Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 3rd gear grind

[Ninearrow]

Third gear (none of the others) started to grind a couple weeks ago. Approximately 62k on truck. This is the first significant trouble I've had with anything major.



No shifting solution (waiting, dropping rpm further, double cluthcing) etc. seemed to work so I took it in for a check.



Tech at the Dodge dealership said synchros are out. Parts are ordered. Should be fixed next week and covered under extended warranty.



Questions:



Does it hurt to drive it in the meantime?



Are all the synchros out or just those that relate to third gear?



Is there a TSB or some work that should be performed on the 5th gear nut while they have the transmission out?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I've heard it's a somewhat common problem with the early 6 speeds - supposedly fixed in later units. 3rd and 4th gear (and 3rd gear syncro) run on a separate shaft/cluster, and seems like 3rd gear on my '02 is slightly more sensitive to shifts than the other gears - but no grinding... yet...

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

DEFINATELY, they will have to tear the transmission down to pieces to replace the syncros. While you are having that done I'd HIGHLY recommend you get a fully splined mainshaft, new 5th gear, and new 5th gear nut and have them put those in at the same time. It will cost you about $350 to buy the fully splined mainshaft and new gear and it is the true solution to the 5th gear problem. I had the mopar 5th gear nut fix installed on my truck at 60,000 miles as a preventative measure and at 100,000 miles 5th gear came off anyways. I now have a fully splined shaft in there and it shouldn't come off again.

 

[Ninearrow]

Steve,



Where do I get the parts?

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I got mine through Blumenthal Heavy Duty, Inc ( http://www.blumenthalmfg.com ). Standard transmission ( http://www.standardtransmission.com ) also carriers them as does Enterprise Engine ( http://www.enterpriseengine.com ).

 

[DieselB59]

Mine just turned 100K and the very next day, third gear had a very bad rap under load. I ordered a unit from Blumental's and just got it in yesterday. Upon removing my PTO covers, there was utter destruction to every gear I could see. Teeth missing, chipped teeth, mucho metal shrapnel. Well, the new transmission is in place and it's fantastic. I'd recommend this to anyone who's sitting on the fence between repairing and replacing. In 100K, this is the first major repair I've had to do to this truck. I don't consider head gaskets major, since they're expendable... . so besides them, the stock transmission held up to 100K of pure abuse before it succumbed. I do definitely feel a difference in the replacement transmission. Maybe it's just that the OEM one changed slowly with the truck and I never noticed it. This one has smoother throws and overall no noise compared to the old one.

 

[d.miner]

I think we're all assuming that you have a 6 speed... but it really doesn't say.



Is this a 5 or 6 speed unit?

 

[DEZLPWR]

He has a 5spd....

I clicked on his profile and it says it in there... .

 

[TPlasek]

Will the Dodge dealership install a fully splinned shaft when it is not their "MOPAR" part, purchased from their parts dept??? I bet they will only put the same stuff back in...



Better ask before you order the parts.

 

[John Berger]

It will probably depend on the dealer. You would have to go elsewhere for warranty consideration on the non-Mopar parts if they failed. That would be a real PITA. Trying to prove cause of failure with a non-Mopar part involved that a dealer installed. My dealer's service department would do the install.