Hi folks, i'm aj and a new member. I just bought a 93 D250 with cummins and 4 speed auto with about 170000 miles on it.
the engine of course runs great but i have never owned a vehicle with an automatic before, and it works great once i have been driving for about 20 min. here is what happens:
I warm the truck up for 10 - 15 minutes, put it in drive and i pretty much have to floor it to get it moving. it shifts fine after about 3-5 miles, but overdrive will not kick in for about another 20 miles, and then the volt meter starts registering correctly. also only at this point do i hear the turbo whistle.
in the morning if i put the transfer case in neutral and the trans in drive and let it warm up it works much better.
i changed the trans fluid and filter, both looked good but did not help.
just so you know i am a mechanic, but for john deere, this is new to me, i just need help as to where to start. i love this truck and want to use it to haul my cj7 to rauch creek.
thanks very much. aj

 

I have read here that the auto tranny won't shift into overdrive until the tranny fluid reaches about 70 degrees. Also read that some of the converters let the tranny fluid drain out of them when the truck is sitting. When I start my 96 in the morning I apply the emergency break and put the truck in neutral. Neutral lets the fluid into the converter. After a few minutes of warm up all is good. I hope this helps!!

 

Yeah, dodge auto tranny's are a little different.....at least on my 95 they are.

I start my truck up in the morning and put it in neutral to let it warm up. The pump doesn't circulate in park.

You also are supposed to check the tranny fluid level with the truck in neutral.

Again, this is on my 95. I dunno if the 1st gen's are the same.

 

Make sure you check the fluid while the engine is hot, idling, and in neutral, also let it sit for about a min. before you pull out the dipstick. Maybe your fluid is too low? That could cause it to be sluggish. Then when it warms up the oil expands and comes up to the correct level.

Anyway, the stock torque converters are notorious for being inefficient. When I get a new one, I'm going to hang the stock tc on a rope and shoot it a good dozen times.

 

thanks folks, i'll recheck the fluid today. i was checking while running and hot but not in neutral.
thanks

 

I wonder how the manufacturer of your new converter will feel about your core being full of holes.