| From | Message |
dm
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/16/2004
01:53:51
|
 Subject: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
Hi everyone...
Just a couple things. First of all, has anyone experienced 2nd gear being very stiff on the Dakotas? I have a 98 3.9L manual, bought it new, and it has always required a little muscle. Is this normal for the truck?
Second, just a little testament. I have never really done anything to modify the truck except put a dynaflow exhaust on it. The truck has never been "fast" in my opinion, but what I do appreciate is the fact that it's a very strong engine. I bought it in Ohio, then moved to Texas, California, back to Ohio, and now we're gutting out our second rough winter in Toronto, Ontario (the high temp today was -4F), with 107,000 miles on it. I'm a meteorologist, so it has seen about 5 tornadoes in the Texas/Oklahoma area from various chase expeditions, and suffered some minor hail damage.
It's been a blast to drive... and it'll be a dark day when I have to get rid of it. Thanks for the forum.
|
Steve calabro
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/16/2004
08:05:55
|  RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
well, with mine, downshifting into 2nd takes a little more pull to get it into gear. its a 96 with 120k. Steve
|
brianl
GenIII
1/16/2004
09:56:40
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
I'm glad I'm not the only one! I have the exact same problem with my '98. Second gear is a real bear and sometime even growls at me with the clutch burried to the floor. It's a lot worse in the winter when the fluid doesn't flow as well. Even tried switching to synthetic. Let me know if you ever findout why this happens.
Brian
Dynomax UltraFlo, V8 TB, Alpine 6-disc, 180 T-Stat, PA 3" Lift, Prothane bushings, Autolite 3923, homemade intake, Rancho RS9000, Tonneau, Herculiner Sprayed-In, 33" Dueler A/T, AR Baja 16x8 Wheels, MOOG Balljoints and Ties, Powerslots w/ Raybestos PG pads
|
boguspete
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/16/2004
10:17:00
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
My 98 does the same thing - It's like the synchros are off, or like prev. mentioned, the fluid gets cold. Must be a trait of the 5 spd's
|
daddio
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/16/2004
10:33:25
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
my '00 gives that with first sometimes but not second. although the whole shift mech is a lot sloppier than a '83 s15 w/T5 tranny i had years ago.
|
patrick
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/16/2004
10:37:33
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
While it was (and still is at times) a problem with mine, i have found that double clutching when downshifting helps out lots (shifts can be done with very light pressure when done right). upshifting doesn't seem to be a problem yet.
what i have noticed is that every once in a long while it seems like the clutch engage point changes and i end up grinding a bit. when this happens, it takes a very long time for the transmission to settle itself out. Now most likely this is my bad and has nothing to do with my dakota, but has anyone else had this happen?
I agree - it will be a dark day indeed when i give up my dakota!
2000 2wd 75k v6
|
dm
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/16/2004
11:48:46
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
I agree, it's worse when it's cold... I find that shifting into second gear slowly and deliberately when first starting out solves the problem of it not shifting smoothly. I wonder if this is going to be a costly problem in a year or two?
Also, I'm 5-11,165lbs. Pretty lean guy, right? I broke my seat. Two of the four springs have popped out from underneath the seat... the metal housing broke.
And one last thing... I believe I meant to say Dyno Max exhaust, not dynaflow... but you guys get the idea!
dave
|
ToddK
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/16/2004
13:37:24
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 1999 Dakota Sport with a v6 and manual 5-speed. I also have the same problem with second gear and even notice that if I don’t put the transmission in the gear I want to use before starting the engine that after starting it most of the time will grind when it goes into gear. Does this happen for anyone else? Also, BrianI mentioned synthetic oil. Did this work better or is it still stiff to shift. I was considering changing the oil, but it may be just a problem with the trans.
|
J and J Auto
GenII
1/16/2004
19:53:39
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
Try a synthetic fluid it may help
You could ask Steven the Amsoil guy but be
prepared for a long explanation but syn's do
reduce heat and lubricate better because
the molecules are smaller and all the same
size and will get into micro spots a reg
fluid may not.
