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Tranny issues, 2002 Dodge 3500 dually, 4x4, Cummings, R47E

Greetings,

I posted a note on this before and got some good suggestions. I have some more information now an would like some more opinions.

Here is the background:

Truck has about 82,000 on it. Use it mostly empty, but occasionally drag about a 10K boat. Florida is mostly flat and the truck has not had a problem towing the boat in overdrive at about any speed I want, although, when I do tow, I normally keep it under 65 and usually at 55-60. At 70MPH, the truck turns about 1850 RPM or so in overdrive.

A few months ago, I noticed that the truck would seem to get stuck in first gear. Eventually, it would shift to second if I revved it high enough and then seemed to act normally through the other gears. This symptom would come and go.

Then, about a month ago, it would seem to get stuck in first gear more often.

Now, it seems to start out in second gear and then shift through the other gears just fine and very rarely does it get stuck in first.

I flushed the tranny and changed the fluids. The pan did have some metal particles in it and the oil was kind of dark, not black, but kind of a reddish brown. It did not smell burnt and my tranny temp gauge rarely moves. However, occasionally, and only lately does the tranny temp gauge get into the middle of the range if I am towing in stop and go traffic.

I have been given advice to either:

1) Change the tranny 2) Have it rebuilt 3) Change the solenoids or governor components

The check engine light has never come on, but the guy that flushed the tranny did say there was a 'code' that appeared but would not tell me what it was. I never did trust tranny shops as they always seem to give vague answers or refuse to discuss price. They seem to treat issues as some sort of black art or something. I do not have a code reader but should probably invest in one.

I am fairly handy and more then capable of swapping a tranny out or changing some simple components, but I would not tackle a tranny rebuild myself.

The up side of all this, is that when the tranny was working fine, I was averaging about 16 MPG. Now that it starts off in second, I am getting close to 19 and the rest of the truck is fine. So, although I need to get this fixed, there is no real sense of urgency.

Anyway, any advice or guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Clint ====

Reply to
Clinton Jensen
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First off, tell us what year the truck is. Second, if its a 2000 and up, or a 97 (I'm guessing you are 97 and newer since you have a trans code), you can go key on, key off, 3 times, then key on, and the odo will read the code, a P****. The FSM has them, or bring it here for someone to translate.

The fluid being brownish may be the result of starting out in second, but its not a great thing to have happen, since it indicates slipped clutches.

The idea to R&R the solenoids sounds like a good one, since there is a code present. However, find out and diagnose the problem before dumping money on it, hoping it'll go away.

Reply to
Max Dodge

Unless of course, the mechanic cleared the codes and there are a few years where that method doesn't work. The 97 has a mechanical ODO and he would have to translate the flashes from the CE light. The 98 IIRC, has no way to read the codes short of a code reader. But all of that is mute since the header clearly indicates that it is a 2002 Dodge 3500 4X4 with a Cummins and a R47E transmission.

If you read the bottle that the trans fluid comes in, it clearly indicates that the color is caused by a dye and that a color change is no valid indicator of the fluids condition.

Good advice here.

Reply to
TBone

In the header is the year of the truck.. 2002 dodge 3500 dually, 4 x 4 , r4fe

Reply to
Lorne

Actually, its "moot", but hey, why crack a dioctionary and learn anything when you type so much? Second, I was in a rush and didn't pay attention to the whole header. Third, he emailed with the codes, which, although not cleared by the tech, probably would have reset. And last, its a 47RE, which I'm sure you knew, but failed to figure out, sorta like I failed to read the header fully.

Yup, I've read that, and with nearly 40k on my trans fluid (yes, I'm pushing it) its still a nice cherry red. I don't put much stock in the fluid changing color for any random reason; it happens because of heat or debris. Second, as you'll note, I said, "may be the result", which leaves it open to other reasons beyond my knowledge, since I don't have his trans sitting right here.

But thanks for the input, I'll be sure to let you know if I have any problems. You'll be sure to let me know if you have a spare seperator plate for a 4L60E, right? I need one of those tomorrow, if at all possible.

Reply to
Max Dodge

$10 says you get busted for typo'ing 'dictionary' - even though that's just a simple typo, rather than a complete lack of understanding of the difference between two homophones. Ah well....

Reply to
Tom Lawrence

yeah, ain't it da troot.

Reply to
Max Dodge

change the governor pressure solenoid and transducer

use only MOPAR parts

change the fluid every 12K

Reply to
TranSurgeon

change the governor pressure solenoid and transducer

use only MOPAR parts

change the fluid every 12K

Reply to
TranSurgeon

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