I just bought my 95 2500 a few months ago and I have noticed two things about the auto transmission that alarm me. First, when I start the truck in the morning, and especially on a hill, it slips for a bit until it "pumps up" before the truck will move. I have to rev it a bit and then it starts to move forward up the hill. The same thing happens almost always in reverse up a hill. Second, at freeway speeds, every few minutes, it feels like it is slipping back a forth out of overdrive. I know this problably means my tranny is on the way out. 220,000 miles and I am sure it is the original. Is there anything I can do to prolong the tranny in its state or make it better? Adjust bands? Thanks Teddie

 

I just bought a '94 with an auto and have done a few mods to it and the transmission is a whole lot better. The "slip" youre feeling probably isnt a slip at all, its probably your torque converter locking and unlocking. Mine did the same thing and it drove me nuts, until I put a manual lock up switch on it. It allows you to force the converter to stay locked. Once you get up to speed, flip the switch and the converter will stay locked no matter what. Just dont forget to hit the switch again and unlock the converter when you slow down . Im not for sure if this will work on your truck without you getting a PCM reflash, but even so, its not that expensive and is well worth it IMO. Not sure what to tell ya about the transmission acting weird, im no expert to say the least. A good fluid and filter change might help some. Im sure there are others on here that know a whole lot more about it than me. They should chime in here soon.

 

It is your TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) it is located on the side of your Injection pump and is shaped like a square block, there is a plug with wires going up into it the wires should be purple with a white tracer and orange with a navy blue tracer. These sensors are very weak spot in the automatics. You can take them off and clean them by cutting them open and spraying eye contact solution on the two wires inside there and reseal the opening you made with superglue and/or silicone to waterproof it. Also your pcm has about 45 wires coming out of it. It is located behind your airfilter on the firewall. Those wires have the 2 wires i mentioned earlier in there, well those 2 wires are not sheilded from all the other wires around it and they will pick up signals from other wires. This is called voltage spikes. You can by shielded wire anywhere and and rerun the 2 old wires onto the shielded and you will not have anymore voltage spikes. i i hope this helps,
clint

 

I've got a 97 with 155K on it. The trans has been acting like it lost prime after sitting overnite and when sitting several days. Here on the Texas Coast it doesn't get that cold. But knowing this trans does this what I do is start it and before trying to go i put it from reverse to forward and then to the direction wished. After 100K it still does the same thing it always did and I continue to do the same thing. What I think it is the trans is basicly losing pime and has to get reinventoried. As long as You don't crowd it should stay with You a long time...

 

Thank you for the very good news this morning, i had excepted my tranny going out. Why eye contact cleaner, can I use quick drying electrical cleaner, it is just what I have around. Also, sheilding the wires, excactly how do I do this, what do I use as a sheild. I am going to try these two fixes first and then move to the lock out. Thanks you very much for the quick replies. Teddie

 

Think they meant electrical contact cleaner.
I've found this solution to be very short lived and have just broken down and bought a new TPS, about $160 from Napa.
The '94-'95s had a "problem" covered under recall to address the slow to go in the morning by installing a line with check ball that prevented the fluid from draining back overnight and having to refill. Not really necessary, just let it warm up a little in N, fluid doesn't circulate in P.
Might want to check your TPS first, instructions> http://dodgeram.org/tech/transmissio...TPS_adjust.htm

 

with that many miles, your bands are due for adjustment, but try the tps first, i thought mine was bad, baught a new one, and turns out after i cleaned up the old one, it worked fine. i ended up giving my old one to another diesel guy on this site with similar problems as you, wish i had another one to give away, i would help you out. also a fluid change will usually help. i have a bd valve body, with an offbrand billet torque converter, running royal purple, and it is holding 948lbs of torque. not bad for only spending 1200 dollars on rebuilding the transmission, torque converter, and valvebody.

 

Very interesting i thought my trans was on the way out too. I changed the filter and topped it back off and it is shifting fine for the moment but I will check my tps.

 

you people rock, Thank you thank you for all the wonderful info. I will let you know how it turns out. I have hope now, too bad I dented my truck the first time I let off the brake on a step hill, in drive, and rolled back into a tree. dope!
Now I just need to find a good dismantle yard here in the bay area. Teddie

 

My mistake i was thinking contact cleaner so i said eye contact My mistake electrical contact will do the job . I have heard that a good reason on the 94 95's is that oil will work its way up your dipstick tub and run down on the tps that is also a way it can go bad. Your better off getting a new one and waterproofing it . Or my cheap fix that i described. thanks clint

 

Ok another thing I have noticed about the tranny, when backing up a steep hill, it really slips. I have to rev it high, just to get it to move. As long as I am goinng it seems good, but if I stop, I have to rev it again to get it going. I am going to service my tranny this weekend, Does this mean I should do anything more than the throttle unit and an oil change? Should I do the bands, or is that something I should not touch. I do not know if they have ever been done and this truck has 220,000 miles! Ok thanks, Teddie

 

i think there is a tsb for adjusting the bands. it isn't really all that difficult, it's just working up the courage to take off the transmission pan.

 

Instructions-- http://dodgeram.org/tech/transmissio...T_band_adj.htm
Inch pounds not foot pounds!!!

 

what kind of socket fits on that four sided post that the set nut is on? Mine is not a torques 40.