Transmission Fluid Fire Recall

[Signal73]

*Spoiler alert*

No he won’t...

 

[kthaxton]

That dipstick looks like the oil dipstick on my Polaris RZR, it only locks in the sense that when you push the lever down, it "locks" it in the tube. I wonder if the usage of "locking" dipstick is being misunderstood and it just simply means you have to move the lever to release it?

 

[NIsaacs]

That dipstick looks like the oil dipstick on my Polaris RZR, it only locks in the sense that when you push the lever down, it "locks" it in the tube. I wonder if the usage of "locking" dipstick is being misunderstood and it just simply means you have to move the lever to release it?

Thats the way I understand the use. A lot of ag and industrial equipment use the secure/sealing type, like this.

 

[kthaxton]

It seems that this type of locking mechanism would be a way to keep the dipstick from popping out and releasing fluid into the engine bay.

 

[NIsaacs]

It seems that this type of locking mechanism would be a way to keep the dipstick from popping out and releasing fluid into the engine bay.

Correct, but there should not be any pressure on the dipstick/tube. The vent should not allow it. Apparently, the stubby vent would plug up from fluid seepage/dirt and then not vent. Makes me wonder if there is no baffle at the vent or the fluid level it too high. If the fluid level contacts the rotating assembly, fluid is going to be hard to contain.

The issue of the dipstick being too short to check the fluid level is unacceptable, if that is the case. It for sure is shorter than the oem. That dipstick appears to just be an off the shelf item, not built for the application. Probably sourced from Polaris

 

[Axel]

Correct, but there should not be any pressure on the dipstick/tube. The vent should not allow it. Apparently, the stubby vent would plug up from fluid seepage/dirt and then not vent. Makes me wonder if there is no baffle at the vent or the fluid level it too high. If the fluid level contacts the rotating assembly, fluid is going to be hard to contain.

The issue of the dipstick being too short to check the fluid level is unacceptable, if that is the case. It for sure is shorter than the oem. That dipstick appears to just be an off the shelf item, not built for the application. Probably sourced from Polaris

View attachment 136330

That is exactly what they put in mine. I have another appointment next Tuesday at dealer for clock spring and seatbelt retractor. I will asked them how they intend to rectify this. 100K truck and not able to check transmission fluid level is a joke....

 

[NIsaacs]

Called on this today and the tail gate recall, no parts and I am #14, lol.

 

[Axel]

Went to dealer and complained about the dipstick. Service manager said he will get me a regular dipstick for me to take home. He showed me the paper where they actually tell the dealership to hang on to some old dipsticks for service use.....

 

[06 Dodge]

Was at my dealer today and was told they had no idea on the new dip stick not being able to check ATF fluid due to none in stock, but I did see the new trans vent tube, what a joke its about 3 inch long & 3 inch high, think I'll just have a local diesel shop put a new vent hose to the top of the OEM dip stick tube, that should be high enough to keep water from getting in lol...

 

[Ozymandias]

Impressive that this Dipstick was good enough for what, about 40 years now?
And now all of a sudden it is a problem? This is a yoke.

 

[AH64ID]

Impressive that this Dipstick was good enough for what, about 40 years now?
And now all of a sudden it is a problem? This is a yoke.

It’s a vent issue, not a dipstick issue. Either it’s cheaper to lock the dipstick, or some governing authority is making them fix the dipstick when in reality you could fix the vent and leave the dipstick alone.

 

[NIsaacs]

This guy claims his '12 dipstick is too long and wore a hole in his pan.

https://www.cumminsforum.com/threads/transmission-dip-stick-too-long.2576360/

Jeez, what next? I wonder if the recall trucks are the same as what's going on, on this thread, 2016. Guy says every time he checks his dip stick, it is pushed up a little, not seated fully. Per TransEngineer, that's normal, the bottom of the stick hits a shelf in the pan and can spring back. That the stick is indexed, from the bottom. That the level is more accurate than if it was indexed from the top down.

Edit: I just checked mine, it was fully seated and no resistance at all when I pushed it down, fully.

https://www.cumminsforum.com/threads/68rfe-trans-dipstick.2074666/post-24024610

 

[MichaelD86]

Just had this recall performed this morning. Took about an hour. When I checked in I asked to keep the original dipstick so I could check it. Service guy said the new one would work to check fluid level. I just said hmmm ok, and told them what I read on here. Anyway. Got it done and they put my original dipstick in a bag on the passenger floor board and a sheet on my passenger seat explaining how to check fluid level. Long story short. You need the original 44” dipstick. I’ll attach a pic of the sheet of anyone wants to see it.

 

[crispyboy]

I can see this "fix" as being a problem in the future to someone who is uninformed of why the shorter dipstick was installed. Somebody is going to pull the newer dipstick and see there is no fluid on the stick, think that it is low and start over filling the transmission only to have it bubble up out of the stick and causing a fire or causing a leak somewhere else in the transmission. This seems like the wrong way to fix this problem.
I have not had this problem with my 2009 truck but the dipstick always seems "springy". It must vent well through the dipstick because it never seems well seated but I have never had it bubble up out of the dipstick tube.

 

[MichaelD86]

They also replace the vent. I would assume that is the source of the issue. If the vent got clogged it would come out the dipstick tube. Sealing that off would force the buildup out the vent. Guessing it would push small debris out of the way if that’s the easiest place for the pressure to release. I’d imagine the vent is similar to that of a diff. One way type. When diff vents get clogged they start leaking at the seals.

 

[Ozymandias]

I can see this "fix" as being a problem in the future to someone who is uninformed of why the shorter dipstick was installed. Somebody is going to pull the newer dipstick and see there is no fluid on the stick, think that it is low and start over filling the transmission only to have it bubble up out of the stick and causing a fire or causing a leak somewhere else in the transmission. This seems like the wrong way to fix this problem.
I have not had this problem with my 2009 truck but the dipstick always seems "springy". It must vent well through the dipstick because it never seems well seated but I have never had it bubble up out of the dipstick tube.

Would be much smarter to cut that 15" Stick entirely off from the locking cap so no-one could be confused further down the road. Because then it is very visible that it is a cap only.
No clue why the smart engineer in Detroit could've figured that out.

 

[Ozymandias]

Anyway it is a horrible fix for a problem that does not exist. Shame on RAM.

 

[06 Dodge]

Would be much smarter to cut that 15" Stick entirely off from the locking cap so no-one could be confused further down the road. Because then it is very visible that it is a cap only.
No clue why the smart engineer in Detroit could've figured that out.

Here let me fix it for you... No clue why the some cheap @SS engineer in India could've figured that out

 

[kthaxton]

Ram engineers are in India?

 

[06 Dodge]

Ram engineers are in India?

It was a JOKE... I Guess we are in need of a Joke Icon