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biotron
Dodge Dakota
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7/06/2002
03:03:17
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 Subject: transmission weirdness
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I bought myself a '99 Dakota R/T a week ago. 43,000 miles. I love it but ... the trans is acting up. Most of the time it goes along just fine but now and then it does this thing where I pull away from a stop and it stays in first until I hit about 3000 RPM where it will shift to second and do the same dance to third. Doesn't matter if I accelerate hard or easy, with O/D or not. This seems to happen about the same time I notice a sound like an over-revving fan, it's tied to the engine RPM, that will fade as I drive along.
Oh yeah, when it's doing all this it will also downshift as I slow down for a stop.
Then ... it will all go away like nothing ever happened .. until the next time. Seems to only occur after the engine has warmed up and the car's been driven about a half hour.
I've searched the boards for similar probs and found some "maybes" like "speed sensors", solenoids in the transmission, TSB's that Dodge alternately confirms or denies depending upon whose page I'm on down to the choice of ATF.
I don't have the bucks to let a dealer experiment or guess. I've built up enough cars and engines over the years that I feel solid about attacking just about any solution (mechanically) that doesn't require a tranny teardown, that I still leave to the guys in the shops.
Ideas? Thanks.
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-=Dave=-
GenII
7/06/2002
03:53:19
|  RE: transmission weirdness
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Well it's 2:45 am I think I'm the only one on right now, I'll take a stab.
Only when the engine is warmed up? Over-revving fan? But it will go away as you drive...
I say check the tranny fluid and temp. When you're driving there is plenty of air hitting the transmission cooler but when you slow down and the fluid heats back up the fan has to kick in.
My 2.5 cents.
'95 Sport 2.5L 5 Speed
Custom air intake, gutted cat, Flow 40, 2/3 drop
11.792 @ 55.9 mph in the 1/8
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Prospector
Dodge Dakota
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7/06/2002
07:22:30
| RE: transmission weirdness
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Switch over to the Amsoil Synthetic ATF, that is the first place you should start.
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biotron
Dodge Dakota
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7/06/2002
11:13:35
|  RE: transmission weirdness
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It's Saturday and between my "honey-do" list and my kids I'm going to take some time to get friendly with the tickings of my R/T.
Looks like the consensus is "try the simple stuff first, filters, oil, and the TV cable"
I used to run synthetics in my motocross bikes. incredible stuff. Higher film strengths, lower co-efficient of friction and all that. I'll check it out.
Thanks again all.
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IntenseDak39
*GenIII*
7/06/2002
11:53:58
| RE: transmission weirdness
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check the speed sensor in the tailshaft of the tranny not the one in the differential. My tranny was doing the same thing and when i changed that sensor it fixed it.
supercharged-intensedak3.9
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biotron
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/06/2002
13:01:24
| RE: transmission weirdness
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Message:
Thanks for your feedback. I'm gonna spend some time underneath my truck this weekend.
It DOES sound electronic since it's intermittant, (mechanical things tend to stay broken).
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Lesley
GenIII
7/06/2002
13:19:57
| RE: transmission weirdness
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Message:
I'll second what Intense just said. It seems to be
a common theme with our trannies. Mine was doing
the double-shift to second thing. After changing
the governor pressure solenoid, and the transducer
sensors, it runs GREAT now... I smoked my tires
last week for the first time, a big stinky
cloud!:
97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55, Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL & tip, V8 TB, FMS 19 lb fuel injectors, 17x10 Boyd Smoothies, JBA 9mm cables, Lakewood chrome traction bars. Have, but not installed: 3.92s, Infinity Sound System
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IntenseDak39
*GenIII*
7/06/2002
13:25:55
| RE: transmission weirdness
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Message:
lesley,
what did you roll your tires with when you smoked them? ;-)
supercharged-intensedak3.9
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Lesley
GenIII
7/06/2002
18:12:58
| RE: transmission weirdness
IP: Logged
Message:
LOL!!! EZ-WIDERS of course!
97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55, Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL & tip, V8 TB, FMS 19 lb fuel injectors, 17x10 Boyd Smoothies, JBA 9mm cables, Lakewood chrome traction bars. Have, but not installed: 3.92s, Infinity Sound System
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IntenseDak39
*GenIII*
7/06/2002
19:27:49
| RE: transmission weirdness
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Message:
LMAO!!!!!!!
hippie!
supercharged-intensedak3.9
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Bob W
GenIII
7/06/2002
22:03:03
| RE: transmission weirdness
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Message:
That rev. noise is the clutch fan If you have the tow package you can take it off, see if you have the electric fan on the radiator.
