Transmission question

[Bear_Gibson]

99 Ram 1500 5.9 46re

I should first note this transmission was a new upgraded version I had installed a few years ago at a shop. Suppose to be upgraded and fix all known issues with these trannys. I have put about 48,000 miles on it in 4 years.

So this morning as I was crossing the highway to get to work the truck seemed like it was taking off in second gear and felt sluggish. Upon leaving work this afternoon it still felt the same way, I tried manual shifting and 1st gear feels very soft. 2nd 3rd and od feel fine lock up works fine. I limped it home, which is about 15 miles. I checked the fluid and it now looks overfilled like it made fluid. I plan to call the shop in the morning, but I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on this for me till tommorrow.

 

[Sirriggs]

I'm not a mechanic but our 99 dodge did the limp deal a couple of times. I had to change the solenoid (2) in the valve body. Second time it turned out to be the speed sensor on the outside at the rear point of transmission. The other two I spoke of are inside of the transmission that requires to drain and drop the pan. I would try the speed one first. simply removal.. Good luck

 

[Bear_Gibson]

Here's an update. I've hit a wall, in a manner of speaking. What I thought was a transmission problem might be something else. It's not slipping, but I did find a broken 3-4 accumulator spring. I ordered a Sonnax 12861-01, but in the mean time I made a spacer to keep the 2 halves in the right spot. I was under the impression that draining the pan would only require 4-5 qts of fluid. It took 6.5 qts to fill it, I'm not sure why. Manual says 4.5 qts. I put a Vacuum gauge on the intake and it's steady as a rock at 18 inches. No vacuum loss that would indicate a cat issue. There is oil in the intake, but it doesn't have high oil consumption. Plugs are brown with no indications of oil fouling. It runs great other than feeling like it has no power below 2000 revs. I plan to check fuel pressure, but it seems to run awfully smooth if pressure is low. Any Ideas, there are no codes I can find.

 

[Sirriggs]

I just ordered my kit from Hughes today for the upgraded intake plate. Gotcha
good luck

 

[Bear_Gibson]

I just ordered my kit from Hughes today for the upgraded intake plate. Gotcha
good luck

Were you experiencing a big power loss? I did that gasket in 2016 when I replaced the heads.

 

[Sirriggs]

To be honest it seemed to had a power loss but how much I cant remember. Back when I did that was when I found some water in the oil so I took the heads in to have them checked and there was nothing wrong with them so I had them cleaned. I replace everything intake wise. I just cleaned and did gasket change. Everything seemed good after that till tranny took me into limp mode a few times. replace sensors. then down the road did it again to find out the spring was broke so I replaced that and slipping started so I parked it to find out what to do then just got busy.

Now since the motor sat for 4 yrs due to tranny was acting up. I broke the dipstick tube trying to remove it for part of the stick that broke.( That was from back when I did the intake) Was told to remove the pan to push it out and found Dodge has a stop in the block to prevent this so I got bad information.Anyway, took the pan off and wife got sick so it got put on the back burner and I forgot about the pan for a year. so I climbed under the motor expecting the worse but it didn't look bad at all. It was seized but not bad. After a night of MM, it broke loose easy and is smooth so now I'm going through replacing everything gasket wise from the oil pan to the intake due to sitting so long. I figured why not upgrade the plate on the intake. Hoping all this will be what I need to get the motor up and going. Then back to transmission.

As for your power loss. I would not only look into the intake but maybe pull the tube on the left side and see if it I believe pulling any air. its attached to the Keg. I was told this would be a tell sign that the plume gasket is bad. I cant really think of what next to look at. I understand you changed it in 2016 but they are known to go again. Now if you did the upgrade. That should have solved that problem. If you did and its still the problem. please let me know because I just shelled out $187 dollars for this kit myself. Im just trying not to have to through again.lol. I wished I could help you more. Good luck. got my fingers crossed you.

 

[Bear_Gibson]

No upgrade, just felpro gaskets. I'm basically trying to draw a definitive conclusion at this point. This truck is my only vehicle that my son and I rely on. I'd be up ***** creek without it. I'll probably just have to replace the stock gaskets. I know about the Hughes engines upgrades, but I just can't right now.