For the price of a new trans or a rebuild its worth
a try it may save you some green stuff
As a shop owner and being in business for over 30
years I am not like most that are out for the all
mighty buck.
Saving a customer money and being honest will
bring that customer back again
I guess I am just the oposite of most business
owners that could care less as long as there
pockets are gettin filled with money
Larry
J&J Auto
|
Quicksilver
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/16/2004
19:57:20
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
You all most likely have the NV3500 5speed toilet tranny.Know for it's crapy second gear shifting.I had mine rebuilt 3 times before i got a new one (under warrenty).Common to have a problem with second in this tranny,can't shift fast ,syncro's freeze in cold weather, grides going into gear, anso on. So far the new one is holding up good syncro's still freeze but shifting slow helps.
They'll have to pry my cold dead ass out of my dak before i give her up.
|
Steve Calabro
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/16/2004
20:10:56
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
i have the ax15 in mine, how is that?? Steve
|
BrianL
GenIII
1/17/2004
18:36:23
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
Changing the fluid to synthetic didn't do a thing for mine, since the majority of the problems occur with a cold tranny. Todd, I doubt switching to synthetic will help you, but it doesn't hurt. I agree that shifting slowly helps a lot, but what fun is that? :) I've replaced just about every other mechanical part on this truck, might as well throw a new tranny in it! (just kidding for now) Quicksilver, did Dodge give you any explaination for the tranny problems?
Brian
Dynomax UltraFlo, V8 TB, Alpine 6-disc, 180 T-Stat, PA 3" Lift, Prothane bushings, Autolite 3923, homemade intake, Rancho RS9000, Tonneau, Herculiner Sprayed-In, 33" Dueler A/T, AR Baja 16x8 Wheels, MOOG Balljoints and Ties, Powerslots w/ Raybestos PG pads
|
Greg
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/17/2004
19:22:09
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
I have similar problems and maybe even worse... To start with mine is a 99' Dakota 5 speed with 3.9l reg cab 2 wheel drive with right at 80,000 miles... Mine has the AX15 and I was planning on upgrading to a 6speed or the newer NV3500, but since Quicksilver has that and really bad problems, I think I'll just have to hunt me up a 6 speed conversion...
Mine grinds while doing quickershifts upgearing into and downgearing into 3rd gear and has to be forced into 2nd while upgearing and you might as well forget about downgearing into 1st and 2nd "part of the time it'll go in on second" I've also found like others that you must "gently" shift into 2nd and 3rd gear in order to get it to go into it right... Would a rebuild with new syncro's fix this or am I better off to find a good 6 speed or better 5 speed???
I down right hate and despise this tranny!!! I wouldn't trade in the rest of the truck for anything else except for a project R/T or something of that nature ;))
I found that using Mobil's full syn gear lube in it helped some and made it a little more drivable, but still didn't fix it...
While I was asking a tranny guy about buying a rebuilt one from him though, he told me that I never should have put the gear oil back into it to begin with, that I shoulda used a good ATF instead... Any thoughts about this one??? I was thinking about leaving one quart of the gear oil in it then filling it on up with Mobil's ATF "heard lots of nice gains from this one"... Any thoughts about how that would help or not???
