Ok I need to service the tranny ASAP and have a couple quick questions. Do I pull the cold return line off the tranny first and pump out the dirty fluid or do I pull the pan, change the filter, fill with 4+ quarts and then take the cold return line off and pump a gallon/add a gallon and repeat till clean fluid comes thru? I need the flush.....its been way overdue!

 

id do the pan first. one of my buddys does his pan and filter, adds fluid, then, takes off the the hot or cold line. he made up hose that hooks to the cooler and on for the har line. then he takes 2 buckets, one with clean fluid that he attaces to the "suctions side" and the other bucket to the pressure side( hot or cold line) and turns on the truck. lets the trans pump do the work. pump out the old, suck in the new, and he just keeps going till nothing but clean fluid is pumped out. thats what i plan to do.

 

I think its the COLD line but, where is your buddy hooking his hoses to, the connection at the tranny or the cooler?

 

Cooler. i think he just hose clamps the hoses on the lines

 

I let the truck run with the cold trans line off dumping into a large pan. Keep pouring till the fliuid runs clean and then I drop the pan, change the filter and adjust the bands. JM2C

 

Drop pan, change filter, leave bands alone, button up, re-fill. Start truck in neutral, idle a minute. Shut down pull the return line at the trans (rear most), start engine in neutral, have a helper add atf4 the dip stick as you watch the fluid coming out the return line. When you see a color change about 8 quarts, stop the engine and your good. I have done this twice. The BIGGEST thing is not to overfill. Top the tranny by the stick till it reads the low mark. Once the trans gets up to 190 the fluid expands and reads full. Fill a cold trans to the full mark and the fluid will cavitate (bubble). Just as bad as under-filled.

 

Curious, why leave the bands alone?

 

Band adjustment is not needed unless you have a problem. I've never adjusted the bands on any Dodger trans I've owned in 37 years and never had a problem by not doing so. BTW not adjusting them was pass on to me by several long time rebuilders who are customer oriented and not money hungry.

 

Don't know what you've been servicing. Seen plenty Diesel Auto's that use up KD band. Mine was down to welds on flex band and out of adjustment by nearly 1/2 inch. the Dodge take on trans fuild change is complete fluid change is not needed for most part. Following their milage recomendations will have fluid and filter changed before fuild goes bad. Simple 4-6 qts changed will restore ATF + 4 to more than adequate condition. If fluid is in the brown color stage, more agressive fluid change may be in order.