harsh shifts, Aisin

[TFucili]

No idea, Ron.

 

[JR]

I don't think it's coincidence the ones with the most problems are also the ones with the highest torque numbers. They just may have found the Aisin's Achilles heel here. This is where I feel Ford has an inherent advantage over the competition being they are the only manufacturer of the big 3 that builds their max capacity transmission in house.

 

[DHayden]

2019 3500 Aisin. First new Ram since my '03 with 48RE

The down shift to second in T/H is way too abrupt, and too common.

Combine with the EB, and its killing the rear tires on mountain descents.

I know not to use the EB with slick roads, but had some scary winter towing to learn that.

I've searched some threads, but hard to wade through 5 pages of replies.

The initial pedal lag is beyond pathetic. What have folks done to correct that?

The two footed start is needed to pullout into traffic, but I have yet to try it for a highway lane change.

Is this issue transmission programming, or the VVT? I want power when I press the skinny pedal...

Some features of this truck are super cushy; others make me completely regret buying it. Should put new seats and AC in the '03 and driven it for another 1/4 million miles. I do still won the 03 and 05.

I did not have "dead pedal" but my truck definitely did not get up and go into traffic. I just put a "Pedal Commander" in and it makes a world of difference. Takes only a few minutes to install and noticeable difference right away. It actually got better after a few days of the trans learning (I presume). Drives like it should have from the factory now. It has about 16 settings or so, I am probably in the middle.

 

[GBBrown]

I did not have "dead pedal" but my truck definitely did not get up and go into traffic. I just put a "Pedal Commander" in and it makes a world of difference. Takes only a few minutes to install and noticeable difference right away. It actually got better after a few days of the trans learning (I presume). Drives like it should have from the factory now. It has about 16 settings or so, I am probably in the middle.

Damn shame ya have to add after market gizmos to a $60,000+ truck to make it run right!

 

[TFucili]

It's interesting that sometimes dead pedal is not induced by jumping on the foot-feed. On Friday I was rolling through downtown here, with toy hauler in tow, about 25 mph, approaching a red light, so I got off the throttle and the EB was on, and the light changed to green, so I eased into it, but the "engine room" didn't get the message. It seems like eternity, but after a few seconds it began to build a bit of steam, and off we went. Very strange.

On Edit:
I corrected above to reflect that I had the toy hauler hooked up.

 

[DFrank]

I assume the pedal lag is intentional to protect the transmission. The rough downshifts seem unintentional and the result of less than perfect programming.

TRuck is SRW, I the nk its 3.73, tows light sled trailer sometimes, but the general drivability issue is no trailer light load. It drops abruptly down in to second in T/H and it has been doing a rough upshift, descending, accelerating in a straightaway, very lightly loaded from 2-3 or maybe 3-4.

It also has the occasional stutter on random, lightly loaded upshifts, with mild or no instantaneous effort at acceleration.

I've heard of the Pedal commander, and been meaning to try one. A friend has some module he kept of his '14 or '15 that he is going to give me; he didnt remember the brand name, and I don't know if it'll be compatible with the '19.

 

[Buffalo]

I have an '03, 3500, SRW, 4X4, H.O., NV-5600 with a bit under 100K on it and a '91-1/2 W-250 with not that many miles on it. I've been thinking of selling both older trucks and buying a new Ram 3500, SRW, Long bed. I spent this afternoon reading about the new trucks with the Aisin HD auto transmissions and am a bit surprised at the problems with the trans and the high-pressure fuel pumps along with the DEF fluid, etc. It seems these new trucks are far more complicated than my old ones and may be more problematic. Would I be making a mistake selling the old ones for a new one? My newest old one is now 17 years old and I was thinking a new truck might be nice. My sister and brother-in-law just bought a new Duramax (GMC) & love it. I just use the trucks for towing my 25' Nash bumperpull trailer. I know that these trucks are more than what I need but, in the past, I towed with underpowered trucks and having more than enough power is really nice. I'm 74 & retired and don't want to buy something that is not reliable & will leave me on the side of the road, broken down. I'd appreciate any of your thoughts. This is a great resource. Thank You!!!

 

[TFucili]

Good to hear from you, Buffalo! The new trucks are most certainly more complicated. If you're patient, it sounds like the CP4 just might possibly go away in the short term. The next evolution of transmission is apparently in the works, but the timeline is unknown. The Aisin is not prone to failure, but is a bit crude in operation compared to the other brands, sorry to say. Are you still in PHX?

