More transmission woes...

[DFrank]

I was having some issues with the transmission not wanting to get past second gear.

Ended up doing a new valve body through ATS in the fall. It did fix that problem, but now I I am overheating in the mountains, which is about everywhere here in CO.

On an hour long slow and go pass climb, it read up into low 240s for a bit, then got up to 260 right before dropping over the pass and cooling down.

I assume my fluid is cooked and should be replaced. ATS said it looked fine and not to bother. Is that reasonable, knowing it hit 260 at least briefly?

That number is courtesy of my EDGe insight panel, (no chip).

Is that a reliable gauge? It sure can't get my MPG right, to the tune of telling me I get 20, when I hand calc at 9.6MPG pretty regularly. Stock overhead reads 13.6 regularly. I wish!

ATS guy says I should replace the torque converter. It doesn't heat up as badly if I can keep it up in 2nd or third, but it still got close to 240F climbing Loveland pass yesterday, with little or no 1st gear use.

I can't tell if the converter is locked or slipping some.

When I did the VB, he said it would give it a "firm shift". My term would be very harsh, not just firm.

I am not sold on the ATS VB, and have read mixed reviews on ATS in general.

What are my other options moving forward. I assume the VB is worth keeping but if its what causes the harsh shifts, I'd reconsider it.

The Truck is an 05 Dually with a 48RE. It has a steel flatbed, and spends its life hauling a 3-4K camper and usually a small trailer. I need this thing to shift right.

120 K on Odometer.

Thanks,

 

[cerberusiam]

How fast were you going? If it is lockup mode and still getting hot it is slipping somewhere.

240-260 briefly is not enough to worry about the fluid. The seals and clutches on the other hand do not like too much of that.

 

[DFrank]

Climbing loveland pass it hit high 230 near the top. transmission is shifting between 2-3 as it climbs that one. I assume it come out of lock up during those shifts, but not certain.

 

[cerberusiam]

Yep, that is normal if you were pulling any weight. Either manual shift to 2nd and let it lockup and stay there or will need get OD locked out and lock the TC in drive. As long as it is the border of shifting 2-3 and 3-2 it won't lock correctly and it will get hot.

 

[DFrank]

Thanks Cerb. Is there a way to add an OD lockout to what I have or what I end up with?

my 03 has OD off button. My 05 has tow/haul, which has some advantages like speed control on hills, it does not keep it out of OD, which can be frustrating.

I know I need a nee TC before too long.

With the ATS VB, I assume I should go that route. What other options are there?

TIA, Dave

 

[cerberusiam]

I am using the BD OD Locjout box to drop OD and still keep the TH functionality.

 

[DFrank]

Thanks Cerb. That looks like exactly what I need.

 

[DFrank]

The truck goes back to ATS next week for the OD lockout, a CO pilot, a new TC, and possibly an auxiliary transmission cooler.

Anyone have real world experience with the copilot, or the aux cooler?

The Co pilot is supposed to let the TC lock up in situations when it might not have on its own. I don't know if it means I control that, or if it just tries to lock up sooner and stay there.

My main issue are hot temps at lower speeds, presumably due to TC slipping.

I know I want the ability to keep it out of fourth, as it just likes to hit 4th too often in the mountains.

Hopefully this will keep us from overheating the transmission.

 

[TCDiesel]

It seems odd to me to Remove the Trans and not freshen it up completely.

The Aux cooler will do no good unless you modified the Factory Auxiliary cooler, the One in front of the Radiator, It has a temperature control valve that bypasses the fluid, this valve can be modified and allow cooler temps, it must be done by an expert, or you can remove it entirely, also the Throttle Valve should be checked.

The Copilot/Commander can be set to Lockup the TC at set speeds, or boost condition on certain Years.

 

[Ozymandias]

Climbing loveland pass it hit high 230 near the top. transmission is shifting between 2-3 as it climbs that one. I assume it come out of lock up during those shifts, but not certain.

shift manual to second and it will lock up in second.

 

[DFrank]

Thanks Ozzy, I didnt know that. So if its in drive, but actually in first, and I shift it to second, it should lock up?

TCD, the transmission was never removed without getting new fluid. I assume it got all new fluid when they did the valve body back in oct. I took it in a month ago after it had overheated, and they thought it still looked Ok, and I haven't done anything since. I'm sure if I replace the TC, it will get all new fluid.

Any reason to think i should try the copilot without the new TC and see if that gets it taken care of?

 

[TCDiesel]

DFrank, I was thinking more on the lines of complete rebuilt.

The copilot does add in lockup, it can be set at X speed and it will lockup, the device will also indicate when lock/unlock.

 

[Ozymandias]

yes in second manual it locks up at a certain speed, even under 100% Throttle.
try it.
it's pretty cool to drive in second locked, truck reacts very quick to throttle that way, no lag as usual with open TC.