Transmission slips in 1st gear

[Carricarte]

Hi I'm new to the site. I have 90,000 miles on my 2003 Ram with a 48RE. It had worked well until yesterday. When I proceeded to accelerate at a light after getting off a 20 minute drive on the highway yesterday I noticed 1st gear started to slip. All the other gears work fine. Anyone have an idea what may be the problem or is it already time for a rebuild? Thanks.

 

[JEstes]

There are a number of things it could be... . There's a few questions you need to answer first:



1. What fluid change intervals have you been using?



2. What kind of towing do you do?



3. Is the truck modified?



4. Is it throwing any codes?

 

[Carricarte]

I've changed the fluid and filter at 35k and then again at 76k. I tow regularly light trailers and tow heavy (12,000# or more) several times a month. I have an edge ez on the 70hp setting and exhaust, I don't see any service lights. The transmission has never run hot and is still running cool(less than 180). Thanks for your help.

 

[blubyu]

any luck with 1st slipping as my 2004 started doing the same thing? will not hardly shift out of 1st.

 

[jman]

My bosses did the exact same thing. Wouldn't hardly move in first but would be fine running down the highway. He had never changed the fluid in 106K miles!!!! This with constant stop and go, mountain driving, towing every now and then. He called me and I was sure he needed a new $3000 transmission. It was a slenoid and something to do with a valve, but I can't remember for sure what they said. Out the door for $800, dealer prices!!!! I couldn't believe it myself. This is typical though. He has changed the fuel filter twice in 106K also and once was after it was filled with gas. If this was me the transmission would fried and I would need new injectors, a new CP3, a new lift pump, etc, etc.



I guess some of us just don't have the luck.

 

[MMeier]

Hi I'm new to the site. I have 90,000 miles on my 2003 Ram with a 48RE. It had worked well until yesterday. When I proceeded to accelerate at a light after getting off a 20 minute drive on the highway yesterday I noticed 1st gear started to slip. All the other gears work fine. Anyone have an idea what may be the problem or is it already time for a rebuild? Thanks.

Where are you (and blubyu) located? Once a automatic starts slipping, you can pretty much expect to have to gp through it, do it right and use aftermarket goods for the redo.

 

[PBrauer]

First guess and probably the best guess is the Governer Reg. Solenoid and/or Gov. Reg. Transducer. They're both fairly small parts that are inside the trans. pan. but not that hard to replace. They are also fairly inexpensive, about $100 (solenoid) and $50 (transducer).



A dealer tech w/scanner can find this easily if he knows what to look for, i. e. , if he follows the FSM to isolate. If he goes from "experience" he will probably guess that it's "slipping" when it's actually "not engaging".



It will get worse as you are in fact "slipping" clutches and or bands in the meantime until your pump pressure rises. I would fix ASAP. In my case two dealers guessed the TC was bad... the second actually replaced the TC. The third dealer had it completely fixed in less than an hour ('06 w/48RE)... pretty much the only thing I managed to get done under warranty.

 

[JCasper]

My bosses did the exact same thing. Wouldn't hardly move in first but would be fine running down the highway. He had never changed the fluid in 106K miles!!!! This with constant stop and go, mountain driving, towing every now and then. He called me and I was sure he needed a new $3000 transmission. It was a slenoid and something to do with a valve, but I can't remember for sure what they said. Out the door for $800, dealer prices!!!! I couldn't believe it myself. This is typical though. He has changed the fuel filter twice in 106K also and once was after it was filled with gas. If this was me the transmission would fried and I would need new injectors, a new CP3, a new lift pump, etc, etc.



I guess some of us just don't have the luck.

LOL, That sounds like my brother-in-laws maintenance schedule.