 

[Ozymandias]

Why do people complain that T/H is to harsh on an empty truck w/o Trailer?
I think it's not the intention to use this feature with empty truck.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I love the TH and EB on all the time with 4.10's. No slip slop that's for sure!!!

 

[EZeis]

Why do people complain that T/H is to harsh on an empty truck w/o Trailer?
I think it's not the intention to use this feature with empty truck.

Probably not intended, but I run it for the aggressive progressive braking. If you don't run it, it hardly does any braking.


Earl

 

[AH64ID]

I can’t stand TH empty. It’s way too aggressive for standard acceleration and braking. It does work awesome for towing thou, kinda like it was intended for that

 

[Cummins12V98]

You guys are just getting OLD and SOFT.

 

[Buffalo]

Good to hear from you, Buffalo! The new trucks are most certainly more complicated. If you're patient, it sounds like the CP4 just might possibly go away in the short term. The next evolution of transmission is apparently in the works, but the timeline is unknown. The Aisin is not prone to failure, but is a bit crude in operation compared to the other brands, sorry to say. Are you still in PHX?

Hi TFucili. Yes, I'm still in N/W Phoenix. Wish I was up north in the mountains where it is much cooler. Hot summer, here!!! I appreciate your reply regarding the new trucks. They sure do look nice. I really don't need one but, it would be nice to have one. When reading about some of the problems people seem to be having with them, I wonder if I would be buying a problem on its way to happen. Don't want any more problems!!! My sister and BIL love their new GMC Duramax but, it has had a few problems but, nothing that has left them on the side of the road. They have a couple of Mercedes-Benz's and a Porsche to drive but, always seem to be in their Duramax. I'm a bit surprised with all the luxury cars available to them. They looked at the Ram's and really liked certain feature's on them but, finally decided on the Duramax. I don't believe they are sorry, either. I still like the idea of having a Cummin's engine in my tow vehicle. Kind of like having a Harley-Davison. Nothing else will do!!!! Are you still in Wickenburg, AZ.? That sure is a nice area of AZ. More rural but, still close to the Phoenix Valley and the things it has to offer. Thanks, again, for your reply.

 

[DavidC]

Hi TFucili. Yes, I'm still in N/W Phoenix. Wish I was up north in the mountains where it is much cooler. Hot summer, here!!! I appreciate your reply regarding the new trucks. They sure do look nice. I really don't need one but, it would be nice to have one. When reading about some of the problems people seem to be having with them, I wonder if I would be buying a problem on its way to happen. Don't want any more problems!!! My sister and BIL love their new GMC Duramax but, it has had a few problems but, nothing that has left them on the side of the road. They have a couple of Mercedes-Benz's and a Porsche to drive but, always seem to be in their Duramax. I'm a bit surprised with all the luxury cars available to them. They looked at the Ram's and really liked certain feature's on them but, finally decided on the Duramax. I don't believe they are sorry, either. I still like the idea of having a Cummin's engine in my tow vehicle. Kind of like having a Harley-Davison. Nothing else will do!!!! Are you still in Wickenburg, AZ.? That sure is a nice area of AZ. More rural but, still close to the Phoenix Valley and the things it has to offer. Thanks, again, for your reply.

That's why I'm in Flagstaff, the extreme heat can stay down there.

 

[TFucili]

Hi TFucili. Yes, I'm still in N/W Phoenix. Wish I was up north in the mountains where it is much cooler. Hot summer, here!!! I appreciate your reply regarding the new trucks. They sure do look nice. I really don't need one but, it would be nice to have one. When reading about some of the problems people seem to be having with them, I wonder if I would be buying a problem on its way to happen. Don't want any more problems!!! My sister and BIL love their new GMC Duramax but, it has had a few problems but, nothing that has left them on the side of the road. They have a couple of Mercedes-Benz's and a Porsche to drive but, always seem to be in their Duramax. I'm a bit surprised with all the luxury cars available to them. They looked at the Ram's and really liked certain feature's on them but, finally decided on the Duramax. I don't believe they are sorry, either. I still like the idea of having a Cummin's engine in my tow vehicle. Kind of like having a Harley-Davison. Nothing else will do!!!! Are you still in Wickenburg, AZ.? That sure is a nice area of AZ. More rural but, still close to the Phoenix Valley and the things it has to offer. Thanks, again, for your reply.

Yes, still in Wickenburg. Most folks enjoy the "snappiness" of the V-8s from the other guys, as they drive more like a gasser, and I have to begrudgingly admit their transmissions are slick as a whistle. I still enjoy the "lazy grunt" of the Cummins, even though we no longer enjoy the advantage of more torque, nor peak torque at lower RPMs that we used to have in the old days. They seem to have stumbled just a bit on the new engine, but mine still pulls like a train. Take care!

