Transmission question

[Nawlinssaints1]

2019 Ram Classic 5.7
Transmission 8 speed. 1st gear seems to hold long before it shifts up. Or it seems a little long to me. Been like this since I bought the truck. Is this normal? I had a 12 Ram with the 6 speed transmission, don’t remember that one doing the same.
Thanks!

 

[Burla]

Number one cause of delayed shifting is trans fluid level, which is a problem with the 8 speed to check level. It is likely due for a drain and fill with filters, see if that fixes it.

 

[Nawlinssaints1]

Yes sir. Thanks

 

[EdGs]

The 8 speed has a very specific procedure to fill and check fluid level, there are copious posts on this site of the green sheet instructions (thank you, Rick, AKA @Wild one).

Follow them.

Please post with any questions about the process.

 

[crash68]

Transmission 8 speed. 1st gear seems to hold long before it shifts up. Or it seems a little long to me.

Does this primarily happen on the first upshift out of first for the day? This is somewhat a phenomenon with these transmissions, some seem to do it more noticable than others, the other mentioned quirk is the transmission will flare out shifts(2-3, 3-4) and people will ask if it's starting to slip

 

[joesstripclub]

Does this primarily happen on the first upshift out of first for the day? This is somewhat a phenomenon with these transmissions, some seem to do it more noticable than others, the other mentioned quirk is the transmission will flare out shifts(2-3, 3-4) and people will ask if it's starting to slip

My 1500 used to flare on the first shift of the day, otherwise the transmission acted like it couldn't get out of first gear fast enough. I believe letting it idle in neutral for a minute flows fluid through the transmission where park does not and helps eliminate this issue. OP should definitely still check his fluid level and probably change fluid though.

 

[crash68]

I believe letting it idle in neutral for a minute flows fluid through the transmission where park does not and helps eliminate this issue.

Idling doesn't help in my case, I back out of my garage about 150' and still get the delayed first shift from time to time.

 

[NCRaineman]

Our 2019 Classic will sometimes do the sluggish 1-2 shift on the first shift of the day, when everything is cold. I believe that's just normal operation when it hasn't warmed up yet. We typically drive pretty easy headed out of the neighborhood anyways, one neighbor has a flock of "free range" chickens that love to dart into the road at random times.

This transmission is used in numerous high end cars, BMW, Land Rover, Aston Martin, even the new Supra. If there were major problems with it you'd have heard about them. Don't romp on it until the fluid has had a chance to circulate some, it will be fine.

 

[caulk04]

... I believe letting it idle in neutral for a minute flows fluid through the transmission where park does not and helps eliminate this issue. OP should definitely still check his fluid level and probably change fluid though.

That's a bit of a leftover theory from the RFE trans wherein the trans cooler circuit did not flow in park and they were notorious for drain back in the cooler circuit so idle in neutral helped them out.

 

[joesstripclub]

That's a bit of a leftover theory from the RFE trans wherein the trans cooler circuit did not flow in park and they were notorious for drain back in the cooler circuit so idle in neutral helped them out.

Good to know. Must have been a coincidence when it decided not to flare then. I haven't noticed it on my PW so I wonder if they updated something on the 75s.

 

[Guy lIPSKY]

2019 Ram Classic 5.7
Transmission 8 speed. 1st gear seems to hold long before it shifts up. Or it seems a little long to me. Been like this since I bought the truck. Is this normal? I had a 12 Ram with the 6 speed transmission, don’t remember that one doing the same.
Thanks!

could also be stuck in haul mode there's a switch for that

 

[etbrown4]

Don't know if my 2016, 8 speed is the same as yours, but I noticed slight slipping 1-2 at 20,000 especially when cold.
I watched it until 59,000 with slightly more slipping. Finally I got an occasional flashing P from the shift indicator.
Fca refused to help repeatedly, but finally they got some kind of clutch error code, and I got a new tranny.
You have to be very, very persistent.

 

[DripJust]

I got a question regarding the 545 rfe. On my evic screen my tans temp usually reads around 52° f once Im warmed up. I'm not sure if that is normal running temp, and also where would the trans fluid temp sensor be located ? I've heard thats its built into the valve body solenoid.

Any thoughts ?

 

[alex6666]

2017 tradesman......delayed/slightly rough shift on first shift of the day. As others mentioned I usually just let it drive on idle for the first hundred feet and it's fine. Don't know if it's true but heard that sometimes when the tran filter isn't in place correctly it results in "flow back" and it takes a bit to get the fluid moving. Not a mechanic

 

[DripJust]

2009 Laramie with the 545 rfe. I'm noticing that shifting into 4th gear seams like a hard shift. I installed one of those Sonnax line booster kits, but that didn't fix that but it did make all the rest of the shifts seem more snappy and immediate. Just seems that when I really get on the pedal that 4th gear always gives this hard shift issue ?

 

[Burla]

2009 Laramie with the 545 rfe. I'm noticing that shifting into 4th gear seams like a hard shift. I installed one of those Sonnax line booster kits, but that didn't fix that but it did make all the rest of the shifts seem more snappy and immediate. Just seems that when I really get on the pedal that 4th gear always gives this hard shift issue ?

Could be many things, with one only gear issue maybe in valve body, maybe in clutch packs, maybe in solenoid. With a 2009 if there was never any work done every guy has to chose attempt to fix by tossing a VB and solenoid at it or rebuilding it soup to nuts. It isn't hard to swap VB and solenoid pack, you may need to be flashed, a bit over a grand all in and most likely it will be better, but if it is something else you wont get that money back. I would say no reason why not try something like auto rx 19.99 amazon, I had it unstick a transmission I had the same symptoms on, not 5th gear for me 1 and 2 gear, ran for ten years no issue after that, lol.

drive in tow haul still stick?

 

[DripJust]

Yes I've been waiting to drop the valve body and swap the solenoid and most likely do a tune up with one of those kits from sonnax that changes the pistons, seals, springs and vb plate. Just waiting for the winter to warm up here in Ontario before I undertake this, as I do not have a garage or shop I can park inside. But I'm completely capable of doing that job.