It happens around mid-point in 2nd gear, well before before lockup. Just getting ready to head back to the dealer but waiting on some advice from an expert so I can arm myself with a little knowledge before I go. I don't want -nor desrve the hassle of multiple trips to the dealer. I wonder at what point I can realistically start making some serious demands. Luckily I'm not heading out on the road anytime soon.

 

any news yet? i am having the same problem

 

I am not a Dodge Technician and don't specialize in automatics but have re-built several others and am a licensed tech. To me it sounds as though a band or clutch pack (not sure which that particular tranny uses for that gear) is not holding properly when the proper torque band is hit (rpm) and this is what's causing "flaring" in 2nd gear. Many domestic tranny's use a band to hold certain gear mechanisms still to make the Gear change. (Kinda like a brake shoe in a drum brake) and is sounds like it is doing this initially but when the rpm's come into the torque band there just simply isn't enough holding power to hold the component and the net effect is like the vehcle going into neutral untill the throttle is let off enough that it can "re-grip" the component. The reason it may be intermittent right now is that the friction material on the band or clutch pack may only just be starting to go bad and in time I would suspect that you will see it do it more regularily. Again I am not a Dodge Tech nor have I physically seen your vehicle to make a 100% accurate diagnosis but from what you've described this is what I kinda think. It isn't impossible that it could be a solenoid that is failing however usually solenoid either work or they don't. It isn't very common to see a solenoid just fail part way through the RPM band, but again that isn't impossible either. A torque convertor not locking up shouldn't cause this issue either as it would simply mean your cruising speed will be slightly higher than if it were locked up. A torque convertor clutch essentially works like a manual trans clutch under lock up conditions by making the torque convertor a solid object and not allowing the typical "fliud drive" that an automatic relies on thereby increasing gas mileage. If you haven't already and you think you can duplicate the problem at some point on a road test take a tech out with you and show him. This can eliminate a lot of confusion/doubt. Sometimes the customer can duplicate the problem where the tech can't and this is no fault of the tech as sometimes it is just ta particular way it is driven.
How does the tranny fluid smell? If it smells burnt then either way you definitly have an internal clutch/ band problem whether that was the direct cause or not. The down side is that usually with a "flaring" problem the tranny usually has to be opened up and re-built. The Manuactuer I work for doesn't re-build warranty trannies...instead they are simply replaced with a factory re-built. I don't know what Dodges policy is.
When describing the problem to the service person use the word "slipping" or "flaring" if you have not already done so to explain the symptom...this can eliminate the possiblity of them passing it off as a "normal" condition.

Hopefully this was of some help and sorry to those of you who fell asleep during my speel. And Again I could also be entirely out to lunch with my dioagnosis as I am not a Dodge tech or a tranny specialist.

Cheers.

 

very informative...thanks

 

I dont know if this would pertain to our 48re but I remember a TSB being issued on my Montero (actually a different build date) whereby they needed a reflash of the computer due to flairs in shifting.

It seems to me that if they could reflash the tranny computer, if there is such a thing, this would be an simple first try.

 

Good Day!
Let us know what you find on your tranny -- on the tire side, I like what the bigger tires do to the design. The small tires (like on mine) just seem out-of-place.

 

Thanks for the reply CSX...

Here's the latest:

I took the tranny tech with me on a test drive and we were able to duplicate the problem. He had the handheld computer plugged in and noticed some abnormal tranny pressures.

They replaced a pressure sensor. Initially he thought it could also be a warped vavle body.

The problem appeared to be fixed at that time but after some extended driving it is still there -although it doesn't happen as often as before..

I told the dealer that I will expect a concrete solution next time. Whether that means bolting on a new tranny/TC, new valve body, a rebuild, or something else. I can't afford to play revolving door with the delear on this.

I wonder at what point the Lemon Law would come into play??? If anyone has some experience with this I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.

In the meantime I will keep you all posted.

 

The way I understand the lemon law, if you have to take back to the dealer more than three times for the same problem than you have a case. If you aren't getting a satisfactory resolution " a real or sincere" effort out of your dealer to fix the problem, a threat or shall say reminder of that law might be an advisable course of action. I'm no lawer but I've had succsess with this method with dealers that just aren't taking the situation seriously. :LOL

ramguy

 

Got a 2003 H.O SWB 48RE, just 2000 km's and overdrive is already gone. Oil is burnt bad. Never towed, just started burning the second tank of fuel and ziiipppp, O.D is gone, looks like the tranny problems of 98 are comming back. Had a 98 4x4 gas jobbie, 13 count em 13 transmissions.

 

<------- dropped a load in his pants :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

i hope my 48re is a good one

 

The lemon law is different for every state. Your state law is in the package that your truck came with, the booklet that is in your glove box. Usually it is 4 times the dealer has to fix the same problem, 30 days in the shop or a major safety item. There are time limits and milage limits. Hope this helps.

 

what Landshark said......