Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) New transmission questions...

[BKeence]

I had the auto transmission rebuilt in my 01 CTD a couple weeks ago. They upgraded the valve body, put in a billet single disk TC and a rebuild on the rest.

When I picked up the truck it was ... WOW!!! It was like a different truck. The power increase and lower boost numbers were very noticable. The truck shifted quicker too!!! The most I pulled was my Jon boat and it only weighs maybe 2000 lbs. Truck did Great!!!

This past Thursday I hooked up my fiver for a trip to Columbia Missouri. (120 miles) My fiver is very heavy... . 18,000+ lbs. The truck pulled much better with the rebuild, but two different times starting out from a stop light the truck seemed to shift very quickly back and forth from 1st to 2nd. It was very violent in the jerkiness. Then once on interstate 70 west bound while I was cruising about 60-65 mph I thought I noticed a slight slip when I accelerated. The tach climbed about 100 rpm if I tried to accelerated, so I slowed down and took the transmission out of OD. I didn't want to run the engine too hard as far as high RPM's so I would only shift out of OD on completely flat ground, then downshift at any hills.

Okay,,,, made it to Columbia without any other hitches. We came back on Sunday... while on Hwy 70 I could not get the transmission to slip in OD no matter what I did nor did the truck shift funny from a dead stop. All seems great!!

On the way back home there is a very steep hill, it is about 1000' long and has sharp corners in it so no way to get a run at it. As I was going up the hill the transmission downshifted as expected. I was only able to run about 15 MPH up the steepest part. I was concerned if the truck was going to pull the hill, the RPM's where over 2500 and I noticed the engine temp climbing very very fast. The truck did pull it, but my water temp in the truck was near redline (240 I think), I hurried through the stop sign at the top of the hill and started down the other side to cool the truck off. It cooled off pretty quick. The truck never gave any other trouble or funny shifts the rest of the way home.



My questions are this:

1: Could the TC have slipped because it was new and now it is OK?

2: Is it normal for the truck to have heated up that fast and high in temp in such a short distance?

3: Was the heating up caused by the TC slipping?

4: If I need to take it back to the shop that rebuilt it, can they tell what is wrong without a heavy load behind the truck?



Notes: I am running a SuperChip on the Tow safe mode.



Thanks for any help... . sorry it's so long but I am trying to describe the conditions best I can.



They guy told me the name of the TC manufacturer but I cannot remember it, it was 2 names.



Brian K

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

JMO, it's slipping and overheating because it's a single disc, mine did the same thing. I switched to a triple disc and problems are now gone. 18,000+ pounds is alot of weight for a single disc.

 

[DieselRam30]

I have noticed an occasional 1-2 shifting back and forth in my transmission and have been told that this is normal (at least with my manufacturer... see sig). As far as the "slipping", the torque convertor is made to unlock under hard acceleration. If your truck was loaded as much as you say, you might have been working the engine very hard even though the speed increase was small. Thus, the torque convertor would unlock. This is, of course, if the torque convertor was made well. Otherwise, slipping might still be a problem.

 

[BKeence]

Tramplinman: I had asked the installer about using a DDT TC. The owner said I didn't need it. I am having reservations about it now. I have since been back over the 1000' long hill I came up with the fiver, it is VERY steep for the last few hundred feet. I think I may have used bad judgement going that way. It would have only been a few miles further to go around. I will do that next time.



DieselRam30: The transmission only did that twice, never again. I am going on another trip this weekend up to Hannibal, I am anxious to see how it performs. The transmission rebuild really gave the truck back alot of power. I guess the old transmission was pretty bad.



Thanks!!



BrianK

 

[Fishin Guide]

JMO, it's slipping and overheating because it's a single disc, mine did the same thing. I switched to a triple disc and problems are now gone. 18,000+ pounds is alot of weight for a single disc.

That's odd, my single disk has never slipped. JMHO but if you need a "stronger" convertor, the trans has other internal issues.



Dave

 

[DHawk]

Hi guys, I agree with all of you that the single disc is causing the heat and

slippage, however, he did mention the quick shifts and the shuttle.

The truck does not have enough throttle pressure.

You can tighten the kickdown adjustment or have the rebuilder do it.

You may even have to bend the bracket on the transmission case.

It is doing the one-two shuttle because the throttle valve is not causing

the 1-2 shift valve to stroke completely. This will cause quick upshifts

and shuttle in 1-2.

Thought this will help.

DHAWK

htstransmissions.com

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

That's odd, my single disk has never slipped. JMHO but if you need a "stronger" convertor, the trans has other internal issues.



Dave

All three of the singles that were put in my truck caused overheating and slipped. Changed to a triple and overheating and slippage issues are now gone. The trans I had was inspected and had no internal problems. Maybe I got a bad batch of convertors?



Dave, how much weight have you towed with yours?

