68RFE no move after 5,000 mile trip

[PDeverney]

A guy I know called me yesterday about his 2007. 5 dodge megacab with the 6. 7l cummins 228,500 miles. He said after driving to California and back loaded with a 15,000 lb fifth wheel he had no movement. Luckily he made it home. He called the local Dodge dealer and had it towed. They scanned it and told him the trans wasnt making enough pressure and would need a complete overhaul. Got the truck in my shop and was a little intimidated because this is the first one I worked on. Anyway we found the filter wasn't sealing into the pump which was causing a big internal leak on the suction side of the pump. I looked on this forum and didn't see anyone else having this problem(but I am a little computer illerate) Anyway be careful when servicing your trans filter. Make sure you get good quality filters because this is what fixed his trans(and saved him the $5000. 00 reman from dodge).



Pete

 

[jelag]

Welcome Pete... I don't have the 68RFE but its nice to see an honest guy...

 

[LRutigliano]

A guy I know called me yesterday about his 2007. 5 dodge megacab with the 6. 7l cummins 228,500 miles. He said after driving to California and back loaded with a 15,000 lb fifth wheel he had no movement. Luckily he made it home. He called the local Dodge dealer and had it towed. They scanned it and told him the trans wasnt making enough pressure and would need a complete overhaul. Got the truck in my shop and was a little intimidated because this is the first one I worked on. Anyway we found the filter wasn't sealing into the pump which was causing a big internal leak on the suction side of the pump. I looked on this forum and didn't see anyone else having this problem(but I am a little computer illerate) Anyway be careful when servicing your trans filter. Make sure you get good quality filters because this is what fixed his trans(and saved him the $5000. 00 reman from dodge).



Pete

I'm not buying the business about a high quality filter fixed the problem...



The problem was that the person that previously serviced the 68RFE trans didn't realize there is an oring style seal up inside the VB or was too lazy to change it (by using a pick) and the new filter didn't seal very well.



The 45RFE in my Durango has a very similar filter and seal and you have to remove the seal after dropping the filter. If you didn't know about by reading the instructions, you would never know its up there, because its basically invisible when you are under the trans in the dark...

 

[PDeverney]

well the old filter fell out when I removed the bolt and the new one fit tight as a drum on the old filter seal that fits in the pump cavity. Maybe it didnt fix anything but the truck was towed here and now he is on his way pulling campers for a livin again.

 

[2Rowdy]

I'm not buying the business about a high quality filter fixed the problem...



The problem was that the person that previously serviced the 68RFE trans didn't realize there is an oring style seal up inside the VB or was too lazy to change it (by using a pick) and the new filter didn't seal very well.



The 45RFE in my Durango has a very similar filter and seal and you have to remove the seal after dropping the filter. If you didn't know about by reading the instructions, you would never know its up there, because its basically invisible when you are under the trans in the dark...

In a shorter version, just find the the cheapest filter you can buy, no problems.

 

[RDHamill]

My 68rfe died at 66,000. the tech said the filter came out of the seal "very easy" but did not fall out. The service dept used that to imply that it was my fault as I had changed the filter& seal. The tech also said the oil pump input shaft was seized, but the service dept ignored that. Anyway... warranty denied. I replaced the transmission with a unit out of a wrecked truck ( with lower mielage) and all is well.

 

[sag2]

The 68 is a beefed up 45RFE and the filter O-ring has always been something to pay attention to. Problem is many don't read the instructions or pay attention. It usually does not hurt anything, just causes codes or the engine to die at stops when it sucks air. I would have hoped that dealer would have stopped when they pulled the pan and found the fluid in perfect condition and the filter loose.

 

[KIKER]

A few years back, the local dealership wanted $5000 to install a rebuilt 5 speed in my friends V-10 dually. He had been out of town for the weekend and upon starting it up the morning to return, it lurched forward when it started. He couldn't get it out of gear after he killed the engine with the brake and worked and worked until he got it in neutral. He then started it in neutral and carefully put it in gear, slowly releasing the clutch, and everything worked as it should. I guessed that the hydraulic clutch had lost prime and he reprimed it working to get it out of gear when he had the malfunction. He drove it back to Odessa and around some before going to the dealer with no recurring problems. I took him to the dealer when they called with the info. He declined the offer of a "new" rebuilt trans for $5000, but they charged him $90 for a diagnostic fee. That's why I travel 35 to 80 miles to a different dealer to have mine worked on. He drove it for about 2 more years before trading it in on a used Duramax, without any problems.

 

[EricBu12]

When I put my new mag-hytec cover on, it has only 5000 miles on it. I replaced the filter and at first, I didn't push the filter on all the way and the bolt would not line up, then pushed it on all the way and it worked. . wonder if some times the ring would go bad and has to be replaced to make a tight seal... Just a weird thing I guess.