2001 Auto transmission

[TBarrett]

I have been hearing some negative talk about the 4 spd Od auto being a short life piece of junk and mostly of the transmission going in less then 10,000 miles. The kicker is Dodge knows, from what I am hearing. Also since I am going to pull a 26 ft travel trailer. Adding all the goodies just makes the auto go faster, from some drivers I just met. Since this is the Dodge knowledge place, WHATS UP? Or Does Dodge just exspect to replace a lot of trannies in there trucks.

 

[Steve M]

Bunches of hogwash. The 47RE and the earlier 47RH are based on the older 727 trannies of the muscle car days. They are strong and will give years of good service. If you abuse it, it's no different than abusing any other transmission. You will shorten it's life. Even the mighty Allison will fail if abused. I had a '95 auto/3. 54 Dodge Cummins that I traded for a 98 5spd/4. 10 and now I'm back in an auto/3. 54. To each his own but I like the auto/3. 54 combo. Especially the way the new 2001 is programmed. It stays in 3rd until I let up on the throttle and then it goes into O/D. This is really handy for towing when you might want to leave O/D on and you ease off of your acceleration for traffic and then continue to accelerate. Once up to speed I let off the throttle for a moment and it eases into O/D with light throttle the way it should be done. I know about the O/D lockout button but I also like the transmission to do what it should on it's own without being ornary like the '95 was from time to time. I read a post on this site awhile back where someone has over 300,000 on their auto. Rare I'm sure but possible. Don't fall for the insanity!

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I have the same setup with the auto and the 3. 54 gears. I love the way it shifts. By far the nicest truck i have ever driven. I have heard the new Autos are fine and should'nt be a problem anymore, only time will tell. I dont tow or haul, so i am sure i should bet more life out of the auto then those who do, but i guess ill find out soon enough.

 

[Slick]

stick versus auto

This issue IMO truly is one of preference. I have driven stick versus auto Fire Trucks for 27 years. I enjoy driving both. For the most part I prefer the auto. Since the introduction of the "lock up" tc I have heard a lot of comments from others that there is something wrong with the transmission. In fact the tc is doing just what it is designed to do. I will say however that is very important to keep the fluid clean and healthy as that is the life blood of the auto. The truck I had prior to my Ram and Dakota (chebby) was an auto with over 200,000 miles on it, towed several travel trailers one as large as 34' many miles. Never had a trans failure but I changed the fluid and filter every October 1 no matter what. Like Steve M and EMDDIESEL I love the way my auto shifts.

 

[Bigramguy]

229,000 Km and counting ... ... . that's on a stock auto in one of my 97's. Serviced once a year..... and plowed hard all winter. Never skipped a beat. The stock convertor is a piece of crap... . but it has gone this far. We have several dodge auto's that we plow with,and NO trans failures as of yet. Knock on wood !!



Adding all the goodies really makes the auto shine,like it was supposed to work. The DTT Convertor really puts the power to the ground. The valve body helps hold it all together. They are kinda pricey,but they do work as intended and can only help the transmission last even longer.

 

[HEYBOSS]

Originally posted by TBarrett

I have been hearing some negative talk about the 4 spd Od auto being a short life piece of junk and mostly of the transmission going in less then 10,000 miles. The kicker is Dodge knows, from what I am hearing. Also since I am going to pull a 26 ft travel trailer. Adding all the goodies just makes the auto go faster, from some drivers I just met. Since this is the Dodge knowledge place, WHATS UP? Or Does Dodge just exspect to replace a lot of trannies in there trucks.

I must have one of the good ones, over 10k and still new actually almost 14k on it now. I think they are a good trans. Like mentioned here before maintenance is the key, just like anything else, also I think their using a better fluid, (type IV) supposed to be filled for life fluid and doesn't need any maintenance if just used for regular service but they do recommend servicing it if you do towing or some other heavy service. If you're going to tow heavy and on hilly areas you should get it with the 4. 10 rear end IMHO, good luck.

 

[fmj]

I agree with these guys. I've been worried by all the bad press that these auto have been getting. But each day I worry less and less. I have 27000 miles with a lot of towing. If I had a plug and play it would be a VA , but I wouldn't admit it. I just got back from a trip to Pleasenton CA from Los Angeles. There are a couple of long steep grades, both going and coming back. The outside temp was 105+. The trans temp kept between 150 and 160 most of the way. That included LA and Pleasenton heavy traffic. I got it up to 185 while climbing long 6% grade because of having to follow trucks slowly as construction reduced freeway to one lane. I don't tow in OD and keep it at about 2400 rpm's, which is about 60 mph. I love this truck and trans. My old Chev deisel with a 400 trans got to 220 easily and I had to watch it closely or it would cook. I had two different shift kits in it and it didn't matter. I also replace the trans twice in 120,000 miles. My hot rod with the 400 race trans sees 190 constantly, but I'm not looking for 300,000 miles with it either. I think these trucks have a good trans, but if you want to go fast and hard you need to step up and spend money. By the way the truck, trailer and car are about 11,750 lbs.

