I'm looking at 1999 2500 quad cab that has 135000 on the odometer and need info on the auto tranny to see if it is still ok to tow my rock krawler or if I should be looking for a rebuilder. I have been checking on dodges for a while but no one has been able to tell me approx. how many miles these trannies should live for. Are there any drawbacks to the 99 model year trucks drivetrain versus other model years regarding motor & trans. Any advice would be appreciated...

 

I had a 99 2500 auto. The tranny went out at 9000 miles. I got rid of it at 60,000 because the tranny was going out again. Maybe it was a jinxed truck. I have a 24' gooseneck that I haul with.Normally carry about 1800 lbs on a 5200 lbs trailer. Totalweight is about 7000 lbs. It didn't take that weight very long to affect the auto tranny. I noe have a 6 speed and love it. I know there are alot of others on this site that have autos and no problem. Well that is my two cents .<br> Scooter

 

AAAAgghh !! that must have hurt to only see your tranny live for 9,000 miles . What was the cost to build new one if you dont mind the ? .And what can be done to make them happy in a towing application for the occasional 7K to 8K # load. Thanks for the two cents !!!!

 

I recently looked at a 99 dually with 201,000 on the odometer, the guy selling the truck reported the tranny had been rebuilt at 198,000. I've got a neighbor with over 300,000 on a first generation, the auto tranny is still original and it works in the oil fields every day. I'm not sure if it's good luck or easy driving (my guess is good luck based on the looks of the rest of the truck)

 

I've got a '99 3500 and I tow an 11,000 pound fiver, probably about 4-5000 miles per season. I've got 46,000 miles on the truck, and you can see the mod's in my signature. I would recommend a torque converter and valve body for the tranny, at the least. Drive it like it is until it starts to give you trouble. I think that the trans mod's to my truck were about $2000-$2500 including labor. The work was done before I bought the truck. It had 11,000 miles on it when I took over. I love the truck, and it tows like a champ. You can see pics in the member photo section. Page 9 I believe.
I would also watch the lift pump. It's a 24-valve problem, not just a 1999 problem. I installed a fuel pressure gauge last spring, and my pump is slowly going south. There's a new one in my future before I head for Tennessee end of next month with the fiver.

Good luck with your truck!

DeWain

 

DC told me the rebuild was about $3000. It was coverd under warranty!! At 35,900 miles it locked up in first gear. They did a soft rebuild on it. DC emphazied that 101 miles later it would have been my dime. I don't think they flushed the system very well after the first failuare. Not sure but that is why I think the tranny was going out again at 60,000.<br> <br> Scooter