93 4x4 horrible transmission problem.

[Studie]

hello everyone, im new to the tdr site and im pretty new the the diesel dodges, ive had a ton of gas trucks but no diesels.



I have 93 CTD with a auto transmission (not sure witch trans it is but if you guys need me to i can find out) and at 197000 the trans blew on me. i took it to a trans shop and had my trans rebuilt. i got it back and the shop said that they were waiting on the shift cable, but i can still drive the to work i just had to let my foot of the pedal to allow the truck to shift from 2nd to third. they fianlly get the cable in and it cable made it worse. so they put in a bran-new tourqe converter and they said it was fine. i picked the truck up and it couldnt get it outta 1st gear and the motor was bogging out on me. the shop said the trans was fine but there was somthing wrong with the motor. i had midwest fuel injection look at it and they said the moter was ain great shape and the trans it really messed up. i adjusted the shift cable and i got the trans to shift better, but i had to grind a small peice of it off so i can adjust it all the way up, and that helped. but the truck shift right but it feels like it sliping sometimes and it really revs out my gears to get going. it shifts worse when the truck it cold, but when the truck warms up it shift better but mot the way it should. and the real kicker is the shop is out of buisness now.



i hope this all makes sense to you, if it doesnt i try to clarify for you all or i can give you my number and we can talk over the phone. this has been going on for about a year or so and i gave the "long story short" version. the transmission blew at 197 now i have 210 on the truck. i really need your help. thanks in advance,

Matt

 

["Mad Max"]

Well first off, welcome to the site Matt Oo.



From where I'm sitting it sounds like transmission 'issues'. One of the achieles heels for the 1st gens has always been the factory converter - they 'feel' like the transmission is slipping, when in reality the converter transfers no where near enough torque. Regarding transmission shops, unless the guy doing the transmission rebuild speaks 'Cummins', go somewher else. The transmission's are everything, and a poorly built one will not last long. If you got a 'new' converter in there and the engine revs it's heart out trying to get the truck moving, the converter is 'stock'.



I'd also say that you shouldn't have to cut-grind off anything to make the transmission work. Something somewhere is 'off'.



Cold performance is normal. Never try to move anything substantial until the engine has at least moved the temp gauge a bit. As soon as I fire the engine, warm day or cold, I drop the transmission in neutral immediately and leave it there until I'm ready to roll. Always warm up the engine with the trans in neutral - this allows the pump to flow fluid through the transmission so the transmission is lubed before engaging the torque. It really does matter.



Sounds like the transmission needs to be checked out by someone that knows the voodoo for a diesel transmission.



Let us know what you find out.



- Sam

 

[GDMRTN]

It almost sounds like valvebody problems. Like maybe being stuck in two gears at once. Whether it be two forward gears or a forward and reverse. And yes, if a trans shop don't speak cummins power, then it aint worth the time it takes.

 

[DVolk]

93 4x4 horrible transmission problem

Id re adjust the bands , id also contact your state attorney genrals office

includeing the fedral trade commission and try ang get your money back

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

In a 93, your transmission, I would bet to be the 518. I'm pretty sure that was the only one that came in 93s. The only other option is the 727, which is the exact same transmission without overdrive... more common in the older trucks.



I second the factory torque converter being junk. They lose a lot of your power to the ground. I watch my tach, when I hit the accelerator off the line the RPMs go right up to about 2500, and then the transmission just takes a while to catch up. Bear in mind, your stock motor winds out at 2700.



I've noticed a lot of the problems youre having on my own truck. Whats wierd though, is that my 2nd to 3rd shift is smooth, my 3rd to 4th is where I have to let off the pedal or it WONT shift... ever. You can try to adjust your TPS if thats the problem... that is only if you have O/D.



If you go to a transmission shop, ask them to adjust the transmission to get rid of the clutch engagment overlap. It'll make it shift a little harder, but its actually better for the transmission and it'll help with performance and fuel ecomony. I also agree with the thought that its stuck in 2 gears at once. Thats what I've suspected mine to be doing for a while now. It's awful for everything on the truck. It almost feels like you constantly have a 10k pound trailer behind you all the time. Your engine has to work harder, along with your turbo, your torque converter...



Let me know what you come up with.

 

[Studie]

thanks for all the replies guys, im searching for a shop that knows what they are doing.



the cold performance on the trans its way worse than it used to be before i had the trans redone, there ares sometimes i cant even make it up a hill.



i would also love to get my money back, but the "warrenty" on the trans is up. i think it would be alot of extra time spent when it should be putting it into my truck.



i was also think about doing a cab/manual trans swap, due to the floors, cab mounts and rockers rusted really bad. but we'll see with is more practical for me in the long run. thanks alot guys.

matt

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

Im in the middle of gathering parts to swap a manual into my truck. If you have any questions... I'm learning ALL the ins and outs of this whole project.

