48RE gone South at 27.5K-What to ask for?

[Dieseldumb]

48RE shudders badly between 45-55 in Tow haul and occasionally slips at 30 shifting to 3rd(I have to manually shift to 2nd). Certain that TC is toast but what else? So far Dealer only wants to continue tests -pressure test next. With truck at only 27. 5 K can I get a complete trans or only rebuilt by local tech? What should I look out for? No ATS or DTT at this time because all under warranty! They are hinting that my load might exceed specs; but ,foreseeing that, I had rig weighed at max load(2 week trip) and am under GCVR by 1K with all axle weights also under. No bombing only added helper springs. The stars tech thought that max load was about 18K, but wasn't sure about 2004(do they read their own literature?) and what's scary is he is the next level up. My last truck had 47RE pulling the same load with no problems. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[BHolm]

Further proof that all dealers are not created equally I had a 48re fail at 67k. Under warranty they replaced the trans with a new one from DC. They also replaced the radiator, external transmission cooler and I think the lines as well. It is a work truck and tows big all the time. Nobody ever even hinted about what I was doing with the truck as a cause. They did find a code fingering the electrically controlled fan clutch as failing. Never got a check engine, trans temp, or any other indication something was amiss. Mine was in and out of the shop in just 2-3 days. Might be time to go make a stink with the service manager. Unfortunately some places jack you around until you become a PO'ed customer.

 

[CLAYTON]

With no power mods they should warrenty it with out question. I had my transmission go out on me and they did a complete rebuild. They offered to put in a heavier duty TC (don't know what they would have put in) but I held off on that cause I upgraded my whole transmission a month or two later. Did you take them for a drive and show them how it would shudder? Once it gets the shakes your TC is done. It's only a matter of time before it completly goes. That's the worst feeling when you stomp on it or are towing something and the truck just starts shaking like crazy. I would think that they would fix it for you IMO.

 

[Dieseldumb]

Sorry for the slow reply, I've been out of the area. The tech from my selling dealer rode with me with RV in tow and verified shudder. After a week or so of no response, I went to another dealer and the service manager and tech rode with me and also verified shudder. I was going to leave it with the 2nd dealer, but Stars notified them that I was working with the 1st dealer. I gave them the paperwork from the 2nd dealer and the service guy said they would have to contact the factory rep(he will probably want me to hook-up the RV so he can also verify the shudder). I had been trying to cultivate the service guy as had been suggested on this forum-screw that idea! I went for the owner, told him I had bought 3 new trucks and something else and wanted my truck fixed, and we went to the service manager. I am now 4 days older and know only that the service manager said he had called the rep! I am 1 day from removing my front tag that says " I Love my Truck" and saving it for my new truck which will not be bought from this dealer. I am 2 months and 3 dealers into this problem and still no definite plan to fix the trans. When is it obvious that the problem is mechanical and will only show up when they replace the TC and/or go into the trans?

 

[Dieseldumb]

Truck is now in the shop and has been on the rack all day while parts are being ordered. The Service Manager said the TC had "hot spots". Not to be cynical, but the tech in Foley, AL(when returning from a trip) told me two months ago that my problem was probably "hot spots" on the TC without a test drive. It took two road trips, with RV in tow, with two dealers(not counting Foley) before my selling dealer would put it on the rack! It seems I will get a new TC and other needed parts tomorrow. I bet that if I had appeared, out of warranty, with the same symptoms that my truck would have been repaired in two days with a bill presented upon delivery! I think the tech doing the work knows his business so I'm hoping for a good job. It's not that I'm ungrateful, just p**sed that it took two months to get it fixed. If interested, I'll post the results later.

 

[tschwab]

Dieseldumb,



I saw your 5vr for sale in the TDR classifieds... . 35' Jayco double slide. What does that weigh? I'm guessing around 12,000 when fully loaded? You indicated you were under GCWR, not sure what your ratings are, but on my '05 with 3. 73 it says 21K. Assuming your truck is about 7K+? Just curious, and keep us posted. Would be intresting to find out what caused those "hot spots".



