Trans Trouble

[rootcanals]

I have a 2005 2500 4X4 dodge cummins. I had my transmission serviced in July and recently had the first gear go out on my automatic transmission. The serviceman said my torque converter went out which caused this problem. . I was talking to a fellow dodge owner yesterday and told him my problem and he said that this is a common problem with this truck and a I should have spent the $3,500. 00 on a different transmission because this will probably happen again.

 

[rootcanals]

Oh and it has 78,000 miles and this was the second or third trans service I have done in before July.

 

[rbattelle]

I haven't heard anything about the 48re being prone to throwing either first gear or torque converters (although that doesn't mean much, since I don't pay a lot of attention to automatic transmission threads). When you say "first gear went out", do you mean the apply mechanism failed somewhere, the hydraulic system failed, the band failed, the electronics failed, the servo failed, or the planetery assembly itself grenaded?

Do you tow heavy? Are you running on stock horsepower? What were the symptoms that indicated a failed first gear?

Ryan

 

[rootcanals]

no heavy towing. Everything is stock on truck... no chips or anything. I first thought the turbo was going out. It was feeling like the first gear was slipping... . ie high rpm but barely moving then it would kick into second and off I would go.

 

[Skydiver]

no heavy towing. Everything is stock on truck... no chips or anything. I first thought the turbo was going out. It was feeling like the first gear was slipping... . ie high rpm but barely moving then it would kick into second and off I would go.

Is it still behaving the same? Please tell us what the transmission does when you place it in drive.

What state are you in so we may recommend a reputable shop?

 

[cerberusiam]

Granted the sprag clutch in auto 1st is not the greatest but unless you abuse it with lots of power or rocking between forward and reverse they are usually pretty good.



The stock TC is, of course, a failure waiting to happen. Its borderline but even it should hold up better to no towing or mods. What has been happening a lot is the sprag clutch is failing the TC which is causing other problems if it spits metal thru the trans.



It happens but by no means is it "usual" to have 1st gear or the TC fail.

 

[TCDiesel]

Cerberusiam, I am shock by the comments here at the TDR,CF,DTR, by owners that have there tyranny's service by shops that have no Idea what is consider a upgraded trans,Guest and members if your trans is acting up in most cases it needs to be freshen up or upgraded, sure thier is the exceptions,like solenoid's,pressure sensor, that's about it. Transmissions have many operations that need to occur at a precise time,couple that with demand that that these engine can produce with stock settings and component's,its only time before $$$. Just to give you touch tone of the cost. I just built a new trans for my 03, the parts alone added up to $43000. 00 MY cost that was with 1 billet input. So the shop that (says)" we can do the same R&R for $3500. 00" its just not possible, I can sell you that same trans for the same cost and make more profit then the complete build.

 

[AWise]

. I just built a new trans for my 03, the parts alone added up to $43000. 00 MY cost that was with 1 billet input.

I think you have an extra 0 in there somewhere... :-laf

 

[cerberusiam]

. I just built a new trans for my 03, the parts alone added up to $43000. 00 MY cost that was with 1 billet input. So the shop that (says)" we can do the same R&R for $3500. 00" its just not possible, I can sell you that same trans for the same cost and make more profit then the complete build.

Aside from the extra zero :-laf that sounds a little high for a decent rebuild\upgrade on a 48RE. Too many shops OVER price what the trans needs to work correctly and have a decent life expectancy.



Taking out cheap production quality failures AND abuse the 48RE is decent stock and really good with some simple fixes.



Curious, what all parts did you replace\use to get the trans up to spec and was it a 47 or 48?



Obviously if you start replacing steel pinions, drums, shafts, etc, it will get expensive. Using the stock 48 parts if they are good nets a LOT less for a good unit. We priced out the parts to upgrade a 47RH to a comparable 48 standard and that was around $3500 with a lot of hard parts with a billet input. R&R is of course more.

 

[TCDiesel]

It was a 48, everything You mentioned Plus the VB was change to constant Pressure with Double springs, The clutches I had custom machined. I left out the billet intermediate and output for the obvious reasons.

 

[pullya]

It sounds like a Goerend Trans for about $4100 is a pretty good deal using your figures for a rebuilt trans. IMO Goerend is the best trans built!

Jay

 

[rootcanals]

If this dude goes out again in the next 70,000 miles then I will get a different trans.

 

[Missouri Mule]

An aftermarket TC would help out do some research on DTT,ATS,Goerend, Suncoast, ... . Goerend seems to have the least expensive rebuild.