Truck has been running fine but it did a weird thing on the way home from work today. I was driving about 15mph (dirt road), going up a slight incline, and suddenly the the RPMs jumped to about 2500 and the power died off. I could barely get the truck to move at 5mph with it floored! I only had a half mile to home so I nursed it there- high RPMs, almost no power. Tried shifting in and out of neutral, no change. Didn't want to stop....just in case. Better to get home first!! About 100yds from home suddenly everything was back to normal!! Roared uphill in the driveway, and even backed it uphill into parking spot.

What the heck? I'd think if it was the tranny it would be more constant instead of all of a sudden. Checked the fluid- full and good color. Could the bands just need tightening? It has 130,000 on it and haven't done anything to the tranny yet. It was my daily driver up and down the mountain, 35miles each way, until about a month ago. Maybe it's just mad at me for buying a Toyota to commute in!!

(of course there's a big snow storm predicted for tomorrow....)

 

When was the last time you checked your fuel filter? If you don't have a new fuel filter handy, maybe just hit the water separator valve and see if anything comes out. If you see a lot of water, try adding some additive like a dry gas that is obviously SAFE for a diesel. I have seen fuel issues such as a lack of fuel or water in fuel cause a high rev situation and/or loss of power.

 

Changed the filter about 6 months ago. Will check for water in the valve. It was strange because I could hear the engine reacting to the throttle but it wasn't translating to power in the wheels- which is what lead me to suspect tranny.

 

Well apparently there's no one in this little town who knows diddly about trannies. The guy I took it to today drove it and the said "Uh yeah, must be the tranny." So I called a shop he recommended about an hour away. There take? "Best case scenario $2000, worst case $2500" ***? Can a tranny just fail, overnight? I have had NO problems, no slipping, no grinding, no noise, no nothing. AND I drive it up and down a mtn daily as well as hauling hay and horses occasionally. Sheesh. I don't have $2000...... Should I REALLY be panicking???

 

If it were me I'd check the fluid level properly (hot, level, idling & in neutral), you'd be surprised the difference in performance when it's a little low on ATF. Also if it hasn't been done in awhile I'd change the filter, adjust the bands and do a total fluid exchange (not a power flush). Easy to do yourself, do a search- instructions are on here. Besides, if you find parts and pieces in the pan when you drop it then you know you might be in for $2k +

 

Well, it needs a rebuild. Dang. Fluid exchanged, new filter, tightened bands. No better. So now the question- is it better to order a rebuilt tranny and just get the shop to install it or is it better to take it to a tranny shop and have them rebuild the one I've got? Actually the real question is does Dodge just design the tranny to fall apart at 130,000 miles no matter what? LOL