Auto Trans Troubles

[Turbo]

I had a problem with the trans tonight I had started it up and had it on the highway for about 15 miles going about 75MPH. Then the truck stopped accelerating but I looked at my gauges and my engine was speeding up, seemed almost like it went into neutral. I checked for a hot trans light didnt have one the only thing that struck me as odd is that the O/D off light on the button must have come on in the process. I put the truck in neutral and coasted to a stop when I stopped I checked the trans fluid everything OK Got back in the truck and put it in gear. . no problem it took off and made it the rest of the way no problem( about 55 more miles). Does the trans set trouble codes and can you get them through turning the key off and on three times? I am accustomed to working on world and ZF trans. On those when they have a problem they sometimes stay in the gear they had a problem in but what seems more likely to me if there was a brief loss of power to the ECU does it automatically shift to neutral although that doesnt explain the light. I dont know to me it sounds electrical but I have never worked on one of these trans before any help will be appreciated. By the way I was just cruising not accelerating and the truck has 119,000 miles on it thanks

 

[Bill Kondolay]

Turbo
What year is your truck ?

Bill

 

[Extreme1]

Welcome to Dodgeland. What you have described in not uncommon. It happens almost at ramdom. It might happen again tommorow or not until next year. Quite unnerving at higher speeds. You will also loose your cruise setting but it can happen without the cruise turned on.

Last time it happened to me, I was traveling a long distance (24 hours in a weekend) and it happened twice. That was in November and it hasn't happened since.

When it does happen, just push the O/D off button (to turn it back on) and reset your cruise speed.

Not satisfied? Me either. Very hard to duplicate, happens in all weather and at different times, speeds, etc. Someone suggested it might be a voltage spike caused by a static build up somewhere. Probably not hart to do to a millivolt control circuit. Happens on the gassers too.

Maybe it is caused by the ghost of Lee Iacocca. Oh, wait, he's still alive...

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'94 3500 4x4, 210,000 miles, Never had a cat, Auto w/shift kit (thanks Dave G), 3. 54 Gears, TST #5 plate, 235-85-16s, Rancho 9000s w/remote, Isspro Gauges & Amsoil Air, Oil & Bypass Filters & Lubes, AWOL intake boot.
Punchlist: 14 cm Turbo Housing & 215 Injectors.
NRA member.
Blue Ribbon Coalition member.
"I am my own performance station"

 

[Strick-9]

Turbo,

Several months ago there was a thread about this. You'll be driving along in OD and all of a sudden the OD light comes on and the transmission downshifts.

This has happened to my truck twice in the past year. The OD button on my truck is a momentary button that applies power (or ground, i dunno) to the PCM when you want to shift from 'OD off' to 'OD on' or vice versa. I think it is just electrical noise that falsely triggers the PCM into shifting.

When the transmission shifts, it first unlocks the TC which explains your neutral feel. Combine that with a downshift and your RPMs would increase while the truck slowed down just as you describe.

I'm sure if we get Bill working on this problem though, we will all have an answer shortly.

It is such a random event that it is hard to track down a cause. Hopefully, this is a one-time event for you that won't bother you again.

-Chris

'94 2500 4x4 auto w/ DTT TC and VB, TC saver, Diamond B 370's, Gov. spring kit, modified AFC spring kit, hi-flow delivery valves, custom fuel enhancements, Jardine 4" exhaust, stock turbo and intake.

 

[Bill Kondolay]

Guess I'am out of a job soon. What they said.

Bill

 

[LSMITH]

Fat chance Bill! LOL.

 

[Joe G.]

Turbo,

I've got 163K miles on my '95 so I don't think the aggravating thing is real serious. Mine didn't go it for over six months and then it did it twice in one trip. If you ever solve it PLEASE let us know.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,DTT TC/VB,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Bob Wagner]

Bill K out of a job ???? Boy now thats early retirement...

not so early Bill there are more great thing to come #ad

 

[Turbo]

Thanks for everyones input I guess it isnt as bad as I had first thought. One last thing does anyone know what the torue on the auto trans pan bolts are. By the way I forgot to mention my truck is a 94. Thanks again

 

[tomg]

my 95 started this way then got worse. Under warranty I found a very concienous mechanic who played with the throttle positioning control unit on the tester and found the problem there,replaced and no problem since. More transmissions are worked on when the problem isn't there.

 

[illflem]

I also think it's a computer related problem, my '95 will do it a bunch or even once then quit for weeks or months, I quit being concerned. When I consider how often I have to restart my PC when it screws up I can appreciate how little the Dodge computer messes up.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(work truck)
95 3500,5 speed 3:54,BD E-brake,Driftwood,Banks&Psycotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(works harder truck)

 

[Charlie Parrish]

If bill doesn't have anything to do, I believe the answer lies somewhere in Tom's reply. I have a 95 with just over 100K and both times that I have experienced that condition was when the TPS was acting up. After replacing TPS problem has went away for me as well as the lockup ghosting problem. So it seems to me that voltage has something to do with it.
Chas


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I may not be much, but I'm all I think about.

95 that is lightly used. Dressed out nicely with 19. 5 wheels from Rickson Truck.

 

[corprimo]

torque on transmission pan bolts is listed in shop manual at 150 inch pounds. I had transmission work done last year, and noticed last week all my bolts were loose!

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Dan Heynen - Anchorage - '97 Club Cab 2500 4X4, Auto, 3. 54, US Gear brake, gauges, K&N air filter, lock-up switch, TST 230/605, transmission by BD,Mag-Tech rear, Bushwhacker flares, NorthWest Custom mud flaps, Rhino bedliner, Amsoil dealer, 28 ft Cardinal 5th wheel, 25 foot Ericson sailboat, Western Plow, Arctic Cat snowmobiles.

 

[HomerDog]

I had the exact same thing happen to me twice. Both times the cruise control was on and it was out of the blue that it happened. I didn't notice the overdrive light on. After I slowed down and cycled from P to D everything was fine.

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'96 3500 Dually, Black, 4 inch exhaust, Rancho 9000 shocks, '00 Lance camper