I'm new to diesels and I have a guestion about the way it has been running. I'm not sure if the tranny is slipping or not. I have had the truck 2 weeks and the previous owner has had it since it was new. He had all the required maintenance done including changing the tranny fluid and filter at 50,000 and 100,000 miles. There is 140,000 on it now and the fluid is still new looking. The truck pulls pretty good once you get it to about 50mph and the converter locks in. Till then it is really slow and I can't tell if it is the tranny. I put a load of wood in it the other day and turned onto my street which is a hill and it felt like I wasn't going to get up it. I was going about 5mph. No mod's to the truck and there never was any done. Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated. Do you think changing the fluid and having the bands adjusted will help. Thanks Pete

 

I think the band adjustment could help if they have not been adjusted. If they have there is no need. I think the 97 has the "OD OFF" button on the shifter. Try driving around town with the OD off and see if that helps.

If not it might be time for a new torque converter & valve body.

 

It has the O/D button on the dash. I tried driving with O/D off. Same except that the converter locks at around 40mph and the it pulls fine. I have had trannys that have slipped before but this one I can't tell what it is.

 

I have the same problem on my 98. lots of noise but doen't seem to go anywhere. I did check it with a scan tool and it seems to be shifting ok, but it doesn't seem right. I will look into the band adj. this week.

 

I found the problem. The throttle valve lever on the transmission is sticking. It isn't letting the tranny shift properly and it won't return to the closed position. The throttle valve on the tranny is suppossed to move with the throttle on the fuel injection pump. Anyone have any experience with the throttle valve on the tranny?

 

how much better is it running?

 

Much better. The throttle is not binding any more but the throttle valve lever on the tranny is still stiff and not operating properly. I don't know what else to do. I sprayed the heak out of it with penetrating oil and it has loosened up but not completely. I might take it to the shop tomorrow to have them look at it.