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Hitzman
Dodge Dakota
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2/14/2004
23:17:12
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 Subject: Transmission Questions
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I am thinking about ordering a dakota in the next few months. Was wondering if anyone had that new 5 spd automatic? Is it better to go with stick or auto? I am a great gearjammer, so I would like to go with stick if there isn't anyproblems with it.
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stick me
Dodge Dakota
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2/15/2004
05:34:21
|  RE: Transmission Questions
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( At the risk of sounding gay) I love my sticks! I have the nv3500 in mine, and have put 80'000 on top of the 40'000 it had when i bought it, and no problems! I redline it for every shift, and beat the living sheet out of the poor thing. Original clutch too!
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bsasteve
Dodge Dakota
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2/16/2004
18:45:13
|  RE: Transmission Questions
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Given chryslers previous automatics i would STRONGLY recomend going with the manual my dakota is going on 17 years strong manual trani. 4x4 lots of rust but still works great. Have yet to hear of any automatic that DOES'NT have a problem Funny we don't see any posts on bad manuals.
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Adminvtt
Dodge Dakota
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2/17/2004
08:16:50
| RE: Transmission Questions
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I have the NV3500 also and its a pretty darn good tranny. I got it with 20K on it and added another 40K runs like a champ, changed fluids and no metal shaving detected so I would say with all I've heard about auto trannys from Dodge the Manual is a better durability model. But man o man driving in Navy base traffic at 5a.m. gets tired real fast having to shift every two feet.
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disaster
Dodge Dakota
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2/17/2004
12:36:16
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
the dakota manual trans has been very durable. if you want a durable product - go with the manual.
if long term durability isn't important and you want the convenience of the auto - go with the new 5 spd auto. given daimler/chrysler's history w/ automatics i suspect it will be no more or less trouble prone than the previous auto.
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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2/17/2004
13:30:28
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
I have that very same tranny you're thinking
about buying. Mine is a 02 Dak 4X4 with the 4.7.
I now know without a doubt I will NEVER NEVER
buy another automatic! I just returned from
a 950 mile trip my wife and I were on. When in
cruse control on flat ground it's the best thing.
As soon as you go up ANYKIND of grade at all, it
will shift from overdrive to forth. When you're
going 70 MPH running at around 2200 rpm's and all
of a sudden your engine screams to 3200 rpms, you
begin to wonder just how good can this be plus
all the gas savings you thought you were getting
just went down the drain. I finally started to
take it out of cruse going up hills and putting
it back in going down or on flat land.
I told my wife several times, that's it for
automatics for me! I'll stick to Dakotas or the
full size Ram but next one will be five speed
stick.
It's easy to figure out why it's set up that way
also. the 4.7 has not got the torque OR has it
at such a high rpm it's worthless. The 4.7 is a
great little package but lacks the torque that
the older 5.2 (318) had and I've had all of them.
When I pull my 26' camper I don't even try to use
overdrive. I don't have any problems then BUT I
can't use cruse either.
I like Dodge, but that five speed auto should
have never been coupled with a 4.7.. I bet it's
even worse in a full size 4X4 Ram.
Get the stick, I believe you'll be very happy
with it.
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daveo76
Dodge Dakota
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2/18/2004
01:41:23
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Anyone ever heard about swapping in a manual for an automatic? Seems like it would be a major undertaking with the clutch and computer and whatever else. I'd prefer a manual, but the only used Daks with manuals I could find were stripped down V-6 models.
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Dragon
Dodge Dakota
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2/18/2004
12:34:03
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
Don't get the AUTO!!!!
Just had to have mine replaced (53k miles).
Dealer said it had been running overheated for a while, and things were breaking down. No explanation as to why it was running hot, they just dropped a reman into it.
Of course, I'm now getting a heavy vibration when accellerating from 50mph to 60mph.
Going back to the dealer...
