Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Shifting Problems

[ldg]

I was driving home from a trip when all of a sudden my trans. was harder than the dickens to shift into fifth gear. I had to really force it but then it was also hard to shift out of at times, but not always. It continued getting harder to shift into fifth and sometimes into third as miles pasted. I checked the fluid and it full, it had been changed only three months ago (yes, with the right recommended oil from Dodge for the NV 4500). At which time the transmission was also completely rebuilt with the full splined shaft from Standard Transmission and a new clutch put in. I contacted the installer, recommended by Standard Transmission, and was assured the problem would be corrected sometime this coming week (I didn't need the truck right now and waiting a few days was not a problem for me, in fact I offered the delay do to the businesses work load at that time). Having let it sit for four days I had occasion to use it today only to find it was next to impossible to shift into reverse and shifting in any gear was an effort after some minor usage. However, there was no clashing of gears. I have read the other post on hard shifting, reference the six speed trans. posted just ahead of this one, but has anyone else out there ran into this problem with the 5 speed? At first I thought I had a fifth gear nut ready to drop off but with basically all the gears showing this issue I do not think this is my problem especially with the full splined shaft. Anyone have any experience or suggestions as to the orig of this issue? Thx. I will post my findings when we find out exactly what the problem is.



The new clutch and trans rebuild was done at appx 122K. The clutch at that time was not a problem nor had it been, it was the original. The trans. was making a noise and required a bearing at which time I chose to redo the whole business.

 

[jlhartak]

How does it shift into/out of 4th gear? 4th is direct drive, (doesn't use the counter shaft) if 4th is OK it may indicate a bad bearing, end play, etc. on the counter shaft. Does it shift OK when the truck is stopped and shut off? You may have a dragging clutch, although the absence of gear clash would seem to eliminate that. Hope your trans rebuild has more that a 90day warranty?!

 

[ldg]

J, I just went out and checked the shifting again while the vehicle was not moving and this is what I came up with.



With the engine off she shifts just fine/normal (I had not done this since the problem come up and honestly I was supprised at this). With the engine idleing she shifted hard into 1st and 2nd (I should say harder than normal but very noticable), shifting into 3rd and 4th seemed almost normal but 5th and reverse were, or at least felt more difficult than 1st and 2nd.



When driving before, on the way home, it was 3rd that was the most difficult next to 5th which was the worst and 4th did not seem to be an issue. 5th was so hard infact I'm sure the Mrs could not have done it. Now yesterday when I moved our boat and 5th Wheel around the yard with it, I could not even get into reverse a couple of times until I pulled forward a little, then it still required considerable effort, thats also the way 1st and 2nd were acting. Never got to 3rd,4th or 5th yesterday. Thx J.

 

[DodgeSales]

Mine is doing the same thing as yours

I was pulling up threads about shifting problems with the nv4500 when I read your post I was surprized that you have the excact same symptoms I have.

What did you find out?

Please let me know

 

[RichardWells]

I too have had similar problems, only differnece is. . When it is cool it shifts fairly easily, when it is warmer and been on the road for 30 minutes or more or driven fairly hard I have to muscle it into gear. This is what I have found out so far,,,,,, Dodge dealer could not repeat problem. . Went to Standard Transmission here in Ft. Worth and described my problem. They said it sounded like the Master/Slave for the clutch, which would cost a little more than a $100. 00 in parts to fix. Have not tried it yet,,

but what I did do was when I'm sitting still at idle at a stop light and it is hard to get into 2nd, I leave in nuetral and pump the clutch 4 or 5 times and then it will drop in and shift fairly easy for a couple of shifts, then it starts getting hard again. Do not know if this helps but this is what I have found so far,,,,,, still researching.

 

[obert]

R Wells, if your slave cyl. costs 100 bucks, I want one. I herd a lot higher price, and that it was still only available as a complete unit with the matser cyl.



I would confidently say that this is the culpret to the above problems, since the hard shift is in multiple gears, including reverse.

 

[RichardWells]

obert

Go to this site: http://www.standardtransmission.com/. A couple months ago

when I went there they priced the Master at around $60. 00 and the Slave at around

$30. 00. With tax I estimated a little over $100. 00 for the both from them, I was there

in person when I asked and they looked it up on the computer. I was sold, but I

wanted to verify and make sure.

I have heard several other prices from other vendors and Dodge for + 200. 00

and up for both. I also heard they come in a set, but they are the experts and I am

not. They have a 1-800 you can call and ask any questions that may concern you.

 

[gary12744]

I had the same problem with my '97 3500 5 speed. What the problem turned out to be was the pilot bearing in the crank froze up. This in turn ruined the input shaft to the trans. New clutch,pressure plate, pressure bearing, shaft, pilot bearing came to about $1100. 00

 

[John - K5AWO]

If it shifts just fine with the engine off, and hard with the engine running, then you have a hydraulic clutch cylinder problem.

have them changed out and all should be fine again.


The clutch disc is still partially engaged making it very difficult to shift.

To prove it, do a clutchless shift like in the old days before syncronizers.

If it slides out of gear when you back off on the throttle, it is a clutch dragging on the flywheel even though you have the clutch pedal on the floor.