About 9 months ago I took my truck into the dealer for low power, poor fuel mileage etc. They found nothing wrong with the engine BUT the diesel tech said there might be a problem with the trans 47re. To not have to pay the $100 diagnostic fee I agreed that he could drive the truck home and back, about 60 miles. Again no problems found from the diesel tech or trans tech, they say. Fast foreword about 2 months and towing our 7k TT the trans dipstick kept popping out of the tube. Fluid was foamy and high, somewhat brown but not burnt smelling. Cooled everything and it only happened one more time and then I really forgot about it until recently. Now my trans seems to be really slipping in 1st and 2nd and doesn't like getting into 3rd locked unless the trans is up to temp, 4th locked isn't a problem as long as it makes it to 3rd locked.

Thinking back my mileage never got much better, this last tank city driving was only 11.2 hand calculated with 3:55 gears and 285 tires so give a few for those from the stock 245's. My trans fluid was low before I took it into the dealer and it only required 1 qt of fluid ATF+4 I bought from the dealer. Now it's at least 2 or 3 or more quarts too full and acting up again.

Does anyone think the dealer just put in more fluid to get me out the door and not address any trans issues or am I being paranoid. It's going into a different dealer for what I think the problems are, a LP and VP and this trans issue. Still under warrante for 45 day's gotta get everything done, I know about the in tank pump but there will be a draw straw and LP waiting when it comes home if it's replaced.

Sorry for the long post.

Thanks.

 

I wouldn't think the dealer toasted the tranny, they only gave it a test drive and that was 9 months ago. A quart of fluid is allot to an automatic. What did you do after the incident 2 months ago?

 

I've done nothing to the trans since it was checked by the dealer, 1 qt low is really allot?? Not splitting hairs and I agree anything low is too low but a qt low is allot? Like I said it wasn't a problem until receintly. I haven't had my TT to tow with, winter but spring is coming. My concern is the foamy fluid then and now. It's still a pink/brownish color and not burnt bad but it doesn't smell fresh and very full.

Thanks

 

The trans won't shift to 3rd lock until a certain temp threshold is met. I know on my X monitor (no promise of accuracy) it stays out until that reads around 75 degrees.

Dipstick "popping" out of the tube. Personally I haven't seen one that stays "tight" on the tube. Most I see have rattled out somewhat.

Any codes stored???

 

No codes and 76,000 on the clock.

Thanks for the info on the temp, that could be the 3rd lock issue. It's been COLD this winter.

 

2500- when was the tranny serviced? (I mean fluid and filter + band adjustment)

IIRC this needs to be done every 15k for the severe service. (heavy towing)
Maybe it's just that your fluid got old (brownish colour) and now foams more easily.

Just my 2c

AlpineRAM

 

Clogged vent on trans?Back in the day I had a chevy that did that and it was the vent on top of the transmission it was clogged.Just my 2 pennies.

 

2500ram, I'm not trying to argue with you, only answer your question. According to your post, the highlighted sections, you have pulled with the truck since it went to the dealer and although 7k is not allot of weight for a Cummins, it can strain an automatic under the right circumstances. I've driven Mopars my entire driving life and these things I'm pretty confident about. A Mopar transmission will not manufacture fluid but, it will give different dipstick reading at different times. You must check the fluid when it's warm, at operating temperature and not when you've just overheated it. A hot transmission will take 10-20 minutes to cool down at idle, regardless of what the engine temperature gage says. It will read high when it's hot. In the past, every Mopar automatic I've owned required the transmission to be checked while idling in neutral. Anything other than that will give inaccurate readings. I found it prudent to perform the same routine every time I checked the fluid, set the parking brake, put the tranny in neutral for about 5 seconds, put the tranny in reverse for about 5 seconds, then start with the lowest gear and work your way up through the tree, pausing for about 5 seconds in each gear until you hit neutral and then check the fluid. I understand that it seems a stupid way to do a tranny check but it's the same each time. Since I do allot of other things during the course of a day, I find repetitious routines are the best way for me not to make a mistake. As to running through the gears, an old school Chrysler mechanic taught me that when I was young, it's to make sure the entire tranny is loaded with fluid.
I'm not saying you did or did not do any or all of the things I mentioned. I'm just sharing what I've learned and hope it helps you. I don't have a manual for your truck so the procedure for checking the fluid level could be different. At this point, I would stop driving your truck until you can have the transmission throughly checked and diagnosed. An automatic transmission will not get better if you continue to drive it, it will only get worse.