So I was pulling my 6k camper up a short but fairly steep grade and was in second gear. It seemed like hardly any power was getting to ground and heat was building. My Engine temp light went to 240plus. I assume the heat flowing thru the cooling lines was migrating the heat? Anyway, do you think my tranny is starting to go. I realize there is no lock up in lower gears. It just seems excessive slippage. Other wise it runs good in 4th tow gear lockup.

 

That's exactly what it was doing. All the converter slippage creates huge amounts of heat and will burn up your tranny if you pull like that for very long. I would suggest a lockup switch to keep the converter locked in those situations. I have one and lock up first gear when doing some of the towing I do. I also use it in normal driving but you wouldn't have to.

 

How much is a lock up switch? How much labor involved and how does it work? Why would not dodge have this already installed. Why would they make a auto tranny for diesel truck and have so much slippage. Seems like it totally undermines the purpose of the diesel engine.

 

Preaching to the choir here. Your absolutely correct, the auto trans is ok but not stellar behind a Cummins, add any power to the engine and forget it. Many have them rebuilt by a reputable builder to correct the stock problems, it isn't cheep to have fixed but they do work much better and cooler.

Lockup switch basically free except for the the cost of the switch and the wire.

I'll do a quick search and post a link as I want one now as well.

Edit

Here is the link I was thinking of

http://www.tstproducts.com/Torque%20...p%20Switch.pdf