Ram3500Dave

Just learned today that my transmission went down, completely, and the truck is only at 70,000 miles. (2005 Ram 3500 4x4.)

We're looking at $4,300 for a new replacement tranny, or $800 less for a rebuilt one with less warranty.

They said it had water in the tranny, and that because all of the glues that hold everything together in there are water soluble, everything came apart. I asked how water got in there, and they said it appears as though there was a leak around a pump. I used the truck a month ago to put my boat in a shallow landing, so I'm sure this pump sucked in water at that point.

Any suggestions on whether to suck it up and buy a new one, or alternatives?

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade (or get less good advice for being negative and all) but I've gotta tell ya... I"m disgusted with this truck and I'm not going to be buying another Dodge product (my first one.) So far, I've had to replace junk front u-joints @ 30,000, junk upper ball joints @ 50,000, and I had an issue with a fitting going bad on the fuel injector that started pumping diesel all over the place around 50,000 as well. Oh, and now my muffler has a hole in it - they want $600 for a new one of those.

Bubba29

I would get the new one so you have a warranty with it. I too am disgusted with my 04. Changing the u joints tomorrow. Lost a lift pump and a power steering pump. I had a 93 and it was amazing. I guess a lot can change for a truck design in 11 years. The 93 got better gas mileage too!

AkitaSumo

For $4300 you are well on your way to getting an aftermarket tranny. As for which one, I am not even going to go there...

Bigiron

It doesn't sound like 70,000 miles has anything to do with the failure of your transmission. It didn't ware out, it got damaged by being contaminated with water. It's certainly too bad, but you can't blame the transmission.

Ram3500Dave

If the transmissions pump seal fails and takes in water, it's a transmission problem in my book.

Asher

Is or was your tranny leaking before the ramping??? If not you probably sucked water into the vent. Since you figure that you got water into the tranny from the ramping, then you probably have water in the transfer case, and both axles also ...

BLACKBEAR

You can go to www.wholesalemopar.com parts cataloge.For the 05 to 07 auto was 3.000.80 Good luck

Spooler

That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard.....LOL I would go somewhere else. Water in any tranny will kill it. Ball joints are small potatoes compaired to what a Ford or Duramax would do to you. Oh, and plenty of folks make it well over 100,000 miles on the factory balljoints. Your just like me, you don't have any luck...LOL Just the way it goes sometimes.

no_6_oh_no

If water got in past a seal trans fluid would be pouring out all the time, that just doesn't happen. If water got in it was in way deeper than its use ever intended. Since the CTD's are not rated as a marine craft, you might try being a little more careful and checking the fluids periodically if you get in a situation like that.

Operator error is just as detrimental as parts failure, can't blame the truck when you took it swimming.

Ram3500Dave

It was not leaking until today, about a month later. Why do you figure there's water in the t-case and axels? Are Dodge Trucks supposed to be kept away from water altogether?

Ram3500Dave

Well, then, it must be that the boat landing and this problem are completely unrelated, because it was over a month ago and there hasn't been a speck of anything in my driveway since then.

Seriously, though, this is several posts alluding to keeping the truck out of water. Are you guys really taking the position that a truck should not land a boat?

1985cucv

landing a boat or being a boat are two different things!!!!!!!!

however if i were you i would definitly go with an aftermarket trans i believe goerends are like 4grand without the billet input oh yeah you want the billet input! so like 4700 bucks and you could be set!!!!!

Stovetop535

No you can use your truck to launch all the boats you want. It seems like there is something missing with the problem you had. As for the water and the transfer case and axles, it is just being smart and responsible to check for water in there if you have had them submerged.

I would not spend the 4 grand on the stock replacement. For that amount of money you could get into a nice aftermarket tranny that will probably have a much better warranty than what the other tranny is coming with. Call up Goerends, Suncoast, ext and talk with them.

I see no problem at all with treating the dodge like a boat . Just dont screw up like I did and hit the water so hard and fast that your ecm gets wet and the truck dies in the puddle!

Spooler

I just don't trust what the folks who looked at your truck are telling you. If you get water in it most of the time it dosen't last through the day.

Ram3500Dave

I'm scratching my head over that as well Spooler. It hasn't been anywhere near water for a month. I do know that the fluid it leaked all over my driveway was milky looking, though, which appears to be water.