I bought a 96 3500 dodge dually 4x4 auto. I think I may have done the transmission in on the way home. I was towing another truck on a dolly and the first day went ok. The second day I went to finish the trip and noticed the transmission cooler lines were leaking and the fluid was very low.

I topped it up and drove it to a shop and had the lines changed. Once back on the road the tranmission seem to keep shifting up and down continually. I first blamed it on heading into a wind but I don't think that was it. I have not taken it out today to try it without the load on it.

This is my first dodge so I have experience with them. When the transmission was in the top gear it would tac 1900, when it shifted down it would be 2100 or so. If I pushed the o/d off button it would tac 2600 at the same speed. Does it have two overdrive gears?

Any chance something was done when the transmission lines were changed or the oil leaking everywhere has caused a problem?

 

1900 to 2100 sounds like the tc was locking and unlocking. I dont think its the stock TC. when mine would do it it would jump about 600 rpm from 2K to 1400. Is the torque converter stock? It may be the tps.

 

that "extra gear" is the torque converter lockup, you feel it jumping up and down cause the tps is probably needs to be cleaned and adjusted. mine did the exact same as yours did and i adjusted it and it was good again. they sometimes don't want to stay in lockup anyhow, so i put a lockup switch in there. it is just a toggle switch with a wire to ground and to the computer. it is different for your 96 but i think it can be done, just search here for tc lockup switch.

 

Ok I did a little research.
Where is the TPS located? Would it get dirty from the oil I was blowing out all over?

The other issue I seen mentioned was the trottle cable and linkage. Mine was just fixed for the recall. Could something there have come loose that is now causing a problem. I did go 500 miles the first day with it and no issues though.

 

first and the cheapest, is to clean the battery post!!!
It is electrical noise causing the converter to lock and un-lock.

 

TPS instructions http://dodgeram.org/tech/transmissio...TPS_adjust.htm

 

I haven't had a chance to check the TPS but I had it in the shop and the mechanic scanned it. If it is the TPS causing the problems should it show up on the scan?

I noticed the problem doesn't start right away but after I have been driving for 30 to 45 minutes. Is this normal if the TPS is the problem?

Does it hurt to drive the truck when the convertor is kicking in and out?

 

you don't want it kicking in and out. either you need to adjust it or put a lockup switch in there, however it is different on your 96 than a 95 just do a search for tc lockup and make sure you follow the instructions for the 96. i believe it has to do with something in the fusebox.

 

Just from past experience, may not be your problem, but when a certain transmission shop with a blue and white sign changed my lines along with rebuilding the tranny from a bursted line, they used regular heater hose that would turn to a balloon under high heat and pressure. When the truck got hot I would loose tcc lock up, not every time though from loosing pressure in the expanding line. I changed it over to copper hard lines, and haven't had a problem in almost 60k mi.