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deerridge
GenIII
2/18/2004
13:13:53
|  RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
I have the 2003 4.7 AWD 5spd auto with over 30000 on it. It will shift in and out of fivth gear under 40mph as you go up and down hills and sometimes at higher speeds on hills. It has a .76 overdrive ratio which is pretty low. Most engines will lug somewhat at 1500 RPMS under load. The auto just uses the gearing to prevent it. It was probably saves on gas mileage by not wasting gas with a wide open throttle to maintain speed as you would on a stick. When I added the headers to mine, adding some low end torque, it quit shifting down. Incidentally the AWD 5spd combo is outstanding for snow, ice, mudd or rain. The traction is unreal and a great advantage over the manuel for all around driving and towing. The shifts are smooth and seamless, which is real nice for towing livestock. This is the first auto I've ever purchased and I'm very pleased with it. I doubt it will last as long as the manuels do though.
Real Horsepower
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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2/18/2004
17:51:14
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Daveo76 - if you're looking at used, there are no transmission hunting problems with the '00 4speed 45RFE automatic.
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2004
07:06:05
|  RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
Dragon, Get rid of that Dakota as soon as you can!
Dodges rebuilds are total JUNK and you'll have
nothing but trouble from now on. Believe me I
know.. I have a company Dodge truck that has had
three rebuilds in it now and still not right. I'm
just glad it's not mine.
I have a 02 Dak 4X4 with the 4.7 and I will part
with it as soon as my five speed auto begins to
even look funny. I'm not about to mess with
something that even Dodge won't fix right!
Next one is a stick....
Dragon, GIT RID OF IT NOW!! You have been warned!
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2004
07:40:27
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
RadioMan - How did you get a 5-speed Auto in an '02? I thought they started offering that in the '03's. I've got 33k miles on my '02 AWD 45RFE Auto with no problems (no gear hunting probs either -- the 2 / 2 prime gear is nice for kicking down at slow speeds going up steep inclines). Just did the first trans fluid & filter change and was a breeze. Got the ATF+4 and filters for about $55. Took about two hours to do. I'm hoping that 30k mile service intervals will get me some decent life outta this 45RFE. Keepin my fingers crossed.
Eric - http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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Radio-Man
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2004
08:56:07
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
JES, I had the place I bought the 02 find me one
that had a tow package, 4X4 and most of all a V8.
I had know idea it was gonna have the five speed
auto. That was in May of 02 also.
One thing is sure for me.. No more automatics!
Five, four and even three speed ones. Chrysler
corp. has a major problem with their automatics,
new ones and their rebuilds. I'm sure there are a
few good ones out there but they are hard to find.
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WS-1500
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2004
12:47:42
| RE: Transmission Questions
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I have a 2001 Ram 1500 with the NV-3500 five speed manual and it works very well. No problems. My wife has an '03 Durango 4X4, 4.7 with the five speed auto and it does very well also. I plan on doing 25,000 mile fluid and filter changes on the Durango using the recommended ATF+4 and Mopar filters to avoid any problems. If you don't tow or haul a lot you shouldn't have any problems with the auto as long as you do the maintenance.
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MoFinWiley1
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2004
16:03:46
| RE: Transmission Questions
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My personal experience is that the nv-3500 is junk. I've had two different daks, 1 an '00 4.7 and the other an '03 4.7. In my '00 the inputshaft broke at 8,000 miles. repalced under warranty. My 03 had the rear wheels lock-up on the freeway, causing me to take out a light pole. Maybe i just have bad luck, or it could be the nv-3500 is not suited for a dak. I will never trust another nv-3500 for the rest of my life. I am currently in the process of putting in a t-56 at great cost to my wallet and my free time, but to not fear my truck when i have to change gears will make it all worth it.
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2004
17:14:55
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
Come on Radioman, why are you badmouthing the old 3 speed autos ? The 727 was one of the most rugged autos ever built !
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2004
06:54:32
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
You're 100% correct Kowalski when you said
"old 3 speed autos" I have a 79 AMC Concord in
great shape and it uses that very same tranny
you're talk about, 727.
My beef is, it's todays garbage the auto makers
are putting into todays cars and trucks.
I have yet to have one (1) person I have ever
talked to had a new or rebuilt auto tranny
replaced that was trouble free. This is not just
Chrysler products either. Ford, GM and all the
others are just as bad.
Why is this happening? I don't know but one thing
is for sure, stick shift will be my next one.
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2004
02:13:18
| RE: Transmission Questions
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Message:
They make gobs of money on the repair side of things. The money comes from the warranty or your pocket, or both. Either way, it's too lucrative to fix the problems. The Companies make money selling the crap, and the service groups make money allegedly fixing the crap.
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