Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) i think my torque converter is stuck??!!

[rraulston]

Ime so screwed. I was going to work today and when i pulled to a stop light, my truck died. WHAT??? i said... Fired it up and got moving and pulled to the next light and i almost had to use both feet to keep it from moving. Engine is just fine. So i take it right to my 5 star and was ideling in neutral. Put in in drive and it dies. Start in neutral. Put it in drive and dies again. After a few times it will keep running but at about 500 RPM and is really lunging forward. Dodge wants 9 hrs to pull it and check the transmission. There are NO codes they said. I was stopped on the way home tonight and it was still doing it. At one LONG lite it was barely running then there were a couple of those "very expensive sounding noises" like if you missed a shift on a manual. Now, i think the converter is locked too, but, i can barely manage an idle some of the time. When ime up to speed, it seems normal. I can tap the brake and feel it unlock and lock right back again.

feedback and advise would be most welcome!! RRR P. S. I bought it used with 40K miles and a very expensive looking sub mounted Towing "ball" in the middle of the bed. ???? Who knows what that was used for... ...

1999 bone stock 4x4 Quad diesel.

 

[Boldt's Wagon]

Ask Bill on the forum at:



http://www.dieseltrans.com/phpBB/index.php

 

[jhoffman]

I am by no means a transmission mechanic but there was an article some time ago about being able to install a swith (in the cab) to manually lock up your converter. If memory serves me it worked by bypassing the relay so when you hit the switch it basically grounded or energized the system to lock up the converter. Of course you would only do this after you were moving. If you left the switch on the truck will stall when you came to a stop. If whoever had the truck before you played around with this and didn't fix the splicing needed under the hood you could have it going to ground and cause the same condition. I have a 2000 and it was the orange with a black stripe wire coming off the middle plug behind your air box that you needed to splice into. A chafed wire would be alot cheaper to resolve than 9 hrs. at the dealer. Just something to look for. Good luck.

John

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

What happens with the truck in neutral? Is it like it's still in drive? If so then the problems in the transmission with clutches being welded together instead of a torque converter. Happened to a friend of mine while racing - it was wierd seeing him put it on the trailer in neutral! IMO $900 is too much money to pull and inspect the trans - I'd talk to one of the high perf trans dealers instead.

 

[pwr2tow]

I think Steve nailed this one.

If the converter was staying locked you would not be able to stop without killing the engine, anytime. A locked TC is the same as a manual in gear, try stop a manual in gear and keep the engine running, not possible.



$900. 00 for a diagnostic procedure, man I would hate to see the repair bill.



Ron

 

[emjay]

Whoa!

The first thing to check is the TCC solenoid wire from the PCM to the transmission. If it's at 0 volts, the TCC is engaged, and that is an electrical problem. From your description, it sounds like the TCC is locked. Check the easy stuff first!

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Nevermind - just reread his original message and I see that it was idling in neutral. I missed that the first time through.

 

[Mopar-muscle]

either way its going to cost you because of the miles , the hitch is a hidden 5th wheel , chances are it has been worked hard .



get in touch with fred swanson , think he's in the phenoix area , a DTT installer . he'll figure it out and not charge you 9 hrs just to check it ... heck 9 hrs is close to a full trans upgrade ...

 

[Shooter]

See Fred !!!!



If your tc is locked and you stop the tc clutch is either going to slip or the clutch pac is going to slip. When they slip the clutch matterial is distrbuted through out the trans. The transmission is already toasted. This means it is rebuild time. It will cost about as much to upgrade the transmission as it will for a stock rebuild.