Well, after I got done bragging about how happy I am with my TransGo shift kit, 2 weeks into install, the trans is acting up. All of a sudden, it takes 2-3 secs for the trans to go into drive (although reverse is still quick), the 1-2 shift under light throttle is a complete mess, and it gets a little clunky when coming to a stop.
Any ideas on what might of happened? If I had to take a guess, I would say that I rolled a rear clutch seal with the (new) higher line pressures. But that wouldn't explain the 1-2 shift issue I believe?!?!

My tranny is an 03 with 100k on it.

Thanks

 

With bad 1-2 and bad 2-3 shift most likely your plastic accumulator piston is cracked. Also bad 1-2 shift usually cracked (or leaking) plastic intermediate servo piston and cover.
Replacing both factory parts with aftermarket aluminum parts should solve your problem. Plastic parts can't take the higher pressures of your beefed tranny.
Look up www.transmissioncenter.net/dodge.htm to see what the parts look like. Scroll way down the page for 48RE parts.
You probably are familiar with these parts already since you were just inside your tranny. Bummer having to open the tranny again.

 

LEt me know how it goes, I just installed my shift kit last month and no problems!

 

LEt me know how it goes, I just installed my shift kit last month and no problems!

 

I'm going to tear into it Friday. It was such a simple kit, I can't imagine what happened!

 

I don't know the exact details on how it is acting, but I just had some serious 1-2 shift problems and terrible downshift problems coming to a stop sign. Low and behold, the dang spring for the throttle valve lever had gone MIA somehow. Replaced the spring and the tranny is perfect again.

good luck

 

I had the goofy 1-2 upshift in lite throttle. Just turned up the throttle pressure screw 1 1/2 turns. Works great now.

 

Throttle valve line seems to be adjusted ok. I set the line pressure to what TransGo said in the instructions. What baffles me is how it ran perfect for 2-3 weeks then went sour.
We'll see. Thanks for the replies!

 

i have basiclly the same problem as you, down shifts are very hard, to the point of a clunk in the drive line, 1-2 and 2-3 lite pedal shifts are out of wack, doesn't know where to shift. i just thought that it was the shift kit itself.i had my tranny built locally by i guy that i trust and does great work. i talk to him about it, and when they get time they are going to play with the line pressure. i figured that since these kits are not diesel only kits maybe it has to do with it. gas motors shift at a much higher RPM then the diesels.i was just going to order a different VB form one of the vendors here.
let us all know what you find and what works if your going to tear it apart again.

 

The kits are very simple but just a hair off will cause all kinds of problems.

 

I have noticed that when I go from drive to park, the truck goes up against the park sprag like the clutch is slow to engage. If I go from drive to park, and wait a few seconds before I release the brake, it won't do it. Going from reverse to park, the truck doesn't drag at all. Combine that with the delayed drive engagement, and it points to the rear clutch engagement. I am just not sure why the rear clutch would be slow to engage/disengage. If the seal was torn or rolled, I would of smoked the rear clutch by now.
I'll let you know what I find out.

 

When I installed the Trans-Go kit in my '98, it sounded the death knell for that tranny; basically, the firmer, faster shifting pushed the 175K mile slushbox over the edge. I would rather rebuild the whole tranny (which I subsequently had done) before putting a band-aid shift kit in again. Tech support was a bit lacking as well...

 

Yeah, I've noticed that about the tech support.

 

Just a quick update on what I found. Two issues. One was the governor solenoid/switch. Controls the 1-2 and 2-3 to some extent. With the increase in line pressure, I may of had a funky one. That is no biggie.
The other issue, that explained why I saw some clutch material (and slow drive engagement) is the rear clutch spring. I didn't tear the tranny apart (yet), but I talked to HTS about my issue. He said that the SK48RE TransGo kit takes line pressure to around 180-190ish. There is a good chance, with the kind of mileage that I have on my tranny, that the rear clutch spring has been permanently damage, causing it to drag.
It makes some sense, but without tearing into the trans I can't tell. It doesn't matter, next week I am getting the full meal deal at a local diesel trans shop with a GB 3-disk!