08 ram 2500 shifting problems

[HBarlow]

My truck is programmed to prevent an upshift into sixth gear before 50 mph. I think it is odd that another one will shift into sixth gear at "35-40 mph. "

Every automatic I have ever driven will downshift when the accelerator is pressed down. Depending on road speed and load the transmission might downshift one gear at part throttle or downshift two or three gears at full throttle.

 

[Newt]

Harvey

You have the Aisin. My 68RFE with 3. 73 gears will go into 6th right about 42 MPH.

Newt

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey

You have the Aisin. My 68RFE with 3. 73 gears will go into 6th right about 42 MPH.

Newt

Newt,

I didn't know that. Learned something new. That tells me shift programming is another very minor feature of the C&C I like. I've never been in an ISB6. 7 pickup except for a couple of very short and brief test drives in late '07 so I know very little about their operating characteristics.

Apparently the Aisin shift points are programmed with a bias toward employee drivers and heavier loads on a routine basis. I imagine a 3500 C&C was primarily intended to carry a heavy plumber's service body and be driven by an employee plumber.

 

[Cosmo]

Sounds like the Aisin shift programming is geared more towards real world use, rather than soccer moms.

And yes, 1100 rpm is lugging this engine - god forbid you hit 42 mph and then slow back down to 35ish and now you're at 900rpm.

It will downshift, but it takes considerable pedal input before it does so - OR it sits lugging for a few seconds before it realizes it needs to downshift, and then it thinks you want to haul butt. It's not very good programming.


Remember, folks, Dodge's target market for the 2500/3500 pickup IS soccer moms who have 60k to drop on a truck. My particular truck was owned by a female dentist for the first 45k.

You also have to remember Dodge's primary concerns - fuel economy and NVH. By shifting into 6th at around 40 mph, they're trying to eek out the best fuel economy possible - NOT the best all around performance.

With the revised shift points and line pressure, the ONLY time I'm not in the right gear is if i truly do want the throttle floored for max acceleration. Cruising around at 25, 35, 45, and 50 in the appropriate gear means I'm getting better real-world fuel economy AND I don't have to give so much throttle that it downshifts just to pick up 10 mph.

 

[Hoefler]

Are you in tow/hual or grocery getter mode?

 

[HBarlow]

I've got to agree I wouldn't like cruising along at 1100 rpm or even 900 rpm in top gears and being required to push the pedal hard to achieve a downshift.

 

[Cosmo]

Either mode, I usually drive in tow/haul mode though, since it actually downshifts and uses the exhaust brake instead of just braking through high gear then unlocking and idling.