Hard shifting 6 speed auto

[JCasper]

My Sister in Law drove the new 08 dually and horse trailer over the mountain today for a rodeo. She called when she got there and told my Father-in-law that the trip went well, but the truck shifts very hard.



The Gross weight is around 25,000 or so. I drove the truck last weekend with about 16K total and didn't notice anything.



I am not sure if she is talking about the upshift or downshift. I will talk to her more on Sunday or Monday about it. I was just curious if you all have any insight or experience with this.



She was instructed to turn the tow/haul mode on and the exhaust brake on every time she starts the truck.

 

[HBarlow]

I'd bet that she is reacting to the aggressive downshifting and application of the exhaust brake when slowing.

 

[JCasper]

I'd bet that she is reacting to the aggressive downshifting and application of the exhaust brake when slowing.

That's kinda what I think too

 

[JCasper]

It is on the downshift, I just talked with her.

 

[BobTaylor]

I'd bet that she is reacting to the aggressive downshifting and application of the exhaust brake when slowing.

Yea, it's quite a shock when you first feel it, especially dragging an 18,000 lb. 5er.

 

[JCasper]

Yea, it's quite a shock when you first feel it, especially dragging an 18,000 lb. 5er.

That's about what she has.



It's 3 horse gooseneck with living quarters. It weighs around 16-18K I would guess.

 

[HBarlow]

Probably nothing to worry about. The aggressive downshifting and exhaust braking in tow/haul mode is surprising to a driver experiencing it for the first time. After the initial surprise you learn to wait a little longer before backing off the accelerator when approaching a stop to avoid rolling to a stop 1/2 block before you arrive.

 

[Xgunfighter]

I noticed on on mine with a 5th wheel that in tow mode and cruse on when it downshifts to keep up speed, it ia absolutely horrible. Sounds and feels like the rear end, axels or drive shaft will break off. I won't use cruse control anymore when towing uphill, Can't afford to buy new parts every year.



My personal opinion is that compared to my 2008 GMC the Dodge auto does not compare to the allison when towing. No flames, just my opinion.

 

[HBarlow]

That's strange. Mine shifts very smoothly when it makes a forced downshift. If I'm running in 6th gear with cruise control on pulling heavy and start up a grade it can't handle it will shift down one to 5th and then if 5th can't pull it the transmission shifts down one more to 4th. Both shifts are smooth and hardly noticeable.



In 9,000 miles, more than 50% towing at over 24k, I haven't experienced even one harsh shift. On edit, I guess I should clarify . . . mine is an Aisin not MOPAR but I haven't heard any similar complaints from 68RFE owners before this one.

 

[Xgunfighter]

I went prior to this last trip to Dodge and they did the Last TSB, reflashed, gave me a sticker on the visor etc. .



Went on 2300 mile trip to San Diego with fifth wheel, scales at 20500#. Still shifted rough in tow haul and miserable if it downshifts in cruse. As an aside the mileage for the trip total was 10. 3 overall calculated on total mileage and total galons. Hope it gets better with more miles, only has 6K on the clock.



According to the DVD that came with the TSB, Sam says it should tell me when in regen mode, also the sticker say the same. It either doesn't tell me or it never went into regen on the trip. Has anyone had the readout tell them it was in regen mode?

 

[HBarlow]

Mine is a cab and chassis which only meets 2007 emission standards not 2010 like the pickups so my experience may not be useful but mine shows no digital readouts to tell the operator it is in regen.



I have learned to recognize it is in regen because the exhaust note changes. The sound becomes a burbling noise or sounds like the exhaust brake function is on while at idle. If my brain recognizes the change in sound I look at my pyro gauge and then see that EGT is very high at idle. That tells me it is in regen mode.



I don't know with certainty but believe the 6. 7 pickup owners will tell you the same thing.

 

[PaulBarker]

There was another problem that the 07. 5 where having. There is a TSB to fix it. I had to get it done on my truck.

But the problem was when you initiated a stop by pressing on the brake while the truck was in 4th gear (this problem only occurs when in 4th gear) you would get a harsh down shift at 10 to 12 mph. It does not matter if you are in tow haul or if the EB was on. Unlike when you have the Tow/Haul on you get very firm downshifting. This problem that I am talking about sounds and feels like all of the drive train slack slamming all together at once

 

[Drdorian]

According to the DVD that came with the TSB, Sam says it should tell me when in regen mode, also the sticker say the same. It either doesn't tell me or it never went into regen on the trip. Has anyone had the readout tell them it was in regen mode?

Sam did not say that, per se..... you will know when you are in regen if you have gotten to the point where you are nearing on filling up your filter. If you are regenerating as you are supposed to then you will never know, that is normal. The sticker references what the overhead (EVIC) will say when, again, your truck is in need of a regen, during normal driving you will see nothing.

 

[HBarlow]

Sam did not say that, per se..... you will know when you are in regen if you have gotten to the point where you are nearing on filling up your filter. If you are regenerating as you are supposed to then you will never know, that is normal. The sticker references what the overhead (EVIC) will say when, again, your truck is in need of a regen, during normal driving you will see nothing.

That's new information. I have read several posts over the last few months where an owner spoke of indications that his truck was in regen mode or the dpf was near full and then someone else would ask how he knew that because the questioner's truck showed no indication. Your post explains that phenomenon.