Transmission woes...

[Awnings]

Hey guys, I need some help. I have a 98 ram 1500 with the 5.9 that won't shift.

I changed the solenoids out, new filter and fluid etc. Took it for a test drive and it shifted beautifully.

Parked it, came back an hour later to drive it up and down the street tomorrow... And no shifting again.

I for the life of me can't figure out what is wrong. I'm not finding any info on a tcm so I'm guessing the transmission control & engine control are wrapped in to one? What should I do next?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[dapepper9]

Any more info you can provide on the symptoms?

 

[Awnings]

Yes I just took it for another drive. It was shifting fine up to 3rd & OD so I took it on the highway, ran fine for a few exits and no problems. Then when I got off the trans temp light came on, OD off light came on and it was back to not shifting.

 

[dapepper9]

Was the fluid burnt to hell when you were in there?

 

[Awnings]

No it was thin, but no bubbles, metal shavings, foam or anything like that.

 

[Awnings]

When it was shifting it shifted like a dream. No hesitation, no banging gears nothing. I can't believe it's the bands or any moving part.

 

[dapepper9]

Sounds valvebody related

 

[Awnings]

I've taken it to three different transmission shops and they say they have no idea but let's throw $1500 at it and see what happens. I find it hard to believe that Dodge built a transmission impervious to scan tools.

 

[dapepper9]

You saying scan tools are finding nothing wrong?

 

[Awnings]

Yes nothing turns up.

 

[Yeret]

Does the transmission shift manually?

 

[Awnings]

Yes it does shift manually. I have an update. A friend suggested I put some Lucas transmission fix in it, and that seems to have cured the problem with the lower gears. At highway speed however it still wants to over heat and stick in 3rd. I have never heard of machine with more gremlins then a Dodge transmission.

What would cause the transmission to get hot at highway speed but not city speed?

 

[tommyboi87]

Do you still have the check valve in the cooler line? Sounds like you have a small clog somewhere.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G925A using Tapatalk

 

[dapepper9]

Kinda what i was thinking. I'm thinking more like a sticking valvebody though

 

[dapepper9]

It's also highly possible you have burnt up clutches

 

[dodge dude94]

Yes it does shift manually. I have an update. A friend suggested I put some Lucas transmission fix in it, and that seems to have cured the problem with the lower gears. At highway speed however it still wants to over heat and stick in 3rd. I have never heard of machine with more gremlins then a Dodge transmission.

What would cause the transmission to get hot at highway speed but not city speed?

If Lucas helped it, you need a rebuild. Lucas is known for killing these trans, not helping them, so if it helped you have next to no clutch material left

 

[Mohpar]

Kinda what i was thinking. I'm thinking more like a sticking valvebody though

Yep this. Sounds like that or checkvalve. When you refilled the trans and changed filter and fluid it probably had enough pressure for the time being to shift like normal. When it sat the temp went down and pressure was lost, thus it shoulden't be able to shift unless the Lucas fix stuff helped.

I don't know of anything bad concerning the Lucas additive but I'd trust these guy's word.