VPI

Well at 20,000 miles truck decided to start doing it's own thing with several issues, but the one that is giving me the most concern is with my tranny. I am having trouble getting the thing into gear from a stop. Dosen't matter 1,2,or 3 I have to really force it a lot of the time. Well force it may not be the correct word but I do have to put enough umph into it that passengers are noticing that I am having trouble. I have also had trouble down shifting from 5-4 and on down. Generally a couple of taps on the throttle will get it in gear but I have never had to do this before 20,000. I only have 20,900 on it now. Any body know what is going on? Leaving for Florida in about 4 days and don't want to have trouble.
85% of the miles are pulling 6,000 and up to about 11,000. Really noticed the issue after pulling my 5th wheel on a 1800 mile trip a few weeks ago.

Thanks Tom

MikeyB

First thing I would try is changing the tranny fluid with either Pennzoil Synchromesh or Redline MTL. If that doesn't fix it have the dealer check the clutch slave cylinder.

MikeyB

Nevada

Had the same problem at 25K miles but not as severe as you describe. I changed the fluid with Penz Synchromesh and the problem went away. If you remove the PTO cover there will be a flat square magnet about dead center in the bottom of the trans, be sure to remove and clean it. It is easiest to access from the drivers side opening.

VPI

I am suprized that I need to change the fluid with only 20,900 on the clock. I will try to do that today and let you guys know how it goes.

tdupuis

Technically, it's probably a good idea to change the tranny fluid after only a few hundred or few thousand miles of use to get all the metal shavings from break-in out of there, same goes for the diff.

When I test drove one of these trucks before buying it I found that it really had no intention of going into 4th gear. I always had to try hard to make it shift. Mind you, this was a truck with 35 miles on it. The truck I ended up buying didn't have this problem, and I've been quite happy with the transmission. In the past 2000 miles of use it has actually loosened up quite a bit, and I can now really bang gears quickly. It confuses my friends who think that a big, heavy truck with a big, heavy truck transmission shouldn't shift fast. Then again, by their definition it also shouldn't be as fast as it is.

VPI

O.k. spent a fair amout of the day looking for the quakerstate syncro stuff that is for our trucks and can't find 5 quarts. Drove the truck about 80 miles today and payed attention to how things went. After I get the truck in gear I have no trouble rowin up through gears and had very little trouble getting it to down shift the shifts feel smooth like normal. Still haveing a tremendous amout of trouble getting the truck in 1 and 2. 3rd went easy today. If I put it in 3rd then before moving go to 1 or 2 there is no problem. It will be atleast a week before I can get the truck to the dealer. Does any body have any Ideal what could be wrong?

Nevada

Autozone stocks the stuff in my area.

Gypsyman

Mine got a little grumpy at about 15k. I changed the fluid and used the factory stuff. Smoothed it right back out. You could definately see small metal particles from breakin. Looked like metallic paint. The synchro's in these transmissions are tight and seem very succeptable to dragging with any type of contamination at all. I've been keeping an eye on it and it's stayed clean as a whistle since the breakin change. Is your clutch engaging higher or lower than normal?

Richard

bdramsey

It's under warrenty, take it to the dealer.

B1 Power Wagon

VPI,

Did you ever get your tranny fixed? What fixed it? Mine does the same thing: VERY hard to get into gear after stopping at a red light or stop sign. Shifts nicely when driving.

I changed the fluid over to Redline MTL and it shifts even nicer while driving BUT it is still a BEAR to get into 1st, 2nd or 3rd after stopping and letting the truck idle in neutral.

I'm taking the truck to the dealer next week for this and a few other things, just thought I'd ask if you got yours fixed. And if you did, what it was so I can steer my dealer in the right direction.

Thanks!!

Hounddog

Sounds like a clutch not releasing issue.Eaither hyds.or clutch/pilot bearing deal.

VPI

Well it went to the dealer many times. I changed the fluid and it did not help. I did get the tranny fixed I got a new truck . I did not trade just because the tranny I had many unresolved issues. I hope that your dealer is better than mine was. Good Luck