How often do you tow? Change the transmission fluid? Have a transmission temp gauge? Easy take off's when towing or do you put your foot in it? Use Tow/Haul when towing?



Thanks for the replys.

 

[Dieseldumb]

tschwab,

My total weight loaded for a two week trip was 19,200# with both axles well within limits. I weighed it after several shudder/slipping incidents while returning home-I wanted to be sure that I wasn't overloaded in case of hassle with dealer. My stated GCWR is 20K, but with my overloads and Timbrens I'm the same as your truck at 21K(You do have the cab lights for whatever that adds ). I'm a fairly conservative driver with no fast starts or foot to the floor. I pull at 65-75 on highway. I actually read the manual when new and didn't tow for the 1st couple of 1000 miles. I pull in fairly flat country and seldom have to manually put trans in Tow-haul because of downshifts. I changed rear differential at 11K and did a complete trans flush($180) at 15K(fluid looked new). I have not pulled a load more than 5K of my total 27. 5K.

In the future(after rebuild), I will use Tow-haul more and try to insure that the TC is locked before going into OD. To the point, I have always followed DC's instructions to the letter and feel that even the 48RE is marginal for the Cummings. Time will tell! Thanks for asking-I'll post when job is done.

 

[Dieseldumb]

Got my truck back from the dealer today! They replaced the TC, pump, and OD bands and did a complete fluid refill. I feel they did a good job, but time will tell. They gave me a loaner over the weekend and started treating like the good customer I am-must be wanting a good response on the DC customer satisfaction form! I'll put about a 1000 miles on trans before towing, and stop looking at Furd for a while-they call every other day wanting me to trade them my sorry Dodge for a new Furd. I really believe they have a better Automatic, but would consider a V-10 over their 6. 0.

 

[ThomasLawrence]

They replaced the TC, pump, and OD bands

Curious... there are no overdrive bands... just clutches. Is that what they meant?



-Tom

 

[Dieseldumb]

Tom,

The part the service manager called an OD band is "P/N 4329853 Band" and it looked like a band (what do I know?). They also replaced all seals, the filter-valve body, and the seal-reaction shaft. The Tech went completely through the Trans and I didn't appear to have any damage other than the TC and this band.

 

[NevadaBadBoy]

I just bought (06MAY05) a new 3500 Q/C with the 48RE. I took it for a test drive and right from the time I left the lot, the shift from 1st to 2nd, and 2nd to 3rd would shake and shake the truck while the clutches engaged. It was more pronounced while gently increasing the speed. When I floored it, it wasn't as noticeable. I drove about 5 miles to see what it feels like and then drove back to the dealership. The salesman said he'd have a tech pull the codes, if any, to determine if there is a problem. No codes were found and I bought the truck, figuring it was just a break-in phase, and that once 500 miles have been driven, gears and so forth would smooth out. Well, today, 350 miles later, my check engine light illuminated. It felt like the transmission was slipping into and out of gears and could not obtain a full lock on any of the gears, other than O. D. Dodge said that they'll put in a new transmission. I was offered a new truck, but I could not find one that had all of the amenities this one had. If Dodge still can't fix it, they'd order an identical truck from out of state and they'd have it here within 2 or 3 days. Let's hope the transmission swap will cure it.



NVBadBoy



I already ordered the BD X-Monitor and the Prodigy controller.

 

[ThomasLawrence]

The only thing that happens on the 1-2 shift is the front band is applied. The most common cause of hard shifting in all gears is a malfunctioning lockup solenoid, causing the lockup clutch to misbehave. Swapping a new transmission should take care of that - but make sure they also use a new torque converter, because if the TC clutch was engaged/partially-enaged, it could have worn, and will be prone to slipping later on in it's life.



Electronics... the Achilles heel of any mechanical device



-Tom

 

[Dieseldumb]

NVBadBoy,

Now I know what they did with my old parts-good to recycle! Apparently codes don't appear on purely mechanical problems-my truck never did register a code over a 4 month period. My truck had 28K when they rebuilt the 48RE and I felt good about the rest of the truck having driven it for 18 months. I feel they solved the problem(finally!) and I have faith in the tech because he has been there for many years and only worked on diesel engines and transmissions. Something seems to have happened to your truck since it left DC-I doubt it passed QC with this problem. If you have a chance to get out of this truck, I would run fast! Just my opinion from many years of living with Murphy's Law.