Gibson headers, Gibson Cat-back, Edelbrock IAS shocks, K & N drop in, 180 stat, Jet stage II chip, ARE Lid
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Dave Hall
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/08/2002
13:26:49
|  Another Tranny Fluid Question
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I recently had my 30,000 mile tranny service done at my local "5 Star" Dodge dealer. On paying I noted that the service receipt said that they had filled the tranny with ATF +3. I brought it to the service guy's attention that this transmission should have ATF +4. He went back and discussed this with the guy who did the service (supposedly) and came back to say that it was just a wrong entry into the system and that ATF +4 had been used in the tranny and ATF+3 in the transfer case (done at the same time). Since then the transmission seems to function the same as before, no better or worse that I can tell, but the gas mileage is significantly down. The city went from a poor 12.5-13 MPG to 11.3 and the highway from 18 MPG to 16.5. While some may be due to it being hotter the last couple of weeks and the A/C being run more, I doubt that would cause this big of a drop.
Thus my questions: Is there any way to check to see whether ATF+3 was added during this service? Would it require a full flush and fill to correct it if so? and do you think I am being paranoid and the mileage drop is not indicative of a fluid issue?
Thanks.
Dave
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biotron
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/08/2002
18:31:34
| RE: transmission weirdness
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Message:
I'm not a Dakota expert (having my own just a week) but I DO know cars having driven and raced them for 25 years.
Testing for ATF +3 versus +4, not without having some equipment and a full petrochemical lab. The only difference is that the +4 brand had an anti-foamer added to it. Having drag raced with good ol' Dexron II I don't suppose the ATF +3, a synthetic, is going to hurt you one bit.
A full flush (be it cooling system, tranny, or any closed system) is the only way to to maximize the exchange of what you had for what you want. BUT, as I said the ATF's are identical excepting the addition of the anti-foam agent in the +4.
The mileage drop is not indicative of a fluid issue since, again, the fluids are the same in all the important aspects.
A significantly higher local air temperature, say 95 plus, or a significant spread from the local temp when you last measured your MPG could contribute to a difference. When it's hot out, the air is thinner, like at high altitude and more pedal is required for the same performance. Cooler engines (to a reasonable point) produce more power at a given air/fuel ratio than overheated ones since less fuel is flashed off on it's way to the cylinders and a more controled burn or flame front is produced in the cylinder itself.
Yada yada, all that to say look elsewhere for the MPG loss rather than at tranny fluid.
AND you don't need $8 a quart Amsoil Trans fluid no matter what anyone says. It's bad enough at $3.50 (local dealer) for ATF +3 or
$5.50 for ATF +4. Just change when you should.
G' luck.
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biotron
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
7/10/2002
23:29:32
| RE: transmission weirdness
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Message:
I had a chance to do a little "testing" today. My R/T started doing it's "thing" (revving up to 3,000 RPM before shifting from 1st to 2nd, etc.)
I tried pulling to the side of the road. Turning off the car (stopping and shifting to park and then back to drive didn't do anything earlier) and immediately starting it again and shifting to drive and pulling away.
The problem disappeared.
No oil or filter change yet, no sensor cleaning or replacement.
It's electrical, somewhere.
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shane
Dodge Dakota
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10/24/2002
10:15:41
| RE: transmission weirdness
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Message:
i get the same problem when i start the truck its shifting at 2000 but seems like motor is reving high! but some of the guys say its the machenical fan? but why does it quit right down when its warm and runs normal? thanks!
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Clevite 77
GenIII
10/24/2002
10:58:04
| RE: transmission weirdness
IP: Logged
Message:
Shane, this is normal, your clutch fan (mechanical fan) has fluid in it, once the fluid warms up, it gets thinner and allows the fan to unlock and free wheel
Line-X Over The Rail Bed Liner
Home Brew Intake
Dual Exhaust
3923 Autolite Plugs
Krypton 4300K Blue/Whites
Euro Clear Corners
Grille-Tech Grill Insert (Silver)
TPS Set At .705
Removed Rubber Flap
I've used Mobil -1 Full Synthetic Oil And Filter Since I Had 6,000 miles
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