I have a 2006 Dodge 2500 4X4 CTD with automatic trans. My concern is the trans not engaging lately on initial start up. When the truck sits for awhile...over night or in the parking lot at work all day, the trans feels like it drops into gear but when i step on the pedal the truck revs and either does not move or moves slowly. If I wait about 30-45 seconds or so with the truck in gear it seems to work normally from then on out. i checked the fluid level and it looks normal....maybe a hair higher than the normal mark. I only have 20K miles on the truck and it just started this crap. Not sure if it is temperature related but it has been in the 30"s in the morning the last few times it did this.

Matt

 

Cold weather will make the tranny feel sluggish until everything warms up and gets moving. When you start the truck up, run it for a minute or two in neutral; this will let the fluid flow and fill the torque converter, you should be much happier this way and your tranny will be too.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I was hoping that the trans pump was not getting ready to go out on me. She runs to good when warmed up.

Matt

 

Mine will do the same thing when it sits overnight during cooler weather. I start mine up and when the oil pressure gets up to normal I put it in neutral, set the high idle and give it a minute or so then go.

 

Bad drain back valve

 

Question: Why does my transmission have a delayed engagement after shut down or early morning starts?

Answer: If complaint occurs after overnight shut down, it indicates that the converter is draining back into the pan. To Qualify: Pull the trans dip stick before startin the engine. Is the level above full by 3 to 4 inches? If yes we have drain back. Now: if the truck is parked for days or weeks, consider this normal. If thi occurs over night, something is wrong. Below are the most common causes.

Front pump bushing to torque converter hub has excessive clearance.
check ball has been removed or is defective
If this happens right after trans work, suspect something in the valve body.

 

It's an old Dodge problem that never seems to go away. Mine does it to. I think it's the TC draining back to the pan overnight. And running it in Park doesn't circulate the fluid to fill it back up. Neutral will do it. And it doesn't mean the tranny is about to go. Just a nusance.

This has been around since the 60s. Sheesh. Seems Dodge would be able to get it right eventually.

John

 

First...thanks for the responses.

I have been away hunting and am now finally back and have access to a computer. I checked the fluid level after sitting all night and it is high abouve the full line....this confirms that it is torque converter drainback...correct??? If so is there anything the dealership can do since the truck is less than a year old with 21K miles on it and still under warrantee. Is it a convertor replacement...or what???? Or do I just live with the issue?

Matt