Another 97 1500 tranny question

RamMan.TakeThisOut@dodgecity.cc wrote:
> Still got the old girl. After investing so much a couple years ago to
> replace both heads I really need to keep her. Currently 99k miles.
> (don't drive it much)
>
> When cold (bearing in mind this is Houston, so we're not really
> talking about bitter cold) The transmission seems to howl or complain
> when backing out of the driveway in the morning. Also some slippage
> is noticeable. After backing out and then starting out in drive there
> is again some initial slight slippage. Go lesss than a block, step on
> the brake and the truck will then sometimes "lunge" and the engine
> immediately stalls. Starts up fine tho and can continue on from there
> without a problem.
>
> No OBD-II codes. Once I go about a mile and get things warmed up the
> transmission seems to be fine.
>
> The trans fluid level is fine and looks to be normal bright red'ish
> color, does not smell burnt.
>
> Thanks in advance for any pointers, advice, etc.

The 47RE in my '99 2500 slips a bit at first after it's been sitting for a
week or so without being driven. The torque converter slowly leaks fluid
back into the transmission while it's parked. If you start it up and let it
run for a minute with the transmission in neutral that might help the torque
converter fill up faster and prevent the slipping. I'm not real familiar
with the gas engines. Might it be the IAC causing the lunge and stall thing?
--
Ken
 >> Stay informed about: Another 97 1500 tranny question 

In article <JVVuj.92508$_m.21021@bignews4.bellsouth.net> "nunya"
<nunya.TakeThisOut@nunya.net> writes:


>the houston hot sun combined with high fluid temps may have damaged the
>tranny. have you tried locking out the overdrive? a noisy reverse and weak
>1st gear were the first signs that the tranny in my 97 ram was getting
>tired. this started at 175k on mine and i had to replace it at about 220k.
>warm the truck up before you take off in the morning and lock out the
>overdrive. if this cures the symptoms then keep driving. if it doesn't
>then let the transmission shop have a look.
>michael

Thanks. However, look at the current mileage, barely 99k. Should I be
having tranny trouble? This truck has been a lemon that keeps costing me
thousands. I only keep it because fixing it (at an average $1000 ~ 2000 a
clip) is still cheaper than buying new and aside from engine &
transmission it is in extremely good shape, inside and out. We had both
cylinder heads replaced in '06 because 1 had a crack across the #7 exhaust
valve seat. No, didn't need both heads, but having the other head "done"
so the top end is equal was within $200 of the cost of a new head so we
replaced them both. Since buying the truck new it is now on it's 3rd A/C
compressor and evaporator. The factory compressor shelled out at 37,500
miles. I'm only on my 2nd set of tires with this truck and now tranny
trouble before I can even get 100k on the truck????? WTF is wrong here?
 >> Stay informed about: Another 97 1500 tranny question 

In article <fphpur$p3m$1@aioe.org> "Nosey"
<kfrei43 DeleteThis @removethis.hotmail.com> writes:


>The 47RE in my '99 2500 slips a bit at first after it's been sitting for a
>week or so without being driven. The torque converter slowly leaks fluid
>back into the transmission while it's parked. If you start it up and let it
>run for a minute with the transmission in neutral that might help the torque
>converter fill up faster and prevent the slipping. I'm not real familiar
>with the gas engines. Might it be the IAC causing the lunge and stall thing?

Thanks Ken, but we replaced the IAC in '06 while chasing ghosts trying to
shotgun the truck and find the reason for a nagging P0307 OBD-II code.
Turned out to be a cracked head at the #7 exhaust valve seat. I know the
"slip" you're talking about, but this is worse than that, or at least
seems so and the "lunge & immediate stall" at idle speed less than 1/2
block after starting out makes me think there's something else going on
here. Arguably it's probably time to get rid of the truck, but with both
vehicles having been paid for now for 4+ years I'm not looking forward to
taking on a new note.
 >> Stay informed about: Another 97 1500 tranny question 

In article <huVvj.92273$rc2.42851@bignews1.bellsouth.net> "nunya"
<nunya.DeleteThis@nunya.net> writes:

>to the tranny. heat is the real killer of automatic transmissions.

