Ramified5.9

Then shifts to drive and feels like it is skipping 2nd all together. I did a search, and most problems I found are with folks being stuck in 2nd. I get stuck in 1st only until the motor is screaming red line for a few seconds and then shifts.

This just started yesterday, at a regular stop. This truck has never showed any of the signs of the transmission doing anything wierd, so this is a out of the blue instant issue. It has always been a really strong truck. The only thing I did out of the ordinary was held the brake to build boost for 2 seconds as I was on a pretty steep hill at a complete stop and it has always seemed to help the truck to not struggle as much getting up a hill from a stop. One other issue I had that MAY have an effect, was I noticed my brake lights stayed on for a minute or so after I got out of thew truck. But that was a week ago, and have not had any other issues with that since. I did make sure to pull up on the pedal when this started happening to eliminate the T/C not locking because the ECM thought the brakes were on (if that makes sense to you).

No matter what gear I start out in (D-1st) and doesen't matter if the T/H mode is on or off, the truck starts and stays in 1st gear until about 200 yards, screaming redline and getting up to almost 40 mph then it will shift to what feel's like 3rd then to OD normally. If I hammer down & red line it from the get go, it seems to shift normal and 2nd seems to catch.

Some other symptoms are it will not shift down to 2nd when I manually move the lever & release the throttle, it does however act like it goes into N, the RPMs go into idle (750) then only shifts to 3rd and spikes the RPM's back up when I push back down on the throttle.

Also when I manually shift into 1st & release the throttle, it seems like it goes into N and the RPMS go to an idle until I am about 2 MPH at the stop, and then it feels like it kicks into first.

Fluid (changed 40xxx ago) & level are fine, I had a new ECM installed in March, THIS IS NOT THE TRUCK IN MY SIG. This is my other truck, it is a '05 3500 4x4 with 140xxx miles, NO TUNER OR MODS, truck weighs 10,400# with all my tools and parts in it. The Gov psi sol & Gov psi transducer seem to address a truck stuck in second gear. What should I be honing in on for these symptons? Would a loose band be all of a sudden like I described?

Thanks!

Danny

cdennyb

I'd check the band first, sounds like something either broke or got dislodged. I had a clown adjust my bands once and he backed the screw out so much the connecting link between the piston shaft and the band fell into the pan, result, no second and tached out truck trying to get into second gear then jumping straight into third.

Also check the connectors on the cables going into the PCM, (probably not the issue but don't hurt to clean with contact cleaner and plug in several times to make good contact).

Governor, yes. Maybe, but look at the cheap fixes first and if that don't work, then look at the high buck ones.
LoL

I know how you feel man... just drop the pan and look. You might need to drop the VB and do an air check on the various passage ways before getting too bummed out.

Don't wait... do it this weekend...

Ramified5.9

Thanks for the reply Cdennyb

I will check the band first, then if no luck there I will drop the pan.

I am currently in New Mexico, and will take it easy home (50 miles) and keep the shifting down to a minimum. Then it's off to Denver (in my other Ram). Hopefully I can get started on it Monday or Tuesday. I am contracted to the oil field and my truck is my bacon maker. No truck, no bacon

I will do a follow up for the archives on this one.

Danny

Ramified5.9

Update: Now that I was able to get it on the highway for an hour or so of driving, I discovered there is no 2nd gear or overdrive. Just 1st and 3rd gears. The converter does not lock up 3rd gear either.

This sucks. Does this change any of the diagnosis?

Thanks

Danny

Ramified5.9

No metal, just a thin smear of sludge on magnet. I took my finger and pulled down on the band sprags or (levers). I could move them down off the piston about 1/2 ". Don't know if this is normal or if it is frivilous info, but I would imagine those need to me more snug against the piston?? I am headed now into town to get some fluid, filter and in-lb wrench.

Ramified5.9

When I went to adjust the bands, I knew right away that was not the problem. They screwed in almost the backed off amount from the original adjustment from the factory, and when I put the in-lb wrench on them, it did not take too much (1/8 turn) to set at the tq specifications.

So, a quick trip to New Mexico (yes, our dealer here in Durango, Colorado rarely have any parts in stock), and I picked up a new govenor solonoid and a new pressure transducer. Installed these and refilled the trans (also installed a drain plug in the stock pan while I was at it) took it for a test drive and it shifts great! I did notice it shifts smoother and not as hard as it used too also.

So my conclusions are if nothing is physically broken (bands for example), and an inspection shows the rest of internals look good and fluid is clean, then there is a good chance that these problems are an electrical problem since it happened so instantly.

Thanks for the replies.