).

So what can you do if you see a "Shift to P then Desired Gear" error come up on your RAM? Start with the basics, are your doors open? Next, what have you done to your transmission? If you are like me did you add the wrong oil?

P.S. the dealership did mention this may have caused a bigger issue but they won't know until after getting the oil tomorrow and test-driving the truck. So if any further issues come up I will for sure let everyone know.

Again thank you for everyone's input and I hope you don't ever have this issue but if you do hopefully this forum will be able to give you some insights into how to fix it yourself.

I think Valvolene MaxLife is Red,and quite a few guys use it instead of the overpriced ZF fluid.

 

[SwiFtEnRo]

I think Valvolene MaxLife is Red,and quite a few guys use it instead of the overpriced ZF fluid.

Does the Valvoline MaxLife have the same properties as the Mopar ZF fluid?