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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / Maintenance and Repair / January 200697 Dodge ram 1500 transmission problems
My 97 dodge ram 1500 has been making odd noises in reverse for the last few years, though it didn't seem to affect anything and I very rarely drive it (I've put 18,000 miles on it in 5 years) but the check engine light has been on for a while so we sent it in to get it checked out, the guy told me I need a new torque converter, bands and gears, and that the circulatory system is basically f.cked, he said the most common cause of this on dodge is because the transmission fluid doesn't circulate when it's idle in park (and that it applied to all dodge models), I very rarely do this, or have had a chance to do it, he said it's likely because the previous owner did it, but worst of all he's saying it's going to cost $1500 or so to have it fixed and install a kit where idling in park will not damage it. The truck itself only has 65,000 miles on it since it was new, what is your opinion on this? >My 97 dodge ram 1500 has been making odd noises in reverse for the last >few years, though it didn't seem to affect anything and I very rarely [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >kit where idling in park will not damage it. The truck itself only has >65,000 miles on it since it was new, what is your opinion on this? My opinion: change your transmission fluid, then keep driving. If he is right, the torque converter will eventually fail catastrophically and you will have to be towed. When this happens, you get a new transmission, and pay about the same amount of money. In the meantime you've got months or even years more mileage out of it. But do replace the transmission fluid regularly, even if you are not driving the thing very often. --scott  Signature"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." > My 97 dodge ram 1500 has been making odd noises in reverse for the last > few years, though it didn't seem to affect anything and I very rarely [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > kit where idling in park will not damage it. The truck itself only has > 65,000 miles on it since it was new, what is your opinion on this? Well, the guy doesn't have a flying clue about Mopar transmissions. No, they don't circulate fluid in park, but NO, it doesn't hurt anything either. Yes they make kits to circulate the fluid in Park, but the only advantage is that it fills the TC immediately on startup in the event its drained down overnight. BFD, start it in neutral and idle it there for 30 seconds if it feels sluggish first thing in the morning. Try a fluid and filter change, see what happens. Even if the transmission were as shot as he says, I'm really suspicious that he wants to replace the GEARS too. The planetary sets just about never fail. Sounds like he's looking for a fast profit off you. >> My 97 dodge ram 1500 has been making odd noises in reverse for the last >> few years, though it didn't seem to affect anything and I very rarely [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > that he wants to replace the GEARS too. The planetary sets just about > never fail. Sounds like he's looking for a fast profit off you. Yikes.... sounds like i paid a little too much too...part of the resaon though is because I brought it to a repair shop.. er more like had it towed to a repair shop .... they dont do trannys, so they sent it out to a tranny shop..er towed it there.....i guess my gears broke the roll pin that holds them on the shaft (spider gears maybe?)... anyway.... they also put in a new radiator as they said all the shavings were gonna get back thru to the tranny and id be doing it all over again.... hmmm... now that didn't sound very honest... i have a 97 dodge caravan with a 3.3 liter engine... it had 126,000 miles on it. I bought it with 70,000. Changed fluid at 100,000 and was thinking of doing it at 125,000, but never did....hmmmmmm. What happened was i was driving along and when i went to take a corner, the vehicle felt like it was going to stall via bogging... well after taking the turn, it seemed to go away, but all of a sudden the tranny locked up.. skidded to a complete stop while i was still in the travel lane and next thing i know ... no gears... forward or reverse....like i was stuck in park.... anyway.... 2800 with towing and radiator.... I had it done cuz i am keeping the vehicle... its stil in good shape, and i feel i can get another 80,000 miles out of it at least...plus it was cheaper than buying another vehicle, so if you still feel 1500 is gonna get you at least that much wear and tear out of it, then I would have it done, but if you feel that youve gotten your useful life out of the truck, then you might want to strt looking for another one.... good luck.. Fwed 2 different transmissions, 2 different problems and issues. >>> My 97 dodge ram 1500 has been making odd noises in reverse for the last >>> few years, though it didn't seem to affect anything and I very rarely [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > > Fwed >>>My 97 dodge ram 1500 has been making odd noises in reverse for the last >>>few years, though it didn't seem to affect anything and I very rarely [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > shop..er towed it there.....i guess my gears broke the roll pin that holds > them on the shaft (spider gears maybe?)... Planetary gears, and yes they CAN break. But its not a usual part that has to be replaced. But (skipping ahead) you're talking about a minivan transmission, not a truck transmission. Night and day difference. they also put in a new > radiator as they said all the shavings were gonna get back thru to the > tranny and id be doing it all over again.... hmmm... now that didn't sound > very honest... A competent shop should worry about that, but the usual solution is to flush the trasmission cooler lines and the cooler itself, not replace the whole radiator. > i have a 97 dodge caravan with a 3.3 liter engine... <snip> > but all of a sudden the tranny locked up.. skidded to a > complete stop while i was still in the travel lane and next thing i know ... > no gears... forward or reverse....like i was stuck in park.... A minivan tranny is a VERY different animal than a Ram 1500 tranny. Minivan tranmissions break gears a *WHOLE* lot more often than truck transmissions. And that price isn't out of line for a van transmission, either. >>>>My 97 dodge ram 1500 has been making odd noises in reverse for the last >>>>few years, though it didn't seem to affect anything and I very rarely [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > > And that price isn't out of line for a van transmission, either. I realize they are different trannys... (truck and van), but you did ask my opinion on this, so yes, my scenario is completely different.... I was just telling you about my woes.... but the question was worded such that it was asking an opinion, and along with my story, I did mention my opinion.....the part about if you felt you would get more than the 1500 bucks you might be spending on fixing it..... and if you didn't feel like you would that you might wanna consider looking for another vehicle.....I guess that was the point i was trying to make... i just made it at the end instead of the beginning.... Sorry for the mix up.. Fwed > My 97 dodge ram 1500 has been making odd noises in reverse for the last > few years, though it didn't seem to affect anything and I very rarely [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > kit where idling in park will not damage it. The truck itself only has > 65,000 miles on it since it was new, what is your opinion on this? He is likely dead wrong about that tranny. There is a tech service bulletin out about that noise in reverse. Mine does it too. It is likely caused by a vibration in a valve. They have a replacement for it, if this is what your problem is. My Dodge has 107,000 miles on it and the tranny is still as strong as an elephant. |
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