 

[dpuckett]

I agree with all the above posts. My mom had a local guy redo her transmission, and the ONLY difference I noticed on a 275K transmission before and after was that the 20mph 1st gear shudder was gone (for a while) after the rebuild. The yeah-hoo didnt even have the TV cable adjusted correctly. It got a lot better after I adjusted it, but by then, it had 15K on it. He wouldnt honor his warranty either- said the problem was "in the drivetrain. " Duh!! (He also commented on Mom's slug being pretty peppy for an older truck. I told him it was a freaking DOG compared to my 92, and others I had owned). If I ever have another auto transmission (sold my W250 with the auto to a buddy of mine), I'm putting a Suncoast, DTT, Goerend, et al, transmission in it and calling it good. Better to pay $3000 once than $1800 2 or 3 times.



Where in Illinois you located?



Daniel

 

[Studie]

I agree with all the above posts. My mom had a local guy redo her transmission, and the ONLY difference I noticed on a 275K transmission before and after was that the 20mph 1st gear shudder was gone (for a while) after the rebuild. The yeah-hoo didnt even have the TV cable adjusted correctly. It got a lot better after I adjusted it, but by then, it had 15K on it. He wouldnt honor his warranty either- said the problem was "in the drivetrain. " Duh!! (He also commented on Mom's slug being pretty peppy for an older truck. I told him it was a freaking DOG compared to my 92, and others I had owned). If I ever have another auto transmission (sold my W250 with the auto to a buddy of mine), I'm putting a Suncoast, DTT, Goerend, et al, transmission in it and calling it good. Better to pay $3000 once than $1800 2 or 3 times.



Where in Illinois you located?



Daniel

i am in lemont il, im close to joilet/lockport area

 

[Studie]

UPDATE. took it to a really well known, well recomended transmission shop, they found the problem, the damn case is cracked. Problem solved right?? not even close, they are having trouble getting a new case, the keep on getting on for a 95 and up. i went around to the junkyards today and no one has a used 93 diesel 4x4 transmission... does anyone no of any places i can call. i want my baby back. .

 

[cerberusiam]

UPDATE. took it to a really well known, well recomended transmission shop, they found the problem, the damn case is cracked. Problem solved right?? not even close, they are having trouble getting a new case, the keep on getting on for a 95 and up. i went around to the junkyards today and no one has a used 93 diesel 4x4 transmission... does anyone no of any places i can call. i want my baby back. .

The 518's are starting to get in short sppply so it may be tough to find a case.



You can use the 618 case and just swap in the 518 parts. The 518 and 618 cases are pretty much the same except for the TC lockup and that can be plugged.



All that said, you may be farther ahead just upgrading the transmission to the 618\47RH. There is some adaptation work involved but its not that bad to do.

 

[AVerHage]

My personal opinion is that 518s are junk. The 727 is an awesome transmission but in the long run an automatic will fail you pushing all that torque through it. Get a 5spd, and if you beat your rig like I do get a HD clutch assy.

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

There is a small chain of repair shops up here near Milwaukee call Engine and Transmission Exchange, or just ETE. They will for sure have a rebuilt 518. They did my last transmission. They don't rebuild the transmission you have, they have a warehouse that supplies their shops. All trannies that are pulled out are sent to the warehouse to be completely remanufactured. You can buy trannies straight from their warehouse.



Depending on how long you can wait, I have my reman 518 waiting to be ripped out and replaced with a Getrag I have, but I'm just looking for a cheap manual NP205 because since moving in with the girlfriend I don't have the cashflow to spend $600-1100 on one.

 

[Flexiheep]

I used an ATS transmission 2 years ago for my 518 rebuild, still kicking great, and it came in what I assume is a 94+ case as it needed a little trimming to fit the 205 shifter. The case had some reinforcing ribs that mine did not on the pass side just in front of the Tcase shifter bolt holes.

Long story short I think you could use a 618 case with a little work.

 

[PToombs]

since moving in with the girlfriend

Well, that explains where you've been!

 

[dpuckett]

And I was thinking of calling him and asking how the transmission was. Guess I have my answer. Shouldnt moving in with the g/f LOWER your bills? Isnt that why you moved in with her in the 1st place? At least that was my official reason. 4 years, and guess I need to work on getting her a ring... .



DP

 

[Tippin Spotted Cow]

It did lower my bills... until her company got bought out. She's a headhunter and has a very low base pay, and lost all her monthly commision in the buyout... things will pick up again soon when all her clients and everything transfer over... just in time to do a transmission swap in the snow most likely.

 

[Studie]

transmission fixed!

hey i got the truck fixed finally! the damn case had a crack in it! thats for all your help!