Problem: 2017 Manual Transmission popping out of gear

[Newsa]

Ok, I thought it did say it in the manual. But since I can't find it, I guess not.

They shouldn't deny warranty if you tell the whole story. But if they do try to deny warranty, let us know so we don't get shafted

 

[gsbrockman]

When taking in for warranty service, tell them it is popping out of 5th when towing and using the EB. Don't offer the info that you have been towing in 6th. Just to be safe

Nothing like giving the Service Writer incorrect information to gain an accurate diagnosis.....or just out and out LYING about the whole deal

 

[Newsa]

Nothing like giving the Service Writer incorrect information to gain an accurate diagnosis.....or just out and out LYING about the whole deal

Some service writers know their business, but are trained and rewarded for denying warranty. The dealership down here charged significantly more per hour for labor than warranty pays. Other service writers are clueless about pretty much everything.

Jgilott has plenty of warranty time and miles left. I stand by my suggestion. He could wait 2 years until it gets worse to put in a warranty claim. People have had warranty denied even though there is a manufacturer defect. Sometimes talking a bit less is smarter.

 

[Newsa]

At minimum, I would have the dealership change the transmission fluid. If I were experiencing the same issues, I would not do it myself.

 

[gsbrockman]

Some service writers know their business, but are trained and rewarded for denying warranty.

Are you SERIOUS? Service Writers have no ability to deny warranty. That is FCA's call exclusively.

The dealership down here charged significantly more per hour for labor than warranty pays.

That is almost a given that customer pay is always more than warranty pay.

Jgilott has plenty of warranty time and miles left.

Jgillot has a 2005 truck....at least according to his signature.

I stand by my suggestion. He could wait 2 years until it gets worse to put in a warranty claim.

TEX_03 has the truck with the issue....a 3 month old 2017 with 3500 miles.
That is what I would like to do......burn out some remaining warranty time on my 3 month old truck with 3500 miles that pops out of gear.
You need another shot of coffee.......

 

[kilianos]

I had a 2010 jk that did this. It was a guide plate I think they called it. A sort of template that helps the shifter towards the correct position. Wasn't a huge fix. Take it back to the dealer.

 

[Newsa]

I had a 2010 jk that did this. It was a guide plate I think they called it. A sort of template that helps the shifter towards the correct position. Wasn't a huge fix. Take it back to the dealer.

I wonder if this one is different. The shifter itself is notched.

I removed my shifter this past summer when doing my g56 transmission fluid change and I was surprised to see how much the shifter plays a role in shift lever position.

The shifter itself has a couple of pins/holes that make sure it seats in the correct position.
If it is manufactured correctly, it is nearly impossible to line up incorrectly. There is something wrong with his g56 and it should easily be a warranty fix whether something is wrong with the shifter or something deeper.

Could be the notches in the shifter are not helping hold the shift lever in position?

Whatever you do, don't drive for long periods with your hand on the shift knob.

 

[kthaxton]

So they tried to make it less attractive to tow in 6th gear by changing it to 0.74 final dri e ratio.

Lol, that is absurd! Both the idea that this was an actual thought process at Ram AND that .05 difference in ratio would be a noticeable difference for any purpose.

 

[MichaelOverfield]

I've not specifically taken my G56 apart, but I have rebuilt other manual transmissions. What typically holds a transmission in a particular gear is generally not the shifter mechanism, it's the spine couplings (on much older transmissions I've seen ball-detent mechanisms) , with a retaining "spring ring" type assembly. It flexes going into, and out of gear, and is felt as a rise and fall in resistance on the shifter. On one transmission built, I ended up damaging one of these spring rings, a part not in the re-build kit and seemingly a "un-obtainium" part.. I had an interesting time making one with my limited machine tools.. but did get one that worked on the second try... It still works and it's on the reverse gear for that vehicle.

I'd expect that to be the problem here, perhaps a shifter linkage that doesn't move far enough to fully engage on that spline coupling or the tolerances/shims within the transmission preventing a proper engagement. In any case it seems clear it's a manufacturing defect, and there is a correlation to the '17MY it seems. A bad run of transmissions from the factory, or a bad batch upon assembly errors at the plant.. In any case warranty work for sure.

