I purchased my first Cummins about a month ago. It is a 2000 qcsb 4x4 auto with 35/40 hybrid turbo, full 5 inch, edge ez, and slightly larger injectors. I love the truck to death but think there may be a problem with my tranny. It seems to hang on to 1st 2nd and sometimes 3rd gear when accelerating lightly. 4th and OD seem to have no issue, as when 4th engages it takes off. If I tromp it, it will shift progressively, but sometimes clanks and shuttering noises come from the tranny. I checked the fluid and it does not have a strong burnt smell but is definitely dark in color. I plan on dropping the pan, replacing the filter and adjusting the shift bands. I plan on using Castrol atf+4. Is it as good as everyone says or is there better? I hear good things about amsoil but no dealer is close to where i live. Would this just be a waste of time? Could I be in need of a rebuild? Any help or knowledge of this situation would be greatly appreciated

 

Well, I guess it depends on how "deep" your pockets are! It certainly sounds like your tranny is having some issues. For sure do as you have posted and see if it makes an improvement. It's possible that abuse from the PO has effed up the clutches, solenoids etc. etc. As far as fluid is concerned, as long as its ATF+4 it should be good. Why waste money on high cost AMSOIL synth if your gonna have to tear it all down in the long run? Personally, I would just follow your plan, regular ATF+4 and see if the tranny shifts more happily. If its still hanging on to the gears between shifts then you'll have to see what the next step will be. Make sure that you follow the excellent links in this forum on adjusting the bands - its good information and it really helped me "see" what I was doing.

Cheers and keep us posted!

Mike

 

I do agree with your thoughts on the amsoil, as with my luck I will probably be taking it back apart. I'm hoping to have time to tackle this tomorrow and I will announce how it went. Also, has anyone had any luck with adjusting the tps and tv cable? I was reading that if these are out of spec it can cause what will appear to be slippage..

 

As I was on my way home from work today, I heard a loud bang and then some grinding as I beat a red light. I came home, pulled the pan, and found that my fluid is filled with material and debris. Not what I was hoping for. I have decided to swap over to a stick because I do not want to go through this again. Does anyone have any info or first hand experience on this? Also should I be looking harder for a nv4500 or 5600? List of what I will need? Any help is greatly appreciated as I am without a vehicle until I solve this issue

 

There are a ton of posts on here about swapping. Search around and you will find plenty to read.
quad4x4.com is one place to source.

 

Ouch... that sounds expensive...
Going to all of that work... maybe a Fuller 10-spd would be more fun... it's been done.

 

I did find a lot of helpful info on here about the swap, but the one thing i can't find is the most important at the moment. Does anyone know if a nv4500 out of a 97' will work? This swap seems near impossible without a complete donor truck unless one doesn't mind getting nickle and dimed to death. If the 97' tranny wont work Im prob just gonna lean more towards a built auto. The only thing I really plan on adding performance wise for a while is a smarty so I don't think I need an $8000 full billet job. As far as autos go, anyone have a particular brand they prefer? Any seem more reliable than others? I hear goerend makes a mean piece for the cash. Once again I appreciate any input on the subject, every little bit helps, especially since I'm stuck driving a ford powerstruggle until my rig gets fixed.

 

The 97 will work fine, only real diff is the shift lever mounts to the top cover differently, bayonet lock instead of a bolt down. Believe there is a minor diff as to TC lever mounting, but you will have the 97 stuff anyway. Worst part should be changing the driveshaft lengths and I am not sure about any changes needed to the PCM.

Oh yea, if you can afford it, grab the 80 out of the 97 as well, it would eliminate needing to change the driveshaft and will hold up better than the 70 that came behind the Auto trucks.

 

Well it looks like the nv swap isn't gonna happen..the kid with the 97' decided he would rather have the truck sit in his yard and look pretty instead of cash money and I have searched everywhere for a donor truck and came up empty. SOOOO..back to the built autos..if you were in my position..which brand would you buy and why? I have only driven one truck with a performance auto and it was a very fresh DTT...I loved it, it shifted so fast i was blown away....

 

DTT, Goerend, HTS,ATS. I am sure there are others.

The key is to call and be comfortable with either the builder or the installer.

 

If I am not mistaken you can use a 4500 out of a Chevy too. Its the same trans IIRC.

 

Careful there, Input/Output shaft is different in all years, and I believe the case is only the same from 96 up............