 

[KWheaton]

On a VERY steep grade, your converter should unlock at approx. 80+ percent of throttle, to keep RPM's in the torque range, this will cause more heat. DTT can upgrade the throttle body to a 48re which will give you much more line pressures and holding power in the torque converter clutches.



I bought a full DTT, with a Smart Controller & 48re valve body, never had a problem with slipping at any time. Second & third gear lockup is sweet!

 

[Fishin Guide]

All three of the singles that were put in my truck caused overheating and slipped. Changed to a triple and overheating and slippage issues are now gone. The trans I had was inspected and had no internal problems. Maybe I got a bad batch of convertors?



Dave, how much weight have you towed with yours?

I have had as much as 12000 on the hitch at one point. The issue is not the torque convertor typically. The TC clutch is one of the strongest in the transmission. Ususally, when a TC slips, it is an improper design or a lack of line pressure, or both. Ususally, the clutch packs give way long before he TC does.



As far as the 48RE VB, it was not available when I had my transmission built. And for my application, it is not recommended. My trans does not slip. Even pulling big weights or just running down the road, it's all good.



BTW, your trans should have more holding power with your foot to the floor than under cruise conditions. It's just the design of a pressure based trans. And yes, I am fully aware of the benefits and drawbacks of a multiple clutch TC design.



Dave

 

[KKlingbeil]

I agree with Fishin Guide, My single has never slipped and i have had over 20K behind me. Hook a pressure gauge up to the line pressure port, and in the line that comes out of the front drivers side of the transmission. Then give your readings to a knowledgable dodge diesel transmission place. It is possible to have a good converter and still slip it due to other malfunctions in the transmission as previously stated.

 

[Fishin Guide]

Oh, BTW,



bending a lever or anything else on your trans to "make it work" is absolutely unacceptable!



This shows a lack of understanding of the dynamics of the transmission in relation to it's parts. That is why there are custom apply levers, bands, struts, ect.



I have built enough trannys in other applications to know what it takes to build power. I also know that the guys that cater to the diesel specific market know what they are doing, for the most part.



Dave

 

[BKeence]

Hi everyone, is it possible that the hill I climbed was too steep? I know my truck has to have a limit. I am grossing 26,000 lbs with my trailer. The only thing I do know is that it heated up very fast in a short distance.

 

[DHawk]

The lever that holds the kickdown cable that is bolted to the rear of the driver side case of the trans does sometimes have to to bent to achieve

proper kickdown pressure on the throttle valve in certain instances.

1) The rebuilder used a Gil Younger transgo shift ki.

2) The cable is out of adjustment or stretched.

3) The rebuilder has the wrong throttle slope in v/b per application.

I am a cummins trans builder by trade. I get on the TDR for advice to help

with common problems that I have seen over the last 15 years of

modifying Chrysler torqueflite transmissions, that is all.

FISHIN GUIDE, bands, struts, and levers are internal for second and reverse.

They have nothing to do with throttle plugs, valves, or springs that control

the 1-2 shift, 1-2 control valve, 2-3 shuttle valve or the 2-3 shift valve.

BTW, I have a pretty good concept of the "dynamics" of line rise on a 47/48RE.



DHAWK

htstransmissions.com

 

[nps]

Nobody has commented on your coolant temps. They are too high if as you state they are approaching the red line.



Either your fan clutch is not working or your radiator is dirty. I recommend you pull the radiator and clean it with a good solvent and high pressure water - it's needed after 130k miles anyway. Do you hear your fan clutch kick in when the temp goes above 200*? It should sound like a jet spooling up when it does.

 

[RacinDuallie]

The lever that holds the kickdown cable that is bolted to the rear of the driver side case of the trans does sometimes have to to bent to achieve
proper kickdown pressure on the throttle valve in certain instances.

100 % truth on the bending- its needed for proper pressure, and anyone who tells you no on that probably has not done one in these trucks- its needed- I know... ... .....

 

[BKeence]

I do hear that fan clutch fan kick in. The coolant temp does climb quickly on an incline once the TC unlocks. The truck also has a slight shudder taking off from a stop, and it sometimes shudders if I let the RPM's get low while the trannsmission is in OD with the TC still locked, say about 40-45 mph.

I am concerned and I am going to go ahead and call the rebuilder. I don't know if they have a way of testing the transmission without a load, maybe they can test the transmission fluid.

 

[tractorface]

Is the truck starting out in second gear??? Really hard to tell on a bombed CTD unless you have a load behind you. This can cause temps to rise dramatically. If the temps get high enough the truck can go into limp mode and really be unrully to drive at that point. I am wondering if the solenoid in the val;ve body is sticking. Just food for thought

 

[BKeence]

The truck starts in 1st. I have learned to count 1st, 2nd, 3rd, locked, OD.



Thanks!



Brian