G56 gone bad

[wcjp]

Whle I don't know the exact details yet. A former coworker (I switched dept's) has a G56 problem. The truck is an 05' dually 4x4 stock. He was decelerating from the freeway to stop at a light. He downshifted to 3rd. The truck immediately grinded to a halt. He said the sounds coming from the transmission were not right. He was able to limp out of traffic in 1st. It turns out 1st gear is the only working gear. He traveled the remaining 1mile to work in 1st gear. Called the Dodge dealer and had them come tow it to the shop. I'm told the transmission would grind in every gear. When I find out what went wrong I'll update here. Being a 12V guy I don't keep up on the day to day issues with the 3rd Gens. Thought some here would be interested on what it takes to destroy a low mileage stock G56.

 

[67guzzler]

How many miles?

WCJP -- Can you please post the exact mileage of your friends vehicle at the time of the failure? The low transmission fluid failures are catastrophic failures seen in the first few hundred miles. His mileage at the time of his failure would be good to know. Thanks for the information.

 

[smenard]

Did he purchase the truck before the hold was placed on the G56 and if so did he add the quart of fluid?

 

[wcjp]

Just talked with the owner. Truck has 3,750miles. Dealer initially said no problem with truck. He insisted they take another look. Should find out more in the next few days.



I read a few of the G56 problems. The lubrication problem sounds like the old 1st Gen problems with the original Getrag. I remember they had to overfill by 1qt to maintain lubrication.

 

[AlexWV]

Dealer initially said no problem with truck.

Are dealers really that inept that they say there is not a problem with a truck in which only 1st gear works?

 

[67guzzler]

Just talked with the owner. Truck has 3,750miles. Dealer initially said no problem with truck. He insisted they take another look. Should find out more in the next few days.



I read a few of the G56 problems. The lubrication problem sounds like the old 1st Gen problems with the original Getrag. I remember they had to overfill by 1qt to maintain lubrication.

Service manager at my dealer says that the 1 quart low fluid would cause a catastrophic failure in the first 50 to 200 miles. Must be something else.

 

[FATCAT]

Just talked with the owner. Truck has 3,750miles. Dealer initially said no problem with truck. He insisted they take another look. Should find out more in the next few days.



I read a few of the G56 problems. The lubrication problem sounds like the old 1st Gen problems with the original Getrag. I remember they had to overfill by 1qt to maintain lubrication.

So what's the verdict?

 

[wcjp]

The owner was off Thursday/Friday. Hope to find out in a few hours.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Any updates Bill?

 

[wcjp]

Sorry about the slow response. Been wrenching on the Jeep. Leaving for the Rubicon on Saturday.



Dealership called for him to retrieve the truck. After four days of trouble shooting no trouble found. If something happens with the transmission while I'm gone I'll post when I get back.

 

[FATCAT]

I thought that you said that your friend's 1st gear was the only one not grinding and could only drive in 1st ... what does the dealer expect him to do, drive around in 1st all time?



We will all be waiting with baited breath to hear the conclusion of this story.

 

[AlexWV]

That's kind of what I was getting at from the beginning. We have a title saying the thing went bad, a report of what sounds like catastrophic failure of some kind, and a dealer that somehow does not notice this minor issue of only 1 out of 6 gears working despite troubleshooting the truck for 4 days.



Reminds me of a thread about a semi running a truck off the road.

 

[hasselbach]

Reminds me of a thread about a semi running a truck off the road.

Wow, the Semi ran it off the road due to it having a g56?

 

[AlexWV]

That's right. The big rig driver has a serious problem with G56 and gets overly emotional about it. Whenever he remembers the good old days of NV5600, he get's all misty.

 

[67guzzler]

Now guys! Enough's enough. Get over it. G56 blah blah blah. Let it die. Move on. I'm tired of you knocking my transmission. I've never seen a G56 cause an accident. Where are you getting this information?



Hmm... Come to think of it, maybe that will be the basis for the upcoming recall. #ad

 

[hasselbach]

Now guys! Enough's enough. Get over it. G56 blah blah blah. Let it die. Move on. I'm tired of you knocking my transmission. #ad

If you hear a knocking, its not us... Its probably your transmission

 

[67guzzler]

If you hear a knocking, its not us... Its probably your transmission

#ad
You're killing me. #ad
​

Wait I'm not allowed to laugh at that. No wait, I am. I think the rule says that if I own a G56 I can laugh about it. No wait, that was last week. This week we're not supposed to complain even if we do have one. Nevermind, I'm all confused. "KLUNK KLUNK KLUNK / MISSED GEAR DUE TO NOTCHY-NESS / KLUNK"

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

ACTUALLY, *I* have learned a great deal from these G-56 trannies, the threads - and the guys who have them...



Mistakenly, I have been taking all these "nasty VP-44/LP" threads and comments in stride, figuring it was part of selecting a 24 valve 2nd generation truck. Then, I have pretty much devoted my existence here on TDR digging up facts and fixes - and doing my level best to steer other owners and potential owners down the best path in dealing with what we have learned.



NOW, I find I have been wrong all along, and INSTEAD, should have ducked all comments and what known issues applied, accused complainers of "VP-44 bashing" - and pretended there WERE no issues, simply living in denial and a false sense of security...



You know - sorta like FORD owners...



Yeah, THAT would be a better way, SUUuuuure it would... .

 

[wcjp]

I can only tell you guys here on the 3rd Gen board what I know. The vehicle had serious transmission issues at 3700miles. The owner called a friend who happened to be a professional mechanic. Both agreed the transmission was in trouble. He drove the remainder to work in 1st. After four days the dealer called back no trouble found. Maybe the tow knocked something loose. I posted here to inform those that may have an interest. It might've been possible someone here has the exact same issue. His appears to be a freak thing no one else has experienced

 

[JHardwick]

ACTUALLY, *I* have learned a great deal from these G-56 trannies, the threads - and the guys who have them...



Mistakenly, I have been taking all these "nasty VP-44/LP" threads and comments in stride, figuring it was part of selecting a 24 valve 2nd generation truck. Then, I have pretty much devoted my existence here on TDR digging up facts and fixes - and doing my level best to steer other owners and potential owners down the best path in dealing with what we have learned.



NOW, I find I have been wrong all along, and INSTEAD, should have ducked all comments and what known issues applied, accused complainers of "VP-44 bashing" - and pretended there WERE no issues, simply living in denial and a false sense of security...



You know - sorta like FORD owners...



Yeah, THAT would be a better way, SUUuuuure it would... .

What does a VP-44 have to do with a G56?