In the morning when its cold, i put it in reverse and back out of driveway. put it in D and nothing happens. It probably takes about 20 seconds or so before it moves. This only will happen when its cold and has been sitting. I will do the obvious thing and check fluid (I Know, I know) but it has not leaked anything on the ground. The other thing is, how do i adjust it to shift into first gear? If i dont come to a complete stop, it wont shift into first and is then sluggish to get moving. If i manually pull it into first (going very slow of course) it downshifts and gits. I plan on taking it to a transmission shop and i would like to have at least a small idea on what to talk to them about.

 

Try putting it in nuetral while warming up the motor. Set the brake, or block the wheels, you don't need a runaway.
It could be as simple as needing a fluid and filter change.

 

Pressure is building in the tranny. Idle in N and you'll be fine. There is suppose to be a check valve to hold pressure, but it is not uncommon for it to leak pressure over night. Nothing to worry about.

 

Well, i took it into the trans shop today. they told me its time for a possible rebuild but definatly a new pump and torque converter. There are bubbles in the fluid. They said that were it is not moving for a bit is a sign of bad things to come. I dont know these people but they have been around for awhile. Its 5 star transmission in pleasant grove, Utah. They pull the trans out and take it apart and then show me all the stuff and what problems there is.
If i were just reading this post, it would sound like they were taking me for a ride. Maybe I ought to get a second opinion before i lay down $1500. The trans does have about 115,000 miles so ive been kinda expecting trouble anyways.
As far as idling in neutral, been doing that since ive had the truck thanks to this website.

 

$1838 for a completely new one here; http://www.makeitmopar.com/ of course you'll have labor costs to install it, unless you can do it yourself.
So $1500 isn't too bad. I know I'd put in a better than stock TC, and upgrade the clutches etc. while it was apart, if it was me.

 

Both my 98s had the symptoms you talk of and didn't need rebuilds?
If you just let it idle for a minute before putting it in gear is it OK?
To me in my experience it sounds like you are experiencing converter drain back (very common) in the mornings and starting out in second is usually the governor pressure solenoid, just need to drop the pan to change that one.
I say get a second opinion based on the symptoms you list as many of us have seen the same problems and didn't need rebuilds.

 

make sure your fluid is up to level by:

on level ground, set park brake with warm tranny. shift to N and check level.

add fluid only with tranny in N level ground warm.

mine did just what you said after I blew a tranny line a year or so ago. takes a while to get the air out. also, like a previous post said there is a check valve in the cooling lines that could be bad.

 

It has enough fluid in it. I will be running it over to a different trans shop on tues. and ask them a couple of questions. If it is just that solenoid, it would sure be some good news instead of getting the thing overhauled uneccesarily.

 

Going to a different shop today. I will be asking about drainback and that solenoid. This begin as simply wanting the bands adjusted and to have it powerflushed. The first shop advised against a power flush stating that is not good to force fluid through the system like they do. He suggested just dropping the pan and getting what i could though with the problems he says this trans has, a service would not be beneficial.

 

If this started right after the band adjustment I would think maybe they are too tight. It has happened before.

 

Problems over. Its getting tore down. Took it to a few shops and they all said the same thing. So its gonna get the overhaul. Probably go with a heavy duty torque con. they will replace a few electronic gizmos that are prone to failure. After they get it tore apart, they are gonna call and come let me see the parts they are replacing. I'll let everyone know what parts have gone bad though it probably wont be any new information.

 

I wouldnt rebuild it until it needed it, but that is just me. Mine also has air bubbles in the fluid on occasion, and sometimes when the filter is getting a little dirty it will take a minute to get moving. If i were you i would change the fluid and filter and keep driving it. These transmissions wil usually last pretty good. Mine has been through heck with no problems.

Eric