As the truck came up on 58k miles, I was planning on getting my 60k tranny service. But, I started noticing that the shifting of the transmission was a bit off. I hadn't really paid too close attention to the RPMs as it shifted, but when it wouldn't go from 1st to 2nd until around 2600 RPM I knew something was WRONG!

I also noticed that the problem seemed OK when the truck was first started and everything was cold, but as the tranny got warmer, especially around 126 degrees, the problem got bad. First gear at 2500 RPM

So, I took it in to the dealer for the tranny service and told them about the problem. They said they would take a look at it. (I should mention at this point that they had already agreed to give me a free tranny service due to some problems they gave me on my last visit. Those response cards DC sends out are a great bargaining chip.)

I called back after a few hours and they said the problem was a leak at my transmission pan and that I was low on fluid. Now I have been under my truck countless times, I park in the same spot at work and at the office, I aint seen a single drop from the transmission. They wanted to sell me on a few "extras" that I declined, but they assured me with the tranny service my problem would be solved (since they had to remove the pan to do the service and then put it back on).

I called back several more hours later to get a status and the service writer tells me "They are putting the transmission back together right now and you should be ready in a bit." Why was the transmission apart? It turns out that after doing the service, the transmission was still doing the same thing. So they decide to check for some codes, and sure enough they found them. Turns out the Valve Body was bad! They had to replace the Valve Body, which apparantly is a very expensive piece, but covered by my warranty.

Well the truck is back to normal and I am again! Just thought I would share that bit of experience with ya'll in case some of you have the same problem.

 

Glad to hear you got fixed up . My question now would be what was wrong with the valve body.?? After 58,000 mi of working ok what happened?? Food for thought ,is the torque converter clutch going south and you got a piece of clutch stuck in the valvebody.???

 

Service writers, lying bunch of no-goods. I don't believe ANYTHING they tell me. What gets me is why can't you schedule a service for first thing in the morning, and it takes all day? I work early, and leave early, around 3PM. It's always a hassle to get my vehicle by 3PM, even when scheduling it that way. They suck! OK, I'm done venting.

 

Hey get off the wagon and find another dealer

those of us that have dealers that are willing to work on our trucks without VOIDing the warranty due to our BOMBS are very happy. Mine atleast will work with me to see waht is wrong then determine if it's the BOMB or just a part hta failed due to being bad

 

The dealers I worked at the appointment was for the DAY not the hour.Some vehicles it was that it would be LOOKED at that day and depending on problems would DISCUSS when it MIGHT be ready.Of course up until a decade ago we worked on a FIRST come FIRST served and NO appointments.Worked each vehicle through from start to finish/up sales etc. before the NEXT one came into the shop.Actually there was a whole lot less bitcxxx and moaning THEN then now.We also made more money fixing them that way instead of this APPOINTMENT junk that dominates everthing now.Sorry,just a OLD service advisor venting!

 

I've found two dealers that don't hassle me about anything, if it takes them a few extra hours or a day I don't complain!

 

I just wish the freaks that design these trucks actually drove them and had to work on one occasionally. Instead they drive Mustangs and Corvettes. If they actually had to do something like change the fuel gauge sending unit, maybe the turds would design it to be a little easier. I'm telling you, after designing electronics for the military for living that absolutely cannot fail in that critical moment, some of the electronic stuff on these truck is a joke. Some of the mechanical geniuses also should be fired. Why can't the make a dually hub that can be spaced out for large tires without spending $400 on crap? Honestly, who wants to run 215s like they suggest? I'm about to vent here in a minute......... Ok........ It's over. I know making them to last would raise the price of the trucks, but who wouldn't spend the extra money to not have to set here on the computer every night trying figure out how to fix stuff on them? Not that talking to all you experts out there isn't great, but really. We could go on with our lives and just push the pedal down!

 

I have a close friend who's a service writer. Most of his scheduling problems are handed to him... he doesn't book his own appointments, they are assigned. He has to juggle customers who are willing to wait with those who aren't, and deal with the un-planned work that naturally occurs during troubleshooting or if his tech screws up or a part needs to be ordered. He has his stories are about the lunatic customers who think they will get better service by cursing him out first.

 

Its NOT a easy job.Tears your nerves apart.Appointments suck.

 

Hmmm, I guess I'm not sure how or why this thread got so off-topic....

Anyway, to answer bluepp's question, I have no idea what caused the failure. I can tell you it started after a lengthy haul of my camper (5,000 lbs) and a loaded trailer (3,000 lbs). I was in a hurry and pushed it a hard. I never saw my tranny or EGT go to a point that I was concerned and the truck performed flawlessly. Other than that, I put no out of the ordinary stress on it.

I don't know enough about transmissions to have gotten into a discussion about the cause of the failure, wish I did. Is there something I should be on the look out for a future failure?

 

ViperSBT, I'd be calling back the dealer to fully understand what was wrong with the VB, and is that the only piece they changed. Did they replace the harness and governor solenoid/transducer? So now you have a new VB on a 58K mile tranny. Let's see, your warranty will be up in 12K miles? And tranny bellies up right afterwards. Hmmm, maybe they should have ripped into the tranny to find what clutch or hard part caused crap to plug your VB. If indeed the issue was material plugging up the VB.

Or did they just milk Dodge for parts not necessarily needed.