Transmission Cooling Bypass Valve Failure?????

[dkollar33]

I recently purchased my first Turbo Diesel (Oct 02) and have loved every minute of owning it. Wednesday my dealer called and told me of a transmission cooling valve somewhere on the radiator causing automatic transmission overheats and early failures. I asked if this was during normal driving or hauling and he said "I wouldn't take it out of state. " He told me the valve would be in soon and they would call me when its in.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

Believe it

Another member here just lost his trans at 1100 miles. He said the trans overheat light would come on after 40 miles of driving. A $3500 failure caused by a $3. 50 part. It would be better to get the six speed...

 

[4xquadrod]

This site is real informative, but I am starting to get paranoid about owning my truck. There seems to be alot of strange items that might go out on it.

 

[ralbert]

Stopped into my dealer the other day and they had a new 3500 with the problem. Their problem was a bad check valve on the lower left side of radiator. They took one from another truck to get this 3500 back on the road. Sounds like it must be a recall now. Also they had a 2nd gen. with a major front brake system problem. Tech had replaced the all axle components twice. They came into the shop on fire. Will have to see what the final fix was.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

the question is...

Why have a check valve at all??? The coolers do sit quite high above the trans pan. Are they afraid of a little air mixing in with the trans fluid? To much of a possiblilty of foaming after initial startup?



The first model years always need the bugs worked out. Look how long it took for the kinks in the 94s to be straightened out.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by 4xquadrod

This site is real informative, but I am starting to get paranoid about owning my truck. There seems to be alot of strange items that might go out on it.

Don't let it bother you, you will hear all of the possible bad thinks that can happen on this site. You are more likely to win the Lotto than most of this stuff going wrong with your truck. It is just good to be aware and check things out. I know that I checked my diff fluid after reading one thread not long ago. I guess your right it does make you paranoid.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Could it be the check valve is there to prevent over cooling in colder weather?

 

[ntenna]

Check valve

Originally posted by Prairie Dog

Could it be the check valve is there to prevent over cooling in colder weather?

Genrally they are there to prevent the TQ from draining back into the transmission pan after standing for awhile- resulting in little or no movement until the TQ refills 5-6 seconds. Used to be one just below the aux cooler on the side of the engine... .



JH

 

[inarush76]

check valve

As mentioned, the check valve is to reduce converter drainback. Unfortunately, it also serves as a restriction to cooler flow when open and can stick and cause trans failure from lack of lube to geartrain and overheating. All the trans I do lose this valve as with the modifications done in the DTT valvebody you get better converter fill, better lube flow, and cooler flow in park. There is some drainback when this valve is eliminated and the truck sits awhile, however if on cold start truck is allowed to idle for a short time(put on seat belt, set radio,etc. ) it is ready to go. A few seconds on cold start is no consequence compared the damage that can be avoided. HTH

James

 

[dnitzel]

Originally posted by 4xquadrod

This site is real informative, but I am starting to get paranoid about owning my truck. There seems to be alot of strange items that might go out on it.

You should check out some of the stuff said on the Duramax's and Power Stroke related forums. No offense, you'd be scared with them too, may be a lot more so!



By my observations, overall, the CTD/Dodge problems seem to be a little less scary. These Dodges are machines built by man, and they are only as perfect as we can get. I work around big machines (senior operations shift foreman at a coal fired power plant) and recreate with machines (ATVs). Machines often fail, and some seem to run forever with little maintenance. However, knowing the characteristics of a machine, such as discovering the information about Dodge/CTD on this web site, helps us understand some of the flaws our machines may have.



What is considered to be the most dependable machine made? The computer hard drive. I've witnessed many of those fail before. I've had a few cars fail also, and I don't buy that brand any more either. I've never been stranded (yet) in a Dodge Ram. But I always carry a cell phone.



The people on this forum are often knit-picking often times trivial items, and that's NOT a bad thing. You sure can learn a LOT.



All I know is that the Cheby 3/4's at work seem to be in the shop a lot and they guys with the Ferd PS's at work complain a lot about mileage and maintenance. They think I'm lying about my 15 mpg in town empty average (they get worse). They think I'm lying about the fact that mine and one other CTD guy at work have never had it back to the dealer for anything (good thing they have a second car) except a few recalls. I have 45k and the other CTD co-worker has 100k. I can beat the heck outa my truck, and like my dogs, for now it still seems to like me! ( I never beat my dogs)

 

[Big B]

I had the new check valve put in today. They said there was 14,000 that had to be done.

 

[johnsnow]

Originally posted by dkollar33

I recently purchased my first Turbo Diesel (Oct 02) and have loved every minute of owning it. Wednesday my dealer called and told me of a transmission cooling valve somewhere on the radiator causing automatic transmission overheats and early failures. I asked if this was during normal driving or hauling and he said "I wouldn't take it out of state. " He told me the valve would be in soon and they would call me when its in.

I dropped mine off today, it sounds like I might be one of 14,000 with the valve issue or did everyone with 03 and auto transmission get the recall?

 

[Big MAK]

I think everyone through a certain production date (when problem identified) had the recall. I don't know the exact date; but I think it was posted here before and would show up in a search.

 

[Steve M]

I signed the papers on my '03 auto/4. 10 last Thursday. I'm still waiting to pick it up. It's sitting in the service lot waiting on a new check valve and a new PCM. Both problems involve recalls. The PCM gets water in the plug terminals and the check valve is something that was a problem back when I had my '95 Dodge Cummins.

