New First Time Owner of a 1st Gen

[JasonHamilton]

Hey there everyone I'm a new owner well not really since I bought the truck a year ago but anways I got a 93 D350. Thank God I found this site though I took the truck in, in May and the transmission serviced he put gear oil in it I didn't think much a bout it at the time so yesterday after reading the posts and learning that 5w was the correct Oil to put in there so today we drained it and refilled it. I couldn't find the plug ontop of the transmission that you guys are all talking about where you can pump in the extra quart I don't know if I was feeling around in the wrong spot or what so we just gave it 4. Also since I've owned the truck the speedo has been malfunctioning which bites because the cruise won't work. Let me explain what it does I'll be going like 65mph and the speedo reads 90 so I thought that it was the speed sensor on the transmission replaced that. Checked the voltage on the wires there it was a little low so we redid the ground contacts and thought that it was working good there then sitting in a parking spot the damn thing jumps up to 80 and stay there so I was like enough of this unplugged it and havnen't screwed with it since. Talking with Dodge yesterday I understand that there is a ABS sensor on the rear diff they said that it may be also connected with the speedo but they weren't sure and I didnt' feel like dropping 80 bucks to find out or 60 bucks to put in there shop and let them diag it. If you guys have any ideas as to what may be causing that I would greatly appreciate it. Also one last thing I think that I have the Getrag 380 in mine and so far so good drove it from the MS gulf coast to Denver and back with no problems. The only problem we've noticed with it since I bought it is sometimes while I'm stopped it won't drop into second but if I stick her in 1st let it roll a little bit she'll drop right in. Oh yeah and what a difference with the shifting with the 5w in there. Sorry the post is so long. I'll have some pics of my truck on here in a little bit. Hehe also changed the valve cover gaskets today wow that was so simple and easy much better than those damn cork ones on cars.



Jason

 

[Greenleaf]

Damn the cork and pass the #2





Happy to have you on board!! I know a local resident (here in Ohio) who had better start posting on here quick like too, 'or I'll have to get Bob's stick and crack him a time or two





Welcome Jason!!



BTW, Watch out for East Coast and Tug. They'd just as soon see you walk the plank!



GL

 

[tugboatphil]

Welcome aboard, Jason!! Sorry I can't help you with the transmission problem, as I'm one of those no-clutch guys. Don't mind Greenleaf, this time of year, all he sees are Bluebirds!!



I do know that I had a problem with my rear axle ABS sensor being very sensitive after I had the rear end rebuilt. A little dilectric grease on the wire coupling did the trick for me.

 

[JasonHamilton]

Hey thanks there Tug and Greenleaf for having me aboard here. Tug I'll give that a shot on the ABS sensor and see if that does the trick if not well, we'll just see where I decide to go from there.

 

[JasonHamilton]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&albumid=16957 here are the pics of my rig for ya guys

 

[1stgen4evr]

Welcome

That is a Getrag 360 not 380. If you want to put more oil in the transmission, there is no upper plug. You can park in a ditch with the fill side high and that will allow the extra qt. You can also remove the upper bolt from one of the inspection covers and with a squirt bottle, add the extra qt. Sometimes the transmission needs to creep a tad to go in gear, that is not a sign of trouble. There are others who will state adamantly different but the gear oil is not going to hurt the Getrag. It will only do what you observed, make the shift stiff. My Getrag has over 300k with gear oil. Minor repair and no major rebuild.



There are grimlins in the speedo and it is sometimes difficult to make them go away. I expect with the help of other members, you will solve every problem you ever encounter. If you think you are lucky now, imagine how it was when the only option an owner had was go to a stealership, oh pardon me dealership.



The first gens are the last of the mechanical (mostly) trucks and you will come to appreciate that more over time as well as the help from TDR membership.



Again, welcome.



1stgen4evr

James

 

[JasonHamilton]

Hey there thanks James for your input I will have to try the inspection cover bolts and see if I can't squeeze that extra quart in there that way since many people on here seem to say that it helps out a lot. Thanks for helping some of my worries about the getrag go away. I haven't experienced any problems with it yet and lets hope to keep it that way.

 

[JLEONARD]

Jason,

Welcome aboard. Yes as James said you can squeeze in almost an extra qt thru the top bolt onthe side cover.

And don't pay any mind to Greenleaf (aka busboy)... ya never know what he's on!!

East Coast Jay

 

[AlK]

Jason,

Good to have one more first gen member. Welcome aboard.

Another way to add the extra oil is to take out the gear shifter. That is how I did it on mine. It is a bit of pain and an extra pair of hands would help.

As far as the eratic speedo problem goes. Take the the speed sensor assembly apart and clean and inspect it, making sure that the ends on the little shafts are nice and square and clean the electrical connections and apply some good electric grease. In addition in my truck I ended up taking out the instrument cluster and unpluging all the wiring connectors and then pluging everything back in making sure that everything was nice and tight. Since then no more speedo problems.

---

Al

 

[JasonHamilton]

Thanks there Al I will definetly give that a shot tomorrow with the electric grease. I really appreciate you guys helping me out here and I look forward to going to one of the get togethers here in the future.