Thanks,
Greg
|
WS-1500
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/17/2004
20:06:02
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
The only fluid that works well in these NV transmissions for me is GM Synchromesh fluid at about 10 bux a quart. This tranny takes 2 qts. www.newventuregear.com. Also, for problem with the seat, you can get the wire "grid" looking thingy which supports the foam at the dealer, but if the frame is broken you may have to go to the junkyard for a new one. The 40/20/40 seat comes apart in sections and should be easy to find at the junkyard. I have a fullsize Dodge and the seat is very similar to the Dakota seat. I cut a 15"X15" section of truck mudflap and placed it between the foam and the wire support grid. Easy to do and really helps. Just unbolt the seat from the tracks. The upholstery is held on by plastic channels and removes easily without using any hogrings. Slip the upholstery and foam padding off, place the section of mudflap over the springs and grid. Reassemble and feel the difference! I also had a problem because my seat is not angled back far enough and it feels like there is pressure on my tailbone when taking long trips. Get two longer bolts from the parts store(I think they were 5/16" fine thread). Stack about 3/8" thickness of flat washers between the front tracks and the seat to lean it back a little bit. This really helps those of us with bad backs and can be done in less than 15 minutes. If you have the power seat you already have this adjustment so disregard.
|
Quicksilver
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/18/2004
18:11:03
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
Well this is what the dealer told me (same peoploe i work for )All the racing that i do is the cuase of the problem, of course the only time my tranny has a problem is during the winter(note in NY the track is close this time of the year)I think that these tranny's can't hold up to the cold weather to good,syncros feeze fluid freeze an so on..Cuz i beat the snot out of this tranny at the track an it didn't gride or miss a gear.But they still suck as far as trannies go.
|
Greg
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/18/2004
19:34:59
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
Well, it's my understanding that Dodges use GM "General Motors" trannies in their trucks, which would explain a lot of the problems... I know this because the dodges and GM's and Chevy's all use the same tranny... You can even look at Ebay if you wish, type in your tranny and it'll bring up the same thing for the GM's and Chevy's... BUT, what I don't know is why Dodge does this or has anykind of a deal with GM to use their trannies... Maybe GM and Dodge both buy from the same company??? Who knows...
|
Steve Calabro
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/18/2004
20:43:54
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
Greg, you are right, dodge and GM use the same company for many of their driveline parts. the 231 t case is nearly identical to the ones GM uses, the only difference is the case they are put in. Steve
|
Greg
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/18/2004
21:05:42
|  RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
Yeh, almost makes you wish you didn't own a Dodge doesn't it... This explains extremely well why Dodges have so many tranny problems and why some work better off of the syncromesh oil from GM for their tranny's... Yep, downright disgust me to know this... This is because Chevy's and GM's are the number one truck that has to be fixed at the shop... Yep, downright disgusting :((
|
greg
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/18/2004
22:34:51
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
OK!!!
Greg,
The AX15 is probably one of the most bulletproof tranny out there the only problem (which is getting a fix sometime early this year if it hasn't already happened) it the sychronizers. Originally made from brass, the new parts are supposed to be made from steel. This comes from my tranny mech. who has rebuilt mine twice. The original lasted me 166,00 miles then I gave the truck to my 16yr old some and that set of sychros lasted 2500 miles. What makes this tranny almost bulletproof is that all the bearings are sealed meaning that you never have to add a drop of fluid to the tranny(like me) and get that many miles out of it. Mech. said if I would had checked the fluided and added as necessary it probably would of lasted 250K miles.
|
greg
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/18/2004
22:40:51
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
Greg,
One thing. My Mech. told me to never use the ATF fluid. The gear oil is recommended because the only thing that is being lubed is the syncros and to reduce the drag on the gears. ATF is to thin. That was the only way he would warranty the tranny. I had the same problem in cold weather. But once the tranny warmed up I didn't have a problem
|
Greg
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/18/2004
22:45:50
| RE: manual trans...
IP: Logged
Message:
Well mines been kept above full and I think all of the syncros through 3rd are pretty well gone... About time for a rebuild or new 6 speed from someone if I ever find one that will work and not bankrupt me at the same time :)) Mine lasted till 80,000 so far... Maybe I'll look into that steel syncro thingy... BUT, then again, mines also been making some kind of alfull rattling noise in 4th and 5th gears as well... So I'm expecting more than just syncros for now anyhow :(( Thanks for letting me know this though... I'll keep it in mind when it comes time to do something to it ;))
|
| | P 1 Next Page>> |
