Surging on Uphill Start

[2013megacab]

I was towing our 9000# 31' trailer into a campground where the site was around a very slight curve and up a steep hill. The guide was leading me in a golf cart, but stopped on the hill. When I tried to start up, the truck was surging, i.e. grabbing, then slipping, repeatedly. I stopped and put it in 4 Low and continued up the hill. The road was paved or I probably would have used 4 Low to begin with. There was no surging in 4 Low. I presume this was slippage in the torque converter or 1st gear clutch. I think if it was the LS differential clutches it would have surged in 4 Low as well.

Truck is a 2013 2500 Laramie CTD. I plan to check the transmission fluid for burnt smell and will probably just go ahead and change the fluid to be sure. Is there anything else I should check?

Thanks,

Al

 

[kthaxton]

I don't have an answer for you but your limited slip is a torsen style that does not use clutches, so you can take that off the table.

 

[transe]

I would suspect one of two things: either launch shudder due to the driveshaft center bearing alignment, or torque pulsations from the converter. Both are relatively common / normal. The converter output torque will normally have some pulsations / fluctuations at or near stall (zero output speed), and these increase as you increase the input torque. So if you are in a condition of constant high input torque at low/no speed, it is normal to get pulsations from the converter.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

This should solve your problem:

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/255451-BD-Diesel-Performance-2wd-Unlock-Kit-review

I use mine all the time

 

[2013megacab]

Thanks everyone! Good to know that what I experienced was probably normal. The kit looks great. I wonder about warranty impact, however.

Al

 

[2013megacab]

I would suspect one of two things: either launch shudder due to the driveshaft center bearing alignment, or torque pulsations from the converter. Both are relatively common / normal. The converter output torque will normally have some pulsations / fluctuations at or near stall (zero output speed), and these increase as you increase the input torque. So if you are in a condition of constant high input torque at low/no speed, it is normal to get pulsations from the converter.

Thanks. I suspect torque pulsations as I have noted the launch shudder and it is at a higher frequency than I experienced. The pulsations I experienced were about once per second.

Al

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Thanks everyone! Good to know that what I experienced was probably normal. The kit looks great. I wonder about warranty impact, however.

Al

All plug in play. Easy to remove