The only time the transmission in my truck will downshift is when the go pedal is fully depressed. I don't think this is correct, but I haven't checked with the dealers' tranny guru so I'm not sure. I also have a 2003 Mercury GranMarquis. In this vehicle, the transmission will downshift with just a slight touch of the accelerator pedal, especially when going up hills. In my Dodge CTD, I manually pull the shift lever down to second at below 30mph because the truck won't downshift unless I really slow down. I'm trying to keep the rpm's up to at least 1600.
Around town I drive the truck with OD off until the trucks speed reaches at least 50+ mph. I was just wondering if some of you other guys with stock trannys experienced the same shift pattern.

 

I forgot to mention in previous thread that I'm probably going to take the truck to my dealer to have the TV/kickdown cable checked and possibly have the transmission bands adjusted. I thought that I might save a few bucks though and just see how other peoples' trucks are shifting. Besides, I hate taking my truck to the dealer. Also, I realize there is a big difference between my Dodge CTD and the GranMarquis so I don't expect both vehicles to downshift the same. But, I'm thinking the 47re should downshift without having to floor board the go pedal - maybe not.

 

Mine does the same thing.

Have to floor it and then some to get it to kickdown to "passing gear" as we used to call it.

I've found myself clicking the "OD" button to force it to downshift when I need to pass someone going up hill.

Pretty sure that is normal, probably saving the TC with all the torque the engine puts out at those RPM's.


phox

 

Phox, billmac: I had the same symptoms on my 98.5 until I adjusted the TV cable to the proper specs in the shop manual, adjusting the bands is for something else but should also be done regularly.
The tranny NOT downshifting is what kills the autos. Low end torque means much force on the clutch but low apply pressure=> slippage.

Adjusting the TV cable to specs can be done in 5-10 minutes in the parking lot, no tools needed.

AlpineRAM

 

Alpine do you have the specs. handy?

 

Got the specs for a 98.5- so with other years this may be way off! Use at your own discretion!

Front band: Tighten to 72 inchpounds and back off 1-7/8th turns
Rear band: Tighten to 72 inchpounds and back off 3 turns.

The TV cable can be adjusted like this: Pull off the TV cable from the arm in the APPS assembly, adjust the position of the cable within 1mm of the stud it usually rests on. To get the tranny to downshift sooner you can still adjust it with a little more tension, but you have to take care that there's at least a little endplay for the throtle valve lever on the tranny when you go WOT.

This will help you with the kickdown, but the light throttle shift points can only be adjusted at the valvebody itself.
http://www.dieseltrans.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=68

HTH

AlpineRAM

 

Thanks Alpine.

I used to live in Germany and drove thru Austria a couple times. I remember coming out of the mountains going to Italy, Yikes!

Your a brave man to drive those roads in a Ram..

 

No need to be brave in the RAM on these roads- the others have to be brave when they see me

Actually I modded the suspension and the brakes just a tad- now it handles well and stops on a dime.

AlpineRAM

 

Thanks Phox and AlpineRam for the responses. I think that I will try to adjust the TV cable this weekend. I have a shop manual so maybe I can do it without screwing things up too bad. Pulling the nylon clip off intact is what scares me.

AlpineRam, this is the second tranny thread of mine that you have responded to. Where did you pick up your 47re knowledge?

 

billmac- Ilearned about the 47RE by rebuilding mine with DTT parts, picking Bill Kondolays brains, reading a lot about them, repairing and adjusting them for customers, similarities with european automatics I worked on.

AlpineRAM

 

Gotta do what you gotta do when there isn't a Dodge dealership within 5,000 miles,
with a big body of water seperating you as well.

Also a note of interest, English isn't Alpines language of choice.
He does pretty good, writes in better English than half the members here.


phox

 

Thanks for the compliment phox

billmac- one trick that did make it a lot easier for me to move that clip was to clean it for good first, spray it with a little silicone oil and wait for about 30 minutes. Then I sprayed a little brake cleaner on the engine side of it to get the slippery stuff away, then it was a piece of cake.

You'll just have to pull this clip away from the black plastic part a little (and do the same thing to the one on the other side) and push it towards the drivers side as seen in the pic. It helps a bundle if there's no tension on the cable. It's always good to make a matchmark to be able to go back to the original position.

HTH

AlpineRAM

 

AlpineRam, thank you very much for the information and tips. One of these days I'm planning on a DTT transmission upgrade even if I have to drive to the man himself; however, I think there are a couple of DTT trained specialists in Texas.

Phox, you mentioned in this thread that you turned off the OD to keep the rpm's up while climbing hills. I was just wondering if you recall the truck's highest speed when you released the OD button. I do that also and I think 50mph is the highest for my truck. Usually the engine rpm's are about 1400, so there is a 600 rpm jump when the OD button goes off. It's somewhat like driving a standard transmission for me. I try to keep the rpm's up when I turn off the OD so there isn't too big a surge. Sometimes it doesn't work - lack of coordination I guess.

 

If I understand the question correctly.

With OD off (OD light illuminated on dash) I've had the truck up to 80mph,
RPM's were approaching redline.

I have the same rear end as you (in the truck ) but I have 35 inch tires which will factor in.

Can't remember for sure, but I'm thinking if I'm around 70mph, rpm's are around 1300,
click OD off and it jumps to 2,000 or thereabouts.

I'd have to do a test and pay attention to the tach.


phox

 

Phox, thanks for the information. Man, 60mph is the fastest I've ever driven with the OD off. At 80, I'm sure your trucks' engine rpm's were hovering on redline. In my truck, at 70mph, the tach is showing around 2100 rpm in overdrive as I recall. At 55mph, the tach is at 1400 or so in OD. What I was trying to ask you was how fast have you driven your truck with the OD on and then turned it off. I've done it at 50mph and the rpm's jump up to about 2000. The owners manual doesn't indicate a specfic speed limitation when turning the OD on or off. I guess I'm a little paranoid about damaging the transmission so that's why I'm a bit conservative when I play with the OD.