When my Dodge sits for a week transmission???

[KennethS]

I keep my 2006 Dodge 3/4 ton automatic transmission with 10,000 miles on it in a non heated garage. It sits for a weeks or more at a time and when I try to back out of the garage it don't want to back up unless I rev the engine up a good bit. What the heck is wrong with it. Now the truck is diesel also. Once I get the truck to back up it ok until the next time it sits. I went to the Dodge garage and I am taking it in next thursday to check it out?Any of you had this problem. They said they are changing the filters in the transmission that there been a problem with them but only on the 1/2 ton automatic. It does shift a lot in town up and down which is not normal as other automatic transmission act.

 

[Chris Jewell]

torque converter drain back valve. Try letting the truck run in N for 30 seconds before you shift to R or D.

There is a check valve that is supposed to keep the torque converter from draining when the truck is parked, if it leaks the torque converter takes a few seconds to refill.

It WILL NOT REFILL if your in P just put the truck in N for 30 seconds before you take off

 

[LRutigliano]

Mine does the same thing. I don't use my truck as a daily driver, so it sits for quite a while between drives.



The torque converter is emptying when it sits and it needs to fill back up before the truck can be moved. The pump in the trans is not pumping fluid in the "Park" position, so you should try to put the trans in "Neutral" while you wait for the engine to warm or play with the radio or whatever. The pump works in all gears and neutral.



A quick check on this is before starting, check your trans dipstick and you will see that its way overfull because much of the oil in the converter has made its way back to the pan.



I wouldn't let the dealer touch anything yet.



Good luck.

Louis

 

[JCleary]

Mine does the same, but after sitting only 3 hours. My normal habit is now to start the truck, put in N, and drive away after a minute or so...



The dealer can fix it under warranty, but I would recommend not bothering with it. My pop's '96 did the same thing. They replaced the TC and VB and it only fixed it for a month or so.



If you replace the VB with an aftermarket like Suncoast, you won't notice the problem. The performance VB fills the converter in park, where the factory one does not.

 

[cerberusiam]

I keep my 2006 Dodge 3/4 ton automatic transmission with 10,000 miles on it in a non heated garage. It sits for a weeks or more at a time and when I try to back out of the garage it don't want to back up unless I rev the engine up a good bit. What the heck is wrong with it. Now the truck is diesel also. Once I get the truck to back up it ok until the next time it sits. I went to the Dodge garage and I am taking it in next thursday to check it out?Any of you had this problem. They said they are changing the filters in the transmission that there been a problem with them but only on the 1/2 ton automatic. It does shift a lot in town up and down which is not normal as other automatic transmission act.

Here is the fix for not charging the TC in park:



Sonnax - Transmission Specialties® Part Summary





More than likely the drain back valve is leaking down a bit also but it is really not needed. The manual valve will allow fluid flow in park so as long as you give the truck a couple of minutes to warm up before trying to move it will be fine.



I would be curious to see if the Dealer would put this in for you if you bought it and took it to them. It beats the $400-$600 for an aftermarket VB to fix a little problem, or, living with the problem.

 

[MoparDave]

Mine has done that since new, I set the brake and start in neutral.

 

[JValdez]

Mine does the exact same thing. Now I start it and pop it in neutral for a few seconds and go. Done this since new.

 

[KennethS]

I did what you told me to do and it worked.

The truck sat in the garage and no heat in the garage, I started the truck up in park then shifted in Neutral and sat there for a couple of minutes then shifted in Reverse and the truck back out of the garage with ease. I want to thank you for the information about this problem.