1999 six speed

[MBurtch]

I was reading current issue of TDR and on page 78 for 1999 it states "six-speed transmission removed from sale due to quality control issues". I currently have about 35,000 miles, I know only a baby, on my truck. Should this issue be a concern or just plan on getting a new or rebuilt transmission should this one go out? I bought the truck used about 7,000 ago. No problems so far. I mainly use it for towing a 9,000 - 10,000 5th wheel.

 

[Mschevey]

Do you have any trouble getting it into gear? When cold does it grind going into 3rd or 5th for the first time? Do you feel any vibration in the stick when in gear and under load?



If yes to any questions, maybe bad news. If no symptoms above you probably have a good one, no gaurentes though.



Mike

 

[MBurtch]

The shift stick has always vibrated. Doesn't make any difference if under load or not. I wouldn't say it grinds when going into gear. Just feels a little notchy. Never hear a grinding sound.

 

[Mschevey]

You say you purchased it used. Do you have a warrenty on the transmission at this point? (less that 36,000) If so have a mechanic at the dealer feel the vibration in the stick. Make sure they document it and keep a copy. They may do somting or not. If not, at least if it does give you a problem, you can show that you reported the problem before the 36,000 mile mark.



Mike

 

[DEZLPWR]

Mschevey: Now you have me worried....

My '99 5sp has frequent notchy 3rd gear shifting when cold and the shifter sometimes vibrates when under load (particularly in 4th). Is my NV4500 going t/u? It seems like the notchy 3rd gear is pretty common with the NV4500 from what I have seen. If it makes any difference, I have a 2" lift w/35" BFG A/T's.



Steve

 

[MikeR]

No,it's just that they were having all kinds of problems in getting the 6spd into production. If yours shifts fine,then there's nothing to worry about. The vibration of the lever is just from the bounce of the massive trans weight. It sure bounces more than my 5spd ever did.

My '00 has the same 6spd as the '99's and I'm up to 59,000 miles driven slightly hard. It's a good transmission.



-Mike

 

[Alaskaskiff]

Third gear on NVG4500. Mine was starting to be difficult synchronizing. Changed oil and problem went away within a couple hundred miles.

 

[johnrv4]

I can't remember if I read it here or heard it at work, but (if memory serves me correctly) I think one problem they were having was a harmonics noise coming from the cages on the tapered roller bearings used in the transmission. If this was a problem, it sure would be a minor one and shouldn't have a effect on the transmission longevity.

 

[Rattlebox]

43,000 on my 1999 6 speed, no problems.

 

[Bill Stockard]

MikeR is right. I followed the 6 speed transmission very closely in '99 since I wanted one to replace my '97 auto 3500. I wrote to Mike about his and other 6 speed owners before ordering my '00 3500 6 speed. I also talked to a person in Indiana who had close ties with the NV factory. There wasn't a quality problem--it was a production problem



The early 6 speeds were all "hand" assembled in the back of the plant at first. Yes, they did have some noise problems in the early ones--not detrimental to the gear box, just noisy for the driver. The production was very slow and at one time they got up to about 30-40 transmissions per day output with the hand assembly before the automated equipment was in place.



When I ordered my '00 truck in mid-September '99, the 6 speed models were on allocation to dealers. My dealer had not sold his allocation, but I had to wait until mid-December for delivery.



I am glad I ordered one and have been very pleased with it. I've haven't enjoyed shifting gears as much since I had my '66 Vette!!!



Bill

 

[MBurtch]

I took my truck into the Dodge dealer for a test drive today. The noise was getting from my transmission came from, don't laugh, a loose nut under the shift pattern on the gear shift. He poped the gear shift pattern off with a little screw driver. The nut was so loose could spin it with your finger. Used a socket to tighten the nut up. Put the emblem back on and now no noise. Said everything else looked fine with the transmission. The fix was so easy for the rattle wanted to share it in case anybody else was having a simular problem.

 

[fj40charles]

I've got 60,000 mile on my 2000 6 speed (build date of July 1999) and I don't have any problems.



Charles

 

[rkressg]

Grinding

My 6-speed grinds like mad when I put it into reverse. The dealer tells me this is normal and not a problem. Other 6-speeds that I have driven do not do this. The transmission also grinds for all gears when it is cold. The truck has about 27,000 miles on it, mostly hard driven towing miles. Any suggestions on what to do?

 

[wyosteve]

I'd say take it to a different dealer. My 01 ETH never grinds goingl into any gear. Something is not right with yours and better to do it before the warranty runs out. BTW, I have 63K on mine and no problems.

 

[johnrv4]

RGilbert, I would probably go to another dealer. . Especially before you get 36K on the truck. My truck has never ground going into reverse, even while moving forward. Reverse is synchronized just like the rest of the forward gears and shouldn't grind at all. I would try a different dealer before the warranty is up.