bad transmission

[SShelton]

I have a 2003 3500 dodge 2wd 6 speed. I was pulling about 7k last Saturday at a speed of 65mph when the truck missed a bet, then it started to make loud noise, sounded like drive shaft was coming thru floor. Pushed in the cluth and went to the shoulder of the road. I couldn't see anything under my truck. When you speed the motor up you could hear a noise, push in the clutch no noise. Pulled to local dodge dealer, he tells me that the transmission is gone and he found no transmission fluid in it. I asked where it went? He didn't know , asked who serviced the truck last. I asked about seals being good. He told me he doesn't know why there was no fluid there. I have 68000 on the truck. I have new rear end put in around 30000 miles.

 

[DPKetchum]

A drop here and there catches up. Have seen it several times on manual trannys over the years. Have YOU been under the truck and inspected anything in the last 38k?

 

[rbattelle]

Wow, that really sucks! And the news gets worse: they don't make NV5600s anymore. It'll be interesting what the dealer does. Did you get the truck home, or is it still at the dealership?



Sorry to hear your first post is such a bummer.



Ryan

 

[DPKetchum]

Well its covered under the 7/70 if a seal ozzed or what not. Sounds like its a D. C. issue to come up with a trans.

 

[SShelton]

around 36000 had a new rear end put in by the dealer. I have changed my on oil the last three times around 3-5000 miles. I have not seen any oil on the ground where I park everyday. I got the truck used in 04 with 23000 on it.

 

[DPKetchum]

If its a drop/weeping now and then you may never see it on the ground. Over time it gets low and,well you know. I kinda take a good hard look at things when I'm under mine or when its on a lift from front to back. Is it covered under the 7/70 or?

 

[rbattelle]

It's a 2wd, which means the driveshaft fits directly to the transmission tailshaft. When they replaced your rear axle, it's possible they damaged that seal. If so, I would expect it to leak mostly when the driveshaft is rotating, which might explain why there were never any oil drips. However, the NV5600 holds more than a gallon of oil, so if the tailshaft seal were leaking while driving I'd expect everything downstream to be lightly coated with oil.



I suppose it's also possible that (for some unexplained reason) they drained the transmission when they pulled the driveshaft and forgot to refill. Inexperienced mechanic who thought the transmission had to be drained before the driveshaft is removed? Unlikely, but not impossible.



Ryan

 

[nickleinonen]

owners manual states the nv5600 is lifetime lube doesn't it? [i remember reading that somewhere?]

 

[rbattelle]

owners manual states the nv5600 is lifetime lube doesn't it? [i remember reading that somewhere?]

Basically, by omission. There is no discussion of the NV5600 in any of the service interval documentation. Neither the owners manual nor the factory service manual.



Ryan

 

[Whiskey]

It's a 2wd, which means the driveshaft fits directly to the transmission tailshaft. When they replaced your rear axle, it's possible they damaged that seal. If so, I would expect it to leak mostly when the driveshaft is rotating, which might explain why there were never any oil drips. However, the NV5600 holds more than a gallon of oil, so if the tailshaft seal were leaking while driving I'd expect everything downstream to be lightly coated with oil.

I suppose it's also possible that (for some unexplained reason) they drained the transmission when they pulled the driveshaft and forgot to refill. Inexperienced mechanic who thought the transmission had to be drained before the driveshaft is removed? Unlikely, but not impossible.

Ryan

It is possibile that they did pull the drive shaft and the fluid leaked out, and they forgot to refill it. .

whiskey

 

[klenger]

If the trans was drained, I would expect the failure to happen very quickly, not over thousands of miles.

 

[SShelton]

I am thanking along with you. How do you get someone to say they done it. I have been under my truck. That is why I know that it is dry every where, but at the oil pan. I hope it is replaced under 10-100. I have two more dodges I am checking them know. I would hate to thank it happend to me one more time.

 

[SShelton]

yes I read it yesterday that the trans. you have nothing telling you what to do to a manaul shift but if you have an auto it is on.

 

[Whiskey]

If the trans was drained, I would expect the failure to happen very quickly, not over thousands of miles.

Not if it didn't all drain out, if there was some left it could take a while to do damage.

I have done this very thing ( taken the drive shaft off while doing some other work) and had to refill the transmission. Sooooooooooo easy to forget