Aisin Haters

[kthaxton]

Actually, I do have dead pedal on occasion, except I don't think it is quite 4-5 seconds, I'm betting that may be an exaggeration (although it may feel like that when it happens). It is only a scary situation under very rare circumstances (for me anyway), but as I have got used to it, it doesn't happen as often as I am almost instinctually expecting it and avoid it whenever possible (i.e. I avoid gunning it jumping into traffic when I could just wait a few seconds for a better opportunity). I realize it can't always be avoided however.

I am not denying its existence, I am saying it is not specifically an Aisin issue. The reason I jumped in on your post is (as I've mentioned before) there seems to be a lot of credit given (a negative in your case) to Aisins where it is not deserving......i.e. someone claiming how much better their new truck tows with an Aisin, but give no credit to the fact that the truck also has much lower gears and a HO engine.

 

[promisedland]

Typical magazine drivel. The author probably never towed anything bigger than a Radio Flyer behind his bicycle.

:-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[Cummins12V98]

I can personally attest after owning a 11 RAM HO Dually with the 68RFE that performed flawlessly for 65K with a lot of that towing a combined 29K and now a 15 RAM dually with the Aisin, my opinion is the Aisin and the extra HP and TQ are worth every penny. This truck is just awesome to drive solo or loaded towing a combined 32,500#.

 

[EGroeneveld]

Reads like a Consumer Reports article on diesel pickups would. Pretty pointless read.

 

[MJWenrich]

I considered the fact that I now have 342 gears and that might add to the lug/lag in getting up and going from a dead stop. But at speed, and in 5th, there should be no lag what-so-ever. kthaxton has an occasional problem and mine is all the time, every time. And it's not an exaggeration on the 4-5 seconds. Sometimes three seconds if I am in fifth already and 4 if I am in sixth. I ramp up speed and sometimes drop to fourth to pass a slower vehicle on a two lane road, which is where I drive most of the time. Any hills and I am always in fifth to avoid the searching the trans does on even the most minor grade. And yes, this is a criticism of the Aison but the 68 trans may do this as well with the 342 gears.

The five second lag is more rare. Happened one day in city driving when I floored it to switch lanes and get around traffic. Thought I was going to have to bail as I had already moved out into the lane. I was probably in second or third at the time and nearly was rear ended by traffic waiting for me to go. I should have had plenty of time. That made me go for the after market device.

As I said, the after market device helped but not in the upper three gears. Since I have to put up with this drive train problem and don't know who or what to blame I just feel better grouching about it every now and then. Lord knows RAM doesn't care. I was thinking about asking for an appointment with a service rep from RAM but that might be another waste of time.

 

[SnoKing]

I considered the fact that I now have 342 gears and that might add to the lug/lag in getting up and going from a dead stop. But at speed, and in 5th, there should be no lag what-so-ever. kthaxton has an occasional problem and mine is all the time, every time. And it's not an exaggeration on the 4-5 seconds. Sometimes three seconds if I am in fifth already and 4 if I am in sixth. I ramp up speed and sometimes drop to fourth to pass a slower vehicle on a two lane road, which is where I drive most of the time. Any hills and I am always in fifth to avoid the searching the trans does on even the most minor grade. And yes, this is a criticism of the Aison but the 68 trans may do this as well with the 342 gears.

The five second lag is more rare. Happened one day in city driving when I floored it to switch lanes and get around traffic. Thought I was going to have to bail as I had already moved out into the lane. I was probably in second or third at the time and nearly was rear ended by traffic waiting for me to go. I should have had plenty of time. That made me go for the after market device.

As I said, the after market device helped but not in the upper three gears. Since I have to put up with this drive train problem and don't know who or what to blame I just feel better grouching about it every now and then. Lord knows RAM doesn't care. I was thinking about asking for an appointment with a service rep from RAM but that might be another waste of time.

