Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Transmission shift points

[danmcguire]

I have owned my 97' 2500 stock truck w/ AT for two years, doing a lot of towing a 9000# 5th wheel, Rving 6 months each winter. I noticed early on that my truck always seems to only have two gears (3 and 4th) when driven in "D". 3rd seems like a fairly high gear to to start a 6000# truck rolling from a stopped position and seems very, very slow from 0-20 mph. When towing, I always use 2nd from a dead stop, then upshift into "D". Is this the way all Dodge transmissions are set up? Can the transmission be changed in some way so that the truck starts in 2nd, then shifts itself into 3rd & 4th. I rarely use O/D while driving in town, seems to have much more umph and acceleration with it dis-engaged.

 

[Strick-9]

No, that's not how these automatics are setup. Your transmission should start off in 1st gear no matter where you place the shifter.



When you place the shifter in D, the transmission should start in 1st gear, shift to second, and then to third.



When you place the shifter in second, the transmission should STILL start in first and then shift to second.



Since your transmission is able to shift down into second we can assume it is NOT in limp mode.



You most likely have a governor solenoid problem or a governor sensor problem which you need a scanner to check. These are both replaceable from the pan and don't require transmission removal.



If you want to verify this, take a governor pressure reading. The governor pressure port is on the passenger side of the transmission. There are three ports on the passenger side. It is the port closest to rear of the truck. You'll need a gauge that reads from 0-100 or 0-150 psi.



Governor pressure should be 0 with the vehicle not moving in the drive position and increase 1 psi for every MPH until lockup or overdrive. If the governor pressure is high all the time the transmission will act as you describe.



If you continue to drive your truck like this it will destroy the 3rd gear clutch pack.



-Chris

 

[Blakers]

Check to see if your TV cable is adjusted correctly. It runs from the throttle lever down to a lever on the transmission. It should allow the lever to be all the way forward at idle and all the way back at wide open throttle. Have someone hold the pedal down and check it with the engine off.



Blake