 

[Dallass]

Dieseldumb

I see that you are from around Foley. We will have to get together. I live in Summerdale. I had my transmission rebuilt in Augusta, GA last year and when I was back home and driving from Roberstdale to Summerdale my transmission didn't want to shift until about 20 MPH. Took it to the dealer in Foley and they put in a new speed sensor. The problem was when they put the sensor in they jamed the connector in and crossed the contacts. Would want to start in 3rd gear and would stall out. I lived with that until I went to Augusta and had the trans shop there check out the trouble as I thought that it was the governor solenoids that were bad. No, all my troubles was because of the dealer in Foley not doing the job right. Right now I'm still in Augusta and will be back the end of MAY. Give me a call. I'm in the phone book. Dallas Smith.

 

[Dieseldumb]

Dallass,

Not from Foley, just owned property there(past tense). I also owned a condo on the 1st floor in Orange Beach-recently stood on slab and viewed the Gulf between the studs. I sold before the hurricane and finally began to sleep at night. Love that Beach area-they keep rebuilding it every 10 or so years! I'm from the other end of the State, but enjoy visiting your area(just wish the growth would slow some). Hope your Trans problems are finally solved-I still have to tow with mine to see if all is well.

 

[NevadaBadBoy]

Dieseldumb,



I'm meeting with our dealer and the general manager at 1000 this morning. We'll discuss the availabity of the remaining 2005 models. There are none left in their lots that have the 'H' package. The dealership is a 5 star dealer (I don't know if this means anything), and has all of these customer satisfaction plaques on the walls.



If the truck continues to have the same shakes and shimmies after the complete transmission swap-out, then I'll go to Option B, which is exchange the truck for a different one.



Just when you thought life couldn't get any more perfect... .



NVBB

 

[AMink]

NevadaBadBoy- Are you dealing with Carson Dodge? I've had really good luck with them over the last 11 years. From the salesman (Chuck Gilleys) to the service department, they've been really good. Their service manager is a contributor to TDR. Good Luck!

 

[NevadaBadBoy]

AMink,



Yes, it is Carson Dodge. My salesman wasn't the same as yours, though. I've had 2 salesmen and the one I started out with is really honest and when I talked to the General Manager, he came right out and said that I should look around and pick out a new truck. Unfortunately, there is no other truck like this one on the lot and short of telling the salesman to start looking for new truck elesewhere, I gave Dodge a chance to swap out the complete transmission.



I'll be back at Dodge in a little over an hour so they can show me the transmission, the problem and the damage.



Dieseldumb suggested that I run as fast as I can from this particular truck (Murphy's Law)... . I thought about it, but if a swap out can cure the problem, then I'm better off keeping the truck.



I will keep an open mind and may just inform them to start looking for an identical truck. This QC issue that Dieseldumb mentioned keeps somehow popping into my head... all these what if's... ...



NVBB



Assigned Technician got sick this morning... . Truck still on rack. Prognosis delayed until 1500.

 

[NevadaBadBoy]

Update to my transmission problem:



The tech ran some tests and concluded that the pump was leaking somewhere inside the housing. He tried to stall the engine by locking up the TC using some electronic gadget, but the only thing that happened was the RPM dropping a few hundreds. There was also a trace of bubbles or aeration present in the transmission fluid. As a result of the slipping that occurred because of the lack of oil pressure, the TC showed hot areas around the outer edge of the disc, as well as severe discoloration where the splined shaft enters the TC.



A new TC, as well as a pump had been ordered and it'll go in first thing tomorrow morning, or whenever their carrier drops off the parts. The valve body looked as new, as well as the bands and numerous gears.



The same tests will be run as soon as everything is bolted back on and we'll see where that takes us.



NevadaBadBoy