 

[Newsa]

Lol, that is absurd! Both the idea that this was an actual thought process at Ram AND that .05 difference in ratio would be a noticeable difference for any purpose.

Well, a 0.05 change in 6th gear is a 6.7-6.8 % change.

So you would effectively have 7% (regarding frictional loss because of gear mesh and fluid friction) LESS torque which would be noticeable (but not hugely noticeable) with a 3.43 rear end.

0.05/0.74 = (approx.) 6.75 ish %

 

[Newsa]

However, I did make a mistake that I would like to correct. They made it approximately 7% EASIER to tow in 6th (it appears). Maybe they thought this would reduce their 6th gear failures rate?

I wish they would change reverse to make it 7 % slower.

 

[DClark]

Everybody seems to tow in 6th, even though it not advisable, even I tow in 6th. However anytime I hit an incline I shift to 5th and even 4th when climbing at 23K GCW. I'd imagine your trans temp gets up over 200* plus. Even with my ability to keep mine from going over 180*, I keep as little stress as possible on the aluminum two piece case.

I tow with my '05 and a G56 in 6th all the time. Pull a 9K 5th with a 3K boat behind and only two things make me shift out of 6th. EGTs and loss of momentum. When it hits 60 MPH or 1250 EGTs I'm shifting. The engine has a sweet spot and likes 6th better.
DClark

 

[RVTRKN]

Looking at your signature, your 3:73 with the G56 and 55/60 mph will do that when towing. However it's not as bad as mine, due to the higher ratio your AD is geared at. When towing light @15k GCW with my AE version G56, I run it at 70 mph in 6th, when climbing grades. If I run at 60 while climbing at that weight, it becomes a constant upshift and down shift between 5th and 6th.

When towing @23K its another story, I must run in 5th while climbing or my EGT, trans temperature and RPM's can't sustain itself. This is why I regret not ordering my truck with the 4:10 rear diff. Do you know what your trans temperature is running at?

 

[truckmen]

I have a 2017 Ram 3500 with the manual transmission that I am experiencing issues with the transmission popping out of 6th (and occasionally 5th) gear. The gear shifter physically moves back into neutral with no hand on it. I am only experiencing the issue when I am my towing my 12K fifth wheel and slowing down with my exhaust brake. A couple of times I have attempted to keep it in gear with my hand on the shifter and she still pops back into neutral. Otherwise, I see and feel no other issues with the transmission or exhaust brake.

I experimented today on our return trip, and it did pop out twice without the exhaust brake and coasting in gear to slow down.

I am not mechanically inclined, so any insight would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Michael

Hello Ted!
I've got the very same problem.

I'll take some pictures when I get home next week as I'll be removing the G56 out for my clutch replacement.

Ralph

 

[MMcdonough]

I purchased a 2017 Ram 2500 4x4 6.7L with the 6spd G56 transmission about a month ago. Truck popped out of 6th under decel with the engine brake engaged. Did it with no extra weight in the truck and no trailer on a cool day every time.

Because of the transmission issue and a damaged left rear hub which caused the wheel seal to come apart with <500 miles on the truck, I ended up escalating to the dealership sales manager instead of going through the service department. Dealership did an outstanding job handling the problematic truck. Since I had only owned the truck 4-5 days, they agreed to swap the truck out for another. Worked out for the best as I was able to find a truck with better options/trim. New truck has been perfect for the first 1200 miles.

I would say there is almost certainly a bad batch of G56 transmissions which were installed in 2017 Ram 6.7L trucks.

 

[TEX_03]

Finally got the 5th wheel into winter storage, and time to tackle the transmission issue.

Dropped her off at the dealer Monday, explained the scenario to my service advisor. Told him that it was going to be really difficult to replicate the problem without a trailer, and I was right. However, the contacted engineering at Ram and sent them the video from in the cab of the gear shift throwing itself back into neutral.

4 hours later, the dealer got the authorization for a new transmission. Installed overnight and back in the driveway this afternoon. One other interesting tidbit, service had said that the lower boot for the gear shift (protecting from the underbelly) was all bound up; adding resistance to the shifter. I'll be curious to see the effect of that (I have only driven the 1 mile back from the dealer so far).

Given the fact that they replaced the transmission so fast without "proof", it must be a known issue.