How long does it take in the morning for your 48RE to start moving the truck?

[jsimpson]

I have to leave mine in gear for about 15 seconds before it starts moving (12,000 miles with no towing).

 

[CLAYTON]

Thats odd... Mine goes as soon as I put it in gear even in the winter there wasn't ever any problem. You might want to have somebody look into that.

 

[Matt400]

If you leave it set a few days with no use and drop it in D with no throttle I believe its normal as fluid is taking its time to circulate.



Mine does that but if I add go pedal it goes on demand or if I drive it every day it will roll with no throttle right away.

Another scenario is if it sets for several days and I start the engine- then go to neutral for a few seconds then drop into D it will roll right away.



There is a check valve to help keep the converter full of fluid when the truck sets but I think its only useful for overnight. . heck maybe mine leaks.

 

[jsimpson]

Thanks; I will. But I'll wait until I'm at my new home so I don't have to deal with Maroone!!!

 

[FJfonda]

Left mine for 10 days recently and it did the same thing. Up until then I never noticed it but the truck usually is on the road every day.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Yep, just the fluids draining downhill.



Mine holds fine for 8-10 hours. Longer than that and there is a delay depending on how long it has been.



Yesterday, I started it up after the truck sat motionless for 7 days and it took about 10-15 seconds before it was ready to go.



I make it a practice (if long delay involved) to cycle thru Reverse, Drive, Reverse and allow the pump to put the fluid back up stairs again.



No harm is done, but I would NOT attempt to drive off until the pump has pressured up everything. Darn good way to burn the clutches.

 

[jsimpson]

My problem might be more serious. After about four hours today, I had the same problem. I've never had an outomatic do that except the old Torqueflite 727 that wabout to blow in my motorhome. I drive this thing VERY easy trying to see how good a fuel mileage figure I can make.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Originally posted by jsimpson

I drive this thing VERY easy trying to see how good a fuel mileage figure I can make.

That's whats wrong with it!



You don't drive it hard enough to get the fluid pressures up enough to make the seals work.

 

[jsimpson]

nice try; but that would mean that all my other vehicles would have the same problem.

 

[GDouglas]

What you guys are experiencing after a long sitting is somewhat normal. The fluid in the torque converter can drain down back into the pan if given enough time. Technically, the check valve in the cooler line should maintain a full converter while sitting for an extended time, but some do not hold very well. Sometimes they are even stuck open with a little debris from a failing transmission, and if enough debris runs through or up to this check valve, the valve itself is enough of a restriction to create a blockage with the debris that cannot pass.



I wouldn't worry too much about the delay problem unless your trans fluid smells burnt. These check valves are not that reliable in their function anyway.



Another interesting tidbit about these Dodge automatics is that there is no torque converter charge/cooler flow when sitting in park. When you have the shifter in neutral or any other gear, there is converter charge and cooler flow. If you look at most dipsticks and owner's manuals for Dodges, it states to check fluid level in neutral, not park because of this. For you guys that have tried starting in neutral first, you are actually giving some time for the fluid to immediately start filling the converter back up, and thus no delay when pulling away. Most aftermarket valve bodies and shift kits have or provide instructions to cross-drill a passage in the valve body casting in order to provide converter charge/cooler flow in park.



The way you can check for converter drainback is to note your dipstick reading with the engine off for about 5 to 10 minutes after at least putting the trans into gear. Then wait the amount of time that your truck has to sit for your typical delayed engagement, and then check the trans dipstick again before starting the engine. If you have converter drainback, the reading will be much higher than it was before.

 

[XcumminsX]

no delay in mine... . better not ever be either. .

 

[Forrest Nearing]

there will be unless you're constantly driving it...



my old '91 did the same thing... did it for 300k miles...



start the truck, put foot on the brake pedal, shift to neutral, put your seatbelt on, set the radio station and the volume, shift to drive, and go.



Forrest

 

[FJfonda]

GDouglas,

Good info!!! This actually puts the pieces together in my head. . here is the scenario you cleared up for me..... backed up a long hill with the trailer and drove temps up to 200 deg, put in park to disconnect and left running thinking I was coolin the transmission... temps went to 220deg!!! I was confused, but reading you description it makes sense now!! I have seen a similar event after pulling the trailer up the 2 mile hill to my house... I couldn't understand how the transmission heated up during idle, now it all makes sense. From now on, for cool down I will be parking in N for cool downs not P. Of course the brake will be set and I probably will use the wheel chocks ... ... ...



This auto stuff is new to me..... it's gonna take you guys a while to teach me all about it. Thanks.....