An odd G56 shifter question

[bkaiser]

I am looking at a 2016 3500/G56 to replace my 2003 3500/NV5600. The CarFax looks good except for two entries - At 22K and 36K miles, there are dealer services for 'shift lever/assy replaced'. The truck has a gooseneck hitch, so I'm concerned someone tried to move 90,000 pounds of rocks a time or two.

I've replaced a lot of things attached to manual shifters, but never the shifter itself. Has anyone heard of something like this?

 

[lpennock]

Wonder if they are talking about the shifter boot. The stock boot isn't very robust and will make the interior smell like oil if it rips.

 

[Newsa]

I have removed the shift lever twice. Both times to dump an extra quart of transmission oil into the transmission of my 2013 g56.

There are a couple of rubber boots at the bottom of the shift lever. It very could well be the boots were not sealing well (in fact there are just a few sheet metal screws to really secure the outer edge) The transmission oil smell could (likely) be entering the cab. (I agree with lpennock above). It is also possible that the boot wasn't sealing well around the shift lever itself. In cold weather, i could easily imagine the boots cracking around the shift lever as they lose their elasticity. I live in South Fl and don't have that issue.

There is a fluid breather valve on the flange that holds the shifter onto the top of the g56 casing. It is not sharp and wouldn't normally rip the rubber boot, but it is possible because thereis a lose dust cap on top of it that jiggled around.

Sometimes i'll get a whiff of fluid when in the cab. But usually its not noticable. Might be the previous owner was extra sensitive to the fluid smell and asked the dealer to switch out the shift lever with the boots attached. My wife has a sensitive sniffer and hasn't complained about transmission fluid smell on long trips. It is rare i get the smell in the cab.

 

[Newsa]

The shift lever condition and replacement would have no bearing on the condition of the inner workings of the transmission and would not be a way to judge the health of the transnission. It just sits on top and engages the plates below it.

 

[bkaiser]

Thanks for the input guys! I did the same shifter pull on my '03 to add a quart. Didn't realize the G56 was also a top loader. It looks like I'll be traveling next Friday to see the '16.

 

[RVTRKN]

Dump the ATS fluid for mob-122208-1 and add a real transmission cooler on it.

 

[RVTRKN]

The G56 runs hot!

 

[MConyers]

T13 recall for the shifter assembly: https://www.chrysler.com/universal/webselfservice/pdf/T13.pdf

On my 2016 the shifter failed, had to make band-aid fix before the replacement part was available. Here is some of the text on the recall:

"We are recommending the following improvements be performed on certain 2015 through 2016 model year RAM Truck vehicles equipped with manual transmissions.
The problem is...
The manual transmission shift lever rubber insert may not have properly adhered to the metal shifter housing during the shifter manufacturing process. This condition could cause looseness in the gear shift lever, noise, and additional effort to move the shifter into the selected gear."

 

[bkaiser]

Thanks everyone! It all makes sense why the shifter would be replaced. Unfortunately, this truck got away from me. I have a '16 2500 on the hook now - not lettin' this one go!