I'm about a gnat's hair away from telling them I don't want the truck but in reality it's probably going to be fine once they take care of these two items. I told them I'd rather the check valve be left out but they said they can't do that.

 

[johnsnow]

Originally posted by Steve M

I signed the papers on my '03 auto/4. 10 last Thursday. I'm still waiting to pick it up. It's sitting in the service lot waiting on a new check valve and a new PCM. Both problems involve recalls. The PCM gets water in the plug terminals and the check valve is something that was a problem back when I had my '95 Dodge Cummins.

I'm about a gnat's hair away from telling them I don't want the truck but in reality it's probably going to be fine once they take care of these two items. I told them I'd rather the check valve be left out but they said they can't do that.

Steve,



I just had the valve replaced today at Carson Dodge in Carson City NV. The part number is 50010185AA. The process took less than one hour. I'll bet you can get the valve shipped between dealers. The Service department phone number is (775) 883-2020. This is the same dealership that John Holmes who writes for TDR works at one day a week. I am looking foward to meeting John, he works on Wed. and when I meet him I am going to ask him to explain the valve issue. I really like my new truck no regrets, its my first diesel and Dodge. The TDR is an excellent resource, I can't wait for them write a feature article on the 2003 trucks. I am wondering about some of the changes like not using Dana front and rear ends.

 

[BLanders]

Recall B33

My Transmission went out at 800 miles. This was just before Christmas and took almost two weeks for them to get a new Trans. from the Factory. The Drain back valve (Ball check) swells under heat and stops the flow of fluid back to the transmission. In my case it wasted the transmission and had to have a new one installed. Tried to get the new 48re to replace the 47re but they would not going for that... ... ... ..... but I tried anyway.

 

[Steve M]

The thing that concerns me about mine is the dealership brought it up from another dealership 45 miles away. I don't know if it got hot or if they're just holding it to do the recall before something happens. I checked the transmission fluid and it looks new. Did you get a trans temp light or no warning? Man, 800 miles, that had to be a sour stomach... The 47RE evolved from the TorqueFlight 727. It's a tough transmission and should last a long time with stock power. Someone around here has over 300,000 on their origional 47RH.

I like the Dana Axle name but they seem to leak an awful lot. That and the clutch pack chatters if you don't feed it some friction modifier now and then. I understand the AAM axle doesn't use clutches but some sort of gear mechanism for limited slip. I'll have to learn about that. It sounds like a better set up.

That's pretty cool you get to meet John Holmes at the dealership! Give 'im a howdy from Tampa Florida!

 

[BLanders]

The local dealer located my truck for me and I went with him to pick it up. I drove it home (about 100 miles ) and with no problems. Was going to our family Christmas dinner and it went out . First the OD went then the heat warning on the Trans. Pulled over at the first convienent place and called road side assistance, but yes it was a sick feeling in my stomach. The dealer already knew about the recall but failed to check my truck while it was in the shop being inspected. ... ... ... ..... Trans. replaced with a new one and so for everything is fine and I could not be happier.



Butch

 

[dnitzel]

Originally posted by johnsnow

Steve,



I am wondering about some of the changes like not using Dana front and rear ends.

The last I heard was that there have been a LOT of quality control problems with the Dana axles in the last couple of years, especially the smaller ones like the 44s, 30s and some 60s. Don't know about the Dana 80's. I've been told that Dodges and Jeeps that have them are in the dealer a LOT to be repaired. My '95 Jeep Cherokee had a Dana rear end and it was nothing but trouble (the axle). The Dakotas and Durangos have (had) problems as with the danas as well and they were attributed to (from what I understand) quality control issues at the Dana factory.



The defects in the Dana rear axle of my Jeep got me looking at Dodge pickups. I'm a certified Dodge truck fan now.



The new American axles from my observations are bigger and from what I've heard, better. Pop your head under a new '03 2500 or 3500 and that sucker is BIG. Only time will tell on the new American axles, but I am pretty confident about them.



American axle seems to be a rather aggressive company and is the old axle arm of General Motors. Check out their web site at http://www.americanaxle.com and read the "news" link or search Google under American Axle. There's a lot of info out there.



Most trucks made by GM have American axles as does the Hummer H2 and some components in Ford axles are made by American. The new anti-slip in the Dodges made by AA is said to be superior to the Danas. I can't wait to try my new one in the slick stuff!

 

[Pit Bull]

Dan I think you will find that quality has nothing to do with the real decision. It is all about the $$$. If it was quality they would not make this move. JMHO



Chrysler reclaims Jeep axles



September 23, 2002

DETROIT -- DaimlerChrysler is wresting production of a key component for the next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee from longtime supplier Dana Corp. and building it itself.



The move to give production of front and rear axles for the Grand Cherokee to DaimlerChrysler's Detroit Axle plant is a setback for the automaker's two largest driveline suppliers - Dana and American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc.



The move will assuage UAW fears over plant closings and outsourcing, especially plans to sell or close many component-making plants. Disposal of component plants wasn't included in the Chrysler group's three-year turnaround plan, which union leaders supported, which calls for eliminating about 19,000 union jobs by the end of 2003.



But the Detroit Axle decision raises an important question for suppliers such as Dana and American Axle: Will DaimlerChrysler take more of that business in-house as it strives to make its plants leaner and more efficient?



"Chrysler's decision reduces the size of the market we can compete in," one industry executive says. "A big chunk of revenue is going away. "