Archived NV 5600 Transmission Froze UP

[psterkowitz]

NV5600 froze up with no warning pulling out of a driveway, leaving a 5 ft skid mark. Truck had to be dragged on Wrecker and could see fluid under trans. This morning noticed fluid marks on grass at campground we are staying at.

We are Winter Texan's staying near Harlingen TX. Not sure what next step should be! Dealer or find a local transmission shop? Is there anything I could try first. Truck is in campground parking lot now, so I have limited things i can do here. Any ideas or suggestions are Welcome! Tall Paul

 

[Slow Six]

Ouch, that's a bummer. Sounds like something broke and jammed up. I lost my transmission last fall when both of the sixth gears lost teeth. I was able to get home in 5th so I could change it there. After getting a defective rebuilt I opted for the Mopar Reman. A lot more money but lots of warranty. Hopefully some one in your area will see this post and steer you to a good shop. You could check the TDR travel companion and see if a member is near you. I think Standard Gear & Transmission are in Fort Worth. Alot of members have had good experiences with them. Good luck.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Standard Transmission and Gear Co. phone no. 1-800-783-8726/817-625-7109

 

[Sticks]

Ouch. A meat grinder locks up, it is locked up. My condolences.

 

[HBarlow]

psterkowitz,

You are in a bind and the repair is going to cost you some money. No satisfactory shortcuts are available. A complete rebuild from Standard Transmission in Fort Worth will cost approximately $2000. If the case is cracked I can't guess.

Here's my advice. Contact Standard Transmission in Fort Worth. Describe the situation and ask for their advice. Don't make the mistake of having a local shop rebuild your unit or sell you a "rebuilt unit. "

Standard is one of a very small number of shops in the country who are truly skilled with that transmission as well as honest and fair. Their prices are very reasonable. Blumenthal in OKC is another but farther from you.

If they think they can rebuild your transmission you are lucky. Your case may be cracked and not rebuildable. If Standard will ship you a rebuilt transmission you can have a local transmission shop do the removal and replacement. Standard will know best.

Install a new clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing, and throwout bearing while the transmission is out.

I had the NV-5600 rebuilt on my old '01 by Standard when it had 302,000 miles on the odometer. I was very pleased with Standard's work and the service they provided. They have earned their reputation and maintain it by providing outstanding service and workmanship at a very fair price.

Tell them you are a TDR member.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Are you sure it isn't your diff that locked up?

 

[psterkowitz]

The amount of fluid leaking from the trans and not from the diff leads me to believe it's not the diff that locked up. I called Standard Transmission in Fort Worth and spoke with Corey for quite a while. They are good folks was very sympathic to my plight. The problem is without seeing the trans they would be unable to help and it's possible the case could be cracked. He said that a rebuild would run $3200 and then it would have to be shipped to Harlingen at quite a bit of cost. I have called the Dodge dealer in Weslaco who will take a look at it and see if it's repairable. He said if it does need a reman that it would have a 3 year warranty which would be covered by any Dodge dealer in the country which is important to me as we are full timers. I had a good tow truck driver who was able to load my Ram up on carrier with a minimal amout of dragging the locked up rear wheels. Thank you to all who responded to my "911", it's good to know that know matter were I might be I can count TDR members to help.

 

[psterkowitz]

ps - I will also have them install a new clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing, and throwout bearing while the transmission is out. Breakdowns towing the fiver are no fun!

 

[SMorneau]

Any updates? I would be interested to know what Dodge wants for a reman.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I would try to get your trans to Std. in Fort Worth. Get their Power Lube package upgrade also.

 

[Sticks]

... I had a good tow truck driver who was able to load my Ram up on carrier with a minimal amout of dragging the locked up rear wheels...

A good tow truck driver would have pulled the drive shaft, ergo no dragging of the rear wheels.



Hope you get back on the road soon.

 

[sag2]

The Mopar unit R2108501AD is $6200 less an $800 core if your core is good. One available in Houston, only three in the US.

 

[bromano676]

For $6200 you could probably have the transmission pulled, rent a pickup, and drive it to standard transmission youself. even if standard wants 3000 that leaves you 3200 for the labor and delivery.



Does the 6200 cover installation?

 

[JFought]

i am headed from fort worth to South padre island in about 14 days and will spend adout 4 days there, then come back to fort worth if this helps, let me know (i will drive right past standard... ...

 

[HBarlow]

You can buy two Standard Transmission rebuilt units for the price of the MOPAR reman unit. Standard offers a guarantee also.

The choice is a no-brainer to me.

 

[psterkowitz]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. The Dodge Dealer in Weslaco TX, now has the Truck. The cost for the reman trans will be $4800 installed complete including tax. A new clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing, and throwout bearing will add about $1200 more. The 3 year warranty from Dodge and having my truck back this week seemed to be the best option for me.

I really like the idea of having a Standard trans & Gear reman, but 544 miles one way made it a difficult option. I appreciate the offer from JFought to run it up to Ft Worth but I still would have to have it hotshotted back here. I have 62k on the odometer

(80% towing the 5th wheel) and had never changed the Fluid. After reading reading Joe's article in issue 67, page 85 ,I might have been on borrowed time with that trans. How often are other TDR Members changing the NV5600 fluid?

 

[Slow Six]

Glad to hear you are getting fixed up. I was in a bind for time when mine went plus living in a remote area it is almost impossible to get somethings from good vendors and we have the border between us. I'm not exactly sure of my oil change intervals but I do change it probably at 50 t0 75000 miles. With the low mileage you have it appears to me you just had some bad luck.

 

[Curious Dave]

Over fill the trans. ! If you get some FAST coolers you can fill it from the top port/dipstick on the cooler. It will allow you to put in 9 quarts. The problem with the NV5600 is that there is a bearing in the back that does not get lubed appropriately in a heavy load downhill scenario. Most rebuilders will tell you to overfill. I got mine from Blumenthals in OKC. The extra fluid sounds like way to much unless you pull the shifter and look inside the gearbox. At that point you can see just how much room there is inside. The extra oil is not going to hurt anything. If anything the oil will last longer and the gearbox will be cooler. The FAST coolers will increase your capacity and help with the cooling quite a bit. Especially with the heavy hauling. The compatible oil is way cheaper from auto parts stores than it is going with the dealers oil. You need an oil that is MS-9224 campatible. Pennzoil Synchromesh is probably the most common that I have seen.

While doing all of this... it would also be a good idea to put in a high quality oil temp sensor. I used Autometer.

I also just changed my oil at 25k. I will do it again at another 25k and so on.

Good luck.