Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Shifts to quick..

[jjordan]

Is my 3500 shifting to quick or is this normal?



During normal driving the 1st to 2nd shifts at 5 mph (almost immediately), 2nd to 3rd at 15 mph and 3rd to 4th at 45 mph. 2nd and 3rd are way to quick for me but 4th seems normal. Also when slowing down from say about 60 to 10 the trans does not down shift to lower gears unless you put the pedal to the medal.



I purchased the 3500 with 110,000 miles and it currently has 132,000. The torque converter was replaced under warranty at 99,000 miles. I have upgraded the power and added a TransGo

high pressure valve body (which was to change the shift points along with adding firm shifts). The trans has always shifted this way before and after the valve body was changed. I also adjusted to the max, what appears to be a kick down lever located under the throttle cable where it attaches the the throttle lever.



Also my tack is off. 500 RMP low at idle and 1000 RPM low at max. Could these be tied together??



Thanks...

 

[M'staedt]

 

[LSMITH]

What you have for shift points is normal. They all act that way stock.



What you need to do NOW is put the TV cable back into proper adjustment. You can kill the transmission in a matter of days if it is not right. I would not wait to do this. Hit up your VB vendor for the shift point and TV adjustments.

 

[Magnum Express]

jjordan, your shifting problems can be fixed for as little $75. 00.



I had this same problem with my 99', Dealer reflashed power train control module and now shifts 1-2 at about 15 to 20 mph with light throttle. Had same problem with my dads 99', Reflashed pcm and his trans shifts the same as mine. Reflashing pcm also cures cruise control problems.

 

[jjordan]

Thanks for the info...



I have adjusted the TV cable per the tech at the dealer.



Just one problem with the PCM flash. Neither the Dodge dealer in Fort Mill SC or Charlotte NC know of this fix. They need a TSB #.

The trans guys say the 1st and 2nd shifts are controlled by the valve body governor pressure sensor and solenoid. He thinks these are probably bad??? (What do you think too many grits?)



Can you e-mail me the dealer and name of tech that corrected your problem?

 

[emjay]

Tach off by 1000RPM?

When you say off by 1000 RPM at max, do you mean it reads 2000 RPM when you're really at 3000 RPM

 

[jjordan]

Yes,



It reads 500 at idle and 2,300 at full throttle. We think the tach in the dash may be bad?

 

[emjay]

That's a weird one! The tach is driven by data on the CAN bus, so either the tach is bad, or the crankshaft position sensor is bad -- but I would think a bad crankshaft position sensor would give some other indication of trouble. If you know anyone with a scan tool, they can check to see what the RPMs are indicated on the bus. If they're ok there, then it's probably the tach.

 

[DBR]

The installation instructions for the SK-TFOD outline the required adjustment to the valve body to delay the up-shifts. I recently installed the SK-TFOD in my 01 / 3500 with great results, the instructions were very well written. I would be more than willing to e-mail you a copy of the instructions if you like, DBR

 

[pcarlson]

Question: Why does my Dodge Cummins Diesel shift so early at light throttle?



Answer: Early minimum throttle up shifts are a common complaint on 1996-98 47RE transmissions. The factory minimum throttle 1-2 up shift occurs at aprox 4 mph and the 2-3 at 9 mph.

Preferred 1-2 should occur @ 8-10 mph and the 2-3 @ 15-17 mph, at minimum throttle.



New TransButty shift springs allow the minimum throttle 1-2 and 2-3 shift to be calibrated to the correct mph. Only install shift springs if up shifts are too early during initial road test.



Note: Some late 1999 and most 2000 and later models shift on time and do not need new shift springs.



Do not install shift springs on 1994-95 47RH unless necessary.

Early 47RE models 96-98 governor curves vary from vehicle to vehicle so there is no set rule on minimum throttle up shifts. This requires an initial road test. Page 6 of main instruction sheet lists mph values on both the new inner and new outer 2-3 shift springs for calibrating the shift timing.



If a 47RE shifts early even with the new TransButty shift springs, (mostly 96-98 models) check desired governor pressure with a snap-on scanner and compare the reading to actual governor pressure. A minimum throttle 1-2 should occur at about 10 mph with aprox 10-12 psi governor pressure. The 2-3 minimum throttle upshift should occur at 15-17 mph with around 20-25 psi governor pressure. If the desired governor pressure is rising too quickly which is often the case, it will cause early shifts and is usually a defective computer.

 

[jjordan]

Southern Truck Parts used their scan tool to verify RPM. It seemed to be right on the money. It showed the motor to rev to

3,300 RPM at full throttle with the tach showing 2,300. So you are probably right with the tach being bad. Now to find one. Dodge will only sell the whole cluster for a small fee of $782 list. What a joke. May be I can find an aftermarket tach that will work?

 

[emjay]

That would be tough because like I said, the factory tach does not have a traditional tach input (unless it is present as a signal within the cluster, even if that proved to be true, it's unlikely that it would be compatible), it is a digital message on the CAN bus.



You might try getting it repaired. I don't know of anyone who provides this service.

 

[DBR]

jjordan,



I sent two private messages, but they do not show up in my sent box. I'm not sure if things are working correctly. I have the instructions scanned as you requested, I just need an e-mail address and I can forward them.

 

[pcarlson]

JJORDAN,



Checked mine this morning going back home after work and kept the throttle as lite as I could and here are my shift points:



1st to 2nd - 15mph

2nd to 3rd - 25mph

3rd to 4th - 40mph



Realize that my foot was barely pushing the throttle so if I take my reading under what I do normally, about quarter throttle my shift points change:



1st to 2nd - 18-20mph

2nd to 3rd - 30mph

3rd to 4th - 50mph



Half throttle everything moves up another 5mph. I didn't try a full throttle shift reading but would assume that this is a linear progression and the shift points would be another 5-10mph higher.



My transmission is stock and so is the engine with the mods in my post. I'm adding an EZ tomorrow. It has shifted like this since it was new and the shifts actually feel fairly firm compared to my old 1500's 46RE. I can feel every shift under normal driving.

 

[jjordan]

DBR



My e-mail is -- email address removed -- Sorry this reply took so long I have been out of Internet range for several weeks. I have also sent you a private message.



PCARLSON



I would be a very happy TD driver if my shift points were the same

as yours. I will look into changing the springs as per the Transbutty kit. Although I did purchase the valve body ready to install without any extra springs or the complete instructions from

Southern Truck Parts out of Atlanta.



Thanks for your input.



jjordan

 

[DBR]

JJORDAN, sent the instructions to you in . TIF format.