So what does your dealer's mechanic say when you have him drive the truck while you are along? Have you locked out the stability control to see if that is part of the issue? SNOKING

 

[TJJEEPER]

By extension the same argument could be said for the Diesel option. A lot of money for the upgrade but how many actually need the extra power. We read about folks with smaller trailers or no trailer driving their diesels. Do they really need them? Probably not.

I didn't have the option for the Aisin in 2012 but my ram isn't a daily driver and only has 15,000 miles, probably 12,000 of those towing. It does everything I want but when it's time to replace it, it'll be an Aisin. It's only money...

 

[MJWenrich]

The mechanic that rode along did not know the cause and did not have a fix. He chalked it up to likely being in the programming of the computer but no one seems to know what to do about it. He also thought the slow kickdown might be due to the Aison set up but he clearly did not have a lot of knowledge about the new trucks other than to reprogram them. It's a smaller dealership in farm country and I imagine they sell a lot of Tradesmen trucks judging by what I have seen on their lot. Probably not a lot of Aison sales.

 

[SnoKing]

Tradesmen can be optioned with the Aisin transmission!

If yours is as bad as you say, then I would be pushing for an appointment with the regional service rep. SNOKING

 

[NDanecker]

By extension the same argument could be said for the Diesel option. A lot of money for the upgrade but how many actually need the extra power. We read about folks with smaller trailers or no trailer driving their diesels. Do they really need them? Probably not.

I didn't have the option for the Aisin in 2012 but my ram isn't a daily driver and only has 15,000 miles, probably 12,000 of those towing. It does everything I want but when it's time to replace it, it'll be an Aisin. It's only money...

The arguement could be taken even further and question why a $60K truck when a $25 or $30k truck (or even a car) would do for most people. Honestly, a vehicle is just a means of transportation so why bother getting anything bigger than a Yugo to get from point A to B? Further...why not a bicycle?

Not trying to start a debate. I agree in that many choices we make do not make sense on paper, but they fulfill our wants and desires. That is what makes life worth living - being able to choose (among other things - LOL)!!! And if it makes the 'you' happy than that is all that matters. Everyone else who questions it can go scratch! :-laf

 

[NDanecker]

The mechanic that rode along did not know the cause and did not have a fix. He chalked it up to likely being in the programming of the computer but no one seems to know what to do about it. He also thought the slow kickdown might be due to the Aison set up but he clearly did not have a lot of knowledge about the new trucks other than to reprogram them. It's a smaller dealership in farm country and I imagine they sell a lot of Tradesmen trucks judging by what I have seen on their lot. Probably not a lot of Aison sales.

I feel people need to realize the mechanics can only fix things that are broken or worn out. They basically just diagnose and replace parts. They cannot reprogram, redesign or fabricate a new part. However, it is important for this information to be pushed upstream to the people that have the ability to reprogram and redesign parts so the time spent at the dealership is worth the effort, IMO. If the dealer is not willing to help I'd say find another dealer or push it to the next level (general manager or above).

Good luck!

 

[SnoKing]

"And if it makes the 'you' happy than that is all that matters."

DW and I high five'd each other all the way home from Colorado in Sept. I still have a big grin on my face every time I drive it. All the creature comforts and bells & whistles are just icing on the cake!

Could have we done fine with a 68RFE transmission, sure! But I wanted the Aisin!!!! We were lucky along with a lot of research on my part to file a 2015 with everything we wanted and little that we not think we wanted on a lot. We were short on time(Sept 18th) to order a 2016 we be assured that it would be here is time to leave for Arizona after Christmas, much less get the hitch and bed boxes worked out.

Kind of like we lived 70+ years and deserved this new truck! Only screw up was now my wife likes driving it also!

SNOKING

 

[Cummins12V98]

"Only screw up was now my wife likes driving it also!" Sounds like when I bought a Corvette to turn for some money. My mistake as yours was letting her drive it.

 

[boats54]

He must drive one of the other makers trucks and wants to make Ram look like a lesser truck. I think that he should drive a Ram for a while and he would sell whatever pile he is driving.