My truck has the not yet tried and found true 48RE automatic and I have a question about the way it shifts.

Wonder if this is a Dodge thing (my first Dodge), or a 48RE thing or a problem thing...

When accelerating from a stop to the speed limit of 30 or 40 mph my truck does not quite want to make that last shift - it seems you are waiting and waiting for it to kick in one last time. I can feel the 1-2 shift and the 2-3 shift clearly (very smooth but you know it shifted) then I continue to accelerate to the speed limit, ease up on the pedal and then wait and wait and finally almost lift off completely; then the last shift comes.

What I don’t know is if the last shift I wait for is 4th gear or if it is the torque converter locking up. The last shift is accompanied by a drop in rpm. Believe my owners manual says TC lockup comes at speeds above 30 mph in the normal operating temperature range. But what actually comes first 4th gear or TC lockup? A friend riding with me on the weekend said he thought the two happened almost simultaneously when I was trying to demonstrate.

And when towing the problem (if it is a problem) is greatly exaggerated. This weekend I pulled a car hauler trailer (about 5,500 lbs) 600 miles. I can accelerate fine up to about 50 mph then it seems the engine just revs without a corresponding increase in speed for several seconds, then another shift with a loss of about 700 rpm, then a little bog (like being in too high a gear at too low a speed) then it pulls smoothly again as the rpm climbs into the powerband.

Planning to take my truck into Dodge this week but wanted to know if this is the way they all feel or if it is particular to my truck.

Sorry to go on so long - thanks for reading to here, thanks for any replies!

 

When towing with mine I sometimes lock out OD and you will not get that 700 RPM drop and shift it into OD about 2400 RPM. You can play with the fuel pedal and it will not shift to OD until higher RPMs. I try to keep the RPM around 1800-2200 when towing.

 

1,2,3,TC,OD ;D

Jason

 

Sounds the same as mine. Empty, the TC kicks in at 45 mph. There is a "bog", but it comes at the same time as the turbo spools up so the rpm's and speed jump quicly from there.

I know if I jump on it, the sequence seems to change, the OD will not kick in until a much higher speed.

 

Also, when time allows, post your specs on your truck.

I have the 4:10 gears and that also seems to make a difference from what I read when others talk about gas mileage, shifting points, etc,. I too am a noobie and felt like my truck was screaming for another gear. In time I have learned to live with it.