32,500 miles on '03 RAM 3500 HO 48RE... changed tranny fluid last night for the first time. I recently travelled from Reno to Helena, MT with my Lance camper and Haulmark enclosed snowmobile trailer (carrying ATVs), GCWR of approx 18-19k. During the trip I felt several times what I thought might be torque converter shudder, since I had a similar problem on my '96 just before its tranny went south. Also, my mileage was quite a bit lower than I had expected. My mileage has always been crummy on this truck, but it was even worse. I was expecting 11 mpg but instead got 9. This was at 70-75 mph.

So anyway, I finally had the time and changed the fluid. The pan wasn't nearly as messy as I thought it would be (compared to what I found on my '96 -- about 1/4" of gray film)... in the case of my '03 I found at most 1mm, but it was coating the whole pan and filter. This is only the second automatic Dodge I've ever owned (and the last).

Meanwhile, I changed the filter, mopped out the pan the best I could, put it all back together and refilled it. Truck drives fine, but it'll be close to a month before I'll be carrying any weight again to see if the problem still exists.

As it is, I need to get it to the dealer for a host of other problems, like bad balljoints and tie rods. I put new tires on it about 2000 miles ago and went for an alignment and the shop couldn't do it, saying the balljoints and tie rods were bad... and they showed me too. So I guess I'll have to battle with the dealer to fix that. Plus, the HVAC is messed up... blows harder on driver's side than passenger, and cooler on driver's side too. Plus if you switch to floor, it doesn't blow out of the floor at all.. it blows somewhere under the dash. Weird.

So anyway... the main question is, what kind of shape do you think the tranny is in? I'm trying to remember if the tranny is covered under the motor 100k warranty on this truck, or if I only have til like 36k or 70k to do something with it. Hmm.

Thanks!

Rob

Edit: Truck is 100% stock drivetrain-wise. Only mods are Rickson 19.5" tires, a Torklift hitch, and ATP engine blankets. Engine oil is changed every 5k and fuel filter every 10k.

 

ttt

 

Man, it's really hard to diagnose without seeing but a film on the bottom is more than likly nothing to worry about. I don't have an auto but on my 99 auto the fluid change date was every 12,000 if towing and 24,000 if not, at least this is what I can remember. I think maybe your oil was just getting worn out and needed to be replaced. Bad fluid will cause TC shuddering. Like you said maybe when you put a good load on it you will know for sure. Not sure about the warranty on a 03.

 

RobG,
If you only have 32,500 mi. on the truck, all other problems should be covered under the 3/36,000 mile warranty, the tranny and drive train is covered under the 7/70,000 warranty, the engine is covered under the 7/100,000 warranty frim Cummins. Just my .02 cents
My truck is exactly like yours except it's black
Chip