NV5600 transmission / ECM

[hitchjnj]

I have a 2003 with the 6 speed Navstar transmission. I lost the transmission in Nashville and had it replaced, two weeks later in Texas I had to have it replaced again. The day after I picked it up I started having weird RPM surges and ended up getting a new ECM. Is there any connection between the two or was this just a weird coincidence?





2003 3500 DRW SLT, NV5600 6 speed, 184000 miles.

 

[AHofner]

Sounds like you cover a lot of territory, how heavy do you pull? I know that on here, they always warn about pulling steep grades in 6th due to lack of lubrication of something in the trans. I doubt that there is a connection between the ECM and the manual transmission, but I don't really believe in coincidences either. I have 135 K miles on my NV5600 without so much as a hiccup, so I'm always interested when someone posts an issue with it.
Don't worry, if there's a problem to figure out, the posters on this board will have it solved.

Andrew

 

[Prairie Dog]

There's no electronic connection to the NV5600 aside from the backup lamps.

 

[HBarlow]

No connection between transmission and ECM.

I hope you purchased the second replacement NV-5600 from Standard Transmission in Fort Worth. Their transmissions are professionally rebuilt and sold with a warranty that they stand behind.

 

[zzman]

I'd suggest over filling with 2 qts.

 

[hitchjnj]

Thanks everyone. I pull a 16000 lb. fifth wheel, of my 184000 miles a little over 104000 is towing. I never pull a steep hill in 6th and never had a problem with the transmission. I was crusing straight and level on the interstate, had been on the road about twenty minutes when you could hear something give way in the transmission. Whatever it was went through the transmission gutting it. I bought my transmission through dodge because it was less expensive and came with a 3 year 100000 mile warranty. The one I got in Tenn. was bad from the start, you had to hold it in 5th gear and you could feel the gears grinding when it was in 6th. THe one I got in Texas seems to be good.



3500 DRW SLT, NV5600 6 speed.

 

[HBarlow]

Thanks everyone. I pull a 16000 lb. fifth wheel, of my 184000 miles a little over 104000 is towing. I never pull a steep hill in 6th and never had a problem with the transmission. I was crusing straight and level on the interstate, had been on the road about twenty minutes when you could hear something give way in the transmission. Whatever it was went through the transmission gutting it. I bought my transmission through dodge because it was less expensive and came with a 3 year 100000 mile warranty. The one I got in Tenn. was bad from the start, you had to hold it in 5th gear and you could feel the gears grinding when it was in 6th. THe one I got in Texas seems to be good.

3500 DRW SLT, NV5600 6 speed.

Would you be willing to share the dealership price of a new? . . . or rebuilt NV-5600 transmission with the readers?

If you prefer not to discuss the price just ignore my post. I'll understand.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

As of two or three years ago all Dodge Mopar NV5600's were being built by Blumenthals in OKC.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[HBarlow]

I think that's likely. I don't believe there are any new ones in the system, only rebuilt units.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I have a 2003 with the 6 speed Navstar transmission.

The NV5600 transmission in your truck has nothing to do with Navistar. The NV initials in the name stands for New Venture Gear, the manufacturer of the transmission.



Bill

 

[hitchjnj]

I didn't realize the transmission was built by New Venture gear, that would explain why you cannot get a new one as NVG went out of business. The only transmissions I found avialable were rebuilt or remanufactured. I chose a remanufactured because of the three year 100000 mile warranty. THe price was between 6 and 7000 dollars, including installation.



2003 3500 DRW SLT, 6 speed NV5600

 

[HBarlow]

I didn't realize the transmission was built by New Venture gear, that would explain why you cannot get a new one as NVG went out of business. The only transmissions I found avialable were rebuilt or remanufactured. I chose a remanufactured because of the three year 100000 mile warranty. THe price was between 6 and 7000 dollars, including installation.

2003 3500 DRW SLT, 6 speed NV5600

It is unfortunate you weren't a TDR member earlier. We could have saved you several thousand dollars by recommending you go to Standard Transmission in Fort Worth, TX or Blumenthals in OKC. Both are TDR advertisers, premier rebuilders, and although I'm not knowledgeable of their prices now either of them could have sold you the same transmission with a warranty for considerably less.

Of course, if you were broken down with a large fiver in tow somewhere in a strange city it would have been harder to put together but many good independent shops could have removed your transmission for you and you could have strapped it on a pallet and shipped it to Standard or Blumenthals and waited for a replacement to be shipped back and installed by the shop.

 

[AEdelheit]

Well even though there is not a connection between the NV5600 and ECM they could have pinched or damaged a wire during the repair process that caused a problem, not likley but possible.

 

[HBarlow]

Yes, it's possible. I thought about it for a minute but can't think of any reason why a mechanic should be under the hood rummaging around on the driver's side of the engine when the truck is up on a lift to remove the transmission.

When the truck is out of the owner's sight at a dealership where he is a stranger in a city he is passing through anything could happen but unless a tech was borrowing parts out of his truck I can't think of any reason why the two components would be connected.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I'll keep knockin on wood. Over 200K on my NV5600 with only one clutch change out and I tow heavy.

 

[HBarlow]

I'll keep knockin on wood. Over 200K on my NV5600 with only one clutch change out and I tow heavy.

Mine held up well until 300k miles. Standard Transmission rebuilt it with only a few new parts at 302k miles.

I think my own neglect contributed to the failure of the big bearing. I allowed a very slow fluid leak to let the fluid get lower than it should have been and should have been running it overfilled by a quart.

 

[zzman]

Standard rebuilt mine like new for $1400 in Oct. 2010 then

Bluementhal rebuilt it like new w/ double disk clutch for $3100 in Mar 2011.



The damage was my fault from the Standard rebuild.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Mine held up well until 300k miles. Standard Transmission rebuilt it with only a few new parts at 302k miles.



I think my own neglect contributed to the failure of the big bearing. I allowed a very slow fluid leak to let the fluid get lower than it should have been and should have been running it overfilled by a quart.

Yup. I take off the shift lever and fill the transmission from the top.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Standard rebuilt mine like new for $1400 in Oct. 2010 then

Bluementhal rebuilt it like new w/ double disk clutch for $3100 in Mar 2011.



The damage was my fault from the Standard rebuild.

Wha'd ya do?

 

[hitchjnj]

Thanks for all your advice, I too wish I had belonged to TDR sooner. I was stuck in Nashville and towing my rig. I checked with several specialty shops and they all wanted a little over $6000 for a rebuild, so went with the dodge and of course the first one was no good. I still think the NV5600 is a good transmission I just had a bad gear in ther that let loose. I must admit it was the last thing I was expecting.



I need to apoligize for my posting last night I stated that New Venture Gear went out of business, I no nothing of NVG my mind slipped a gear because I was thinking of New Process Gear that went out of business.



3500 DRW SLT, NV5600