 

[Chipstien]

I am with the rest of them. Just get a trans temp and the transmission will let you know if your kiling it. Also run a good synthetic like Amsoil. I have to work hard to get it above 150 degrees.

 

[CPH]

Just turned 160,000 on my 1997 3:54 with auto. Bone stock and no toruble pulling a 27' fiver! (Yea I'm properly valved!)



Charlie

 

[Mopar-muscle]

fmj and chipstien where are you guys reading this trans temp at ? thats pretty lo especially in heavy traffic ...

 

[redneckdr]

transmission

i just came back from talking to the transmission tech at my local dealer. i had installed an auxilliary filter in the line to the cooler (permakool) which has a port for temp gauge. with the gauge in that position, just in front of the clooler, i'm running about 160-180 either with or without towing. i asked him about the tc and valve body in mine. he is big on the auto, and says that it shouldn't give trouble, UNLESS, towing at or above rated capacity. the troubles he has seen with the newer trannys were from what he terms "abuse"--turning up the power and then towing above capacity. btw he said not to worry about a temp of 180. he said to not worry especially with the synthetic fluid until the temp gets up around 240 or to be safe above 220. i sure like the way mine shifts and drives. hope it stays with me.

 

[fmj]

Mopar-muscle, my trans temp is coming out of the hot line going to the cooler. I had Banks do it and am using their Dynafact gage. There might be some difference in degrees between mine and yours because of calibration from manufacture. I didn't have the truck two days before I put gages in. I watch for "changes" in temps from what I know I expierenced before (remember traffic temps, grades, etc. ). I have a baseline for each and keep track of that rather than worry about the temp itself. I might be wrong, but if it starts to slip I should see a marked increase in temp for one or more of thoes baselines. I had the Chev trans go and it showed increase in temp before I felt the slippage starting to occur. I also shift to neutral when its real stop and go traffic, I'm not sure that helps, but its what the manual states.

 

[Chipstien]

Mopar-muscle, bought the dodge trans line from the 94. I only use mechanical guages for I have more faith in them. Plus it is a full sweep gauge to match the others. Gauge starts at 140 and goes up from there. Most of the time the needle floats just off the pin at 140, but I did get it up to 220 going up a steep winding logging road in first gear with a 5000 pound trailer. In really heavy traffic it will get to 155. Seems the mag Hytec pan really helped lower the temps some.

 

[Mopar-muscle]

ok , thanks guys , just checking , i haven't put my gauge in yet , i have been waiting on the full pilar with tweeter and time , finally have the pillar , now looking for the time , i don't tow very often so i'm not real concerned . but i will be dragging a trailer full of wood this weekend , maybe i should rig up the gauge tonite ...

 

[chuck3]

No proplems here and I tow a 27 footer, just got back from yellowstone today, 26000 miles, and going strong.

 

[RACE427]

It is a HEMI box

The auto trans in the Diesel Rams is the old Chrysler HEMI 727 Torqueflite that has been modified with fourth gear, electronics and the lock up converter. I know of a Chrysler tech. who swears by this gear box and claims if you take care of it with the proper maintenance and do not abuse it, the trans will last. Hope this info helps. By the way, my 2001 has the auto trans and 3:54 gears is a 4X4 and I am getting 21. 3 mpg.

 

[Mopar-muscle]

tgreco , thats all well and good but HEMI'S don't make 1100 plus ft/lbs of torque



problem is some of us are abusing it and its FUN , but EXPENSIVE

 

[Fred Swanson]

Abusing it, who would do that. Not me. Hey, I just changed fluid after doing an update on it at (DTT)Bill's in July and there was very little if any material loss in the pan. And I do abuse it.

 

[RACE427]

It's a HEMI box part 2

I am sure you all know the old sayimg, " If you wanna play then you have to pay " also " Speed and power cost money, how much do you want to spend? " I remember this well from my Drag Racing days of bygone years. Has not changed one bit, except much more expensive!!!! HAPPY PULLING !!!!

 

[vinconco]

Brought my 98 410 auto to the dealer for trans service @ 75,000. Had some shifting problems that they quickly diagnosed as a bad fluid pump and worn clutches... . needed a rebuild yup. Well thanks to this forum I found the problems ... governor pressure sensor and transducer. Runs fine now @ over 90,000 towing a medium trailer in the hills.