I think you're missing my point. This truck, though 11 years old, has
*only* 99k miles on it and over 11 years of ownership has consistently
been a POS! It is garaged and actually driven often, though seldom more
than 30 miles at a time, but it does get run up to 65~70 mph on most of
those trips. It is also serviced at 3k mile intervals, though at 99k miles
spread across 11 years it averages an oil change only 3x a year and has
had the 30k, 60k and 90k dealer service all pretty religously, at least
+/- 300 miles of when due. The tires on it today are the same ones
(Michelins) I put on it at 37k and they still have some tread left. They
get rotated every other oil change.

I don't have a tire problem and I've only had to put brakes & shocks on it
once and changed the battery and the CAT once. What I have are seemingly
frequent, **expensive** mechanical problems!!!! It just seems like I have
to keep spending way more to keep this particular RAM 1500 fully
operational than anyone I know with a similar Dodge 318 of similar age and
also in the hot Houston area.

Initially A/C issues, just out of warranty, natch, then consuming
excessive oil (over a quart) between changes due to some issue with the
intake manifold or gaskets or whatever it was, I no longer recall. Then at
65k another AC compressor & evaporator, then at 88k or so a cracked
cylinder head, then at 95k a new radiator, water pump & serpentine
tensioner, now at 98 (almost 99k) the transmission is complaining and the
rear main seal has begun leaking. Judas Priest!!! I had the tranny
serviced at 60k at the dealer. The dealer also did the cylinder heads & 1
of the 2 replacement AC systems (dealer replaced the 1st one, the last one
was done at an independent garage. My independent guy asked if it had ever
had any flood damage - well not to my knowledge as long as I've owned it.
I bought it "almost" new, it had 1100 miles on it, was a salesman's demo.
Yeah, we've had some floods in Houston, but nothing around that timeframe
(from date of manufacture to date of delivery). The big one, tropical
storm Allison, hit Houston in 2001 and this truck was _not_ in it.

The tranny problem is the only (known) current issue today and as I said
is only present when cold. Like you I would not hesitate to drive this
thing cross country today, although I'd probably put some new rubber on it
before starting out and with its mechanical history maybe have someone
follow not too far behind with a spare long block & transmission, AC
system, differential, etc. It's a great truck, comfortable to ride in &
drive, etc. It's just had frequent mechanical problems and been unusually
expensive to keep ***THIS ONE*** on the road.
 >> Stay informed about: Another 97 1500 tranny question 

I know this may sound silly but I just had my wifes chrysler sebring 2002
transmission worked on. It lunged at 32 miles an hour when coming to a
stop. Took it back to the dealer, they reprogrammed or downloaded a
program for the transmission and have not had the problem come back.
Running like a champ now.

Maybe you should ask if they need to reprogram the transmission. Since
it is a 97, not sure if they did that back then. They do have a computer
brain
but thought I would toss my 2 cents in and see if that might be the case and
solve your problems.

<RamMan.RemoveThis@dodgecity.cc> wrote in message
news:26uur39fpp3l5i8baql4a0ksl00blkfm9j@4ax.com...
> In article <fphpur$p3m$1@aioe.org> "Nosey"
> <kfrei43.RemoveThis@removethis.hotmail.com> writes:
>
>
>>The 47RE in my '99 2500 slips a bit at first after it's been sitting for a
>>week or so without being driven. The torque converter slowly leaks fluid
>>back into the transmission while it's parked. If you start it up and let
>>it
>>run for a minute with the transmission in neutral that might help the
>>torque
>>converter fill up faster and prevent the slipping. I'm not real familiar
>>with the gas engines. Might it be the IAC causing the lunge and stall
>>thing?
>
> Thanks Ken, but we replaced the IAC in '06 while chasing ghosts trying to
> shotgun the truck and find the reason for a nagging P0307 OBD-II code.
> Turned out to be a cracked head at the #7 exhaust valve seat. I know the
> "slip" you're talking about, but this is worse than that, or at least
> seems so and the "lunge & immediate stall" at idle speed less than 1/2
> block after starting out makes me think there's something else going on
> here. Arguably it's probably time to get rid of the truck, but with both
> vehicles having been paid for now for 4+ years I'm not looking forward to
> taking on a new note.
 >> Stay informed about: Another 97 1500 tranny question