 

[Buffalo]

Hi TFucili, thanks for the reply. I have had a ball with my '03. Put a little larger exhaust with a free flowing muffler on it, along with a free flowing air filter, removed the sound deadener in the front of the turbo and have towed across the country with it. I turn off the radio and roll the windows down a bit and listen to the sound of the engine and exhaust note. It's like a symphony, to me!!!! Always wanted a Harley but, think this is as close as I'm going to get. Love the sound of the engine!!! I don't need a new truck but, I'm getting older each year and I can't take the dollars with me so, I might as well enjoy they while I'm still here. I like the looks of the new Rams and I've heard that the resale value of my older trucks is pretty good. Lots of interest in them. Especially from younger guys that can't afford the costs of a new one. This is a good way to get into a diesel for less than the cost of a house. I like the new Duramax but, I'm not sure about the new Allison trans. I've heard that it is "in-house built" by GM and a new 10 speed design. That's a pretty dramatic change from the older proven model transmissions. Don't know if I want to be a guinea pig for their new trans. I've heard good things about the Aisin but, recently heard that Chrysler was going to build their own Heavy-Duty Trans. to replace the Aisin. Don't know how reliable that info. was. On my '91.5 Dodge/Cummins, it came with a 4 speed auto. that left a lot to be desired. I eventually had that trans replaced with a newer trans that had torque converter lock-up available inside a heavier-duty trans. That whole adventure cost around $7000 & the truck worked more like it should have from Dodge. So, I've been hesitant about buying another Dodge transmission until they started installing the Aisin. I heard a lot of good stuff about them, in the beginning but, just recently heard some negative. I bought my '03, 3500 SRW because it was available with a 6 speed NV-5600 stick shift as the standard transmission. Really, I don't mind shifting it, at all. However, I just use the truck fro towing. If I had to drive to work and back during rush hour each day, it might be a different story. I like the easy availability of 6 gears when towing. It's actually kind of fun. Gives me something to do while on a trip. Never get tired of the shifting. I've got all the negatives that came with the '03 taken care of and it is the way I would have liked the truck to have come from the factory. The driver's seat was probably the worst problem & I was able to fix that and I'm not even an automotive design engineer. I was surprised that Chrysler couldn't have fixed that problem right in the beginning. You can now drive all day long and at the end of the trip get out and be comfortable. Well, thanks again, for the replies. I appreciate this site and the knowledge you folks have and are willing to share with the rest of us. Almost everything I've learned about the Dodge's/Rams I owe to the TDR members. Very Grateful to all of you.

 

[Timd32]

I don't need a new truck but, I'm getting older each year and I can't take the dollars with me so, I might as well enjoy they while I'm still here. I like the looks of the new Rams and I've heard that the resale value of my older trucks is pretty good.

I would say go for a new truck then, I seem to be on the side they all have issues, run it,, enjoy it. If it breaks fix it,, you already did that with your '03 like fixing the seat and building a really nice Transmission.

I have not read about a drastic uptick in CP4.2 failures still a few here and there and they sound like they worked out better internals so if you do have issues they are keeping on top of these things. Parts should be readily available by the time you had issues one would like to think.

Pick you trim, colors, and I say enjoy the truck.

You could always rent one for a week or weekend to try out the new stuff.

Sounds like you have some nice trucks especially being in AZ should do OK with those.

Good luck on your search and decision.

 

[Buffalo]

I would say go for a new truck then, I seem to be on the side they all have issues, run it,, enjoy it. If it breaks fix it,, you already did that with your '03 like fixing the seat and building a really nice Transmission.

I have not read about a drastic uptick in CP4.2 failures still a few here and there and they sound like they worked out better internals so if you do have issues they are keeping on top of these things. Parts should be readily available by the time you had issues one would like to think.

Pick you trim, colors, and I say enjoy the truck.

You could always rent one for a week or weekend to try out the new stuff.

Sounds like you have some nice trucks especially being in AZ should do OK with those.

Good luck on your search and decision.

Thank you, Tim. I've really enjoyed having them along with the other vehicles I've been fortunate to own.

 

[DFrank]

I had the transmission ('19 aisin) flashed last week. Seems to shift much better, but have only driven it less than ten miles around town.


Why won't they tell you to have this done, but only do it if you complain?

Truck's been to the dealer before and they didn't mention this was available, because I didnt ask.