Sent from my E6910 using Tapatalk

 

[Sirriggs]

Man I feel you there. I'm surprised you haven't had anymore people giving you some help. I wished I could help more.

 

[Bear_Gibson]

Man I feel you there. I'm surprised you haven't had anymore people giving you some help. I wished I could help more.

I am no stranger to repairing vehicles, eventually I will figure it out. It just helps me to have outside perspectives when I'm problem solving. I use to drag race and have built my own engines and transmissions. I've been a diesel mechanic. I currently build industrial electric motors. So don't feel bad for me. These Dodges present unique issues due to their design. So I like to ask others what they have seen. It often leads me to checking something I may not have thought of.

Sent from my E6910 using Tapatalk

 

[Sirriggs]

That's good to hear. I was more of you learn as you go in my younger years. When your young, you don't hesitate trying new things but as you get older, you often rethink everything before you do it or maybe that is me. lol. The Dodge was my wife truck so I'm doing it to honor her wish to pass it down to our daughter. Its only has around 168,000 miles on it.

 

[seanclark1503]

Don't forget that depending on how old you are/ were we didn't have access to near the information that we do now. ( I used to have to go all the way down to the main library downtown just to see a wiring diagram back in th red day, what a pain !)

ANYWAY, I've had a 1999 V-10 w/ the auto tranny since 2003. Transmission was rebuilt in 2009 and the performance was flawless until recently. I had forgotten to check/adjust the bands and the transmission gave me a reminder to do so by not shifting out of 1st gear. You said that 1st wasn't right and 2,3,4 were okay ? I believe that's what was going on . Either way, there's two band adjustments and one is the 'low band' , reverse and 1st gear. This low band can be adjusted asily from the driver's side of the transmission (externally) behind & slightly left/above the kick down cable connection. You'll need a 25 or 30 Torx bit to turn (and later prevent from turning) the adjuster screw. I also used an offset combo wrench, 1/2" I believe. I had to buy a 1/4" drive torque wrench b/c the value is in INCH lbs. NOT FOOT lbs..
72 inch pounds are what almost all bands (if not every transmission band is to be tightened up to. I'm not an expert on most of the transmission issues etc. , but like I said , I've had to check and usually adjust the bands every 2 years even though I only put 10k annually on the odometer. It's a daily driver and if I forget to do this on schedule, It's going to eventually remind me. Even if the bands are not your problem, check the adjustment to save yourself a bunch of $ . Sorry so long winded. Nuff said.

 

[Sirriggs]

Don't forget that depending on how old you are/ were we didn't have access to near the information that we do now. ( I used to have to go all the way down to the main library downtown just to see a wiring diagram back in th red day, what a pain !)

ANYWAY, I've had a 1999 V-10 w/ the auto tranny since 2003. Transmission was rebuilt in 2009 and the performance was flawless until recently. I had forgotten to check/adjust the bands and the transmission gave me a reminder to do so by not shifting out of 1st gear. You said that 1st wasn't right and 2,3,4 were okay ? I believe that's what was going on . Either way, there's two band adjustments and one is the 'low band' , reverse and 1st gear. This low band can be adjusted asily from the driver's side of the transmission (externally) behind & slightly left/above the kick down cable connection. You'll need a 25 or 30 Torx bit to turn (and later prevent from turning) the adjuster screw. I also used an offset combo wrench, 1/2" I believe. I had to buy a 1/4" drive torque wrench b/c the value is in INCH lbs. NOT FOOT lbs..
72 inch pounds are what almost all bands (if not every transmission band is to be tightened up to. I'm not an expert on most of the transmission issues etc. , but like I said , I've had to check and usually adjust the bands every 2 years even though I only put 10k annually on the odometer. It's a daily driver and if I forget to do this on schedule, It's going to eventually remind me. Even if the bands are not your problem, check the adjustment to save yourself a bunch of $ . Sorry so long winded. Nuff said.

I can see only two adjustments. one inside and the the outside. I have the book now so that gives me something to reference to. I believe my outside one isn't a Torx but will know when I get back under there. Just been awhile. I have watched a few videos on doing this as well. It just weird that it never slipped till I replace that spring. Crossing fingers here.

I agree. I'm 53 so back in the day it was trail and error or pick old mechanics brain on ideas. lol. Didn't even know what it was like to have the internet at your hands. lol.