My son just got back from a trip to North Carolina with our 95 Ram. It's got the 360 motor and at 200,000 miles still seems to be going strong. About 100 miles from home, the upper tranny cooler line let loose, and the fluid eventually dribbled out. By the time the truck got home, it was barely moving. So' after putting 5 quarts of ATF in it and reattaching the hose, the truck seems to be moving with 3 big noticeable differences. The truck revs to about 3000 rpm before shifting up, even under light acceleration, and overdrive doesn,t kick in where it used to, which was about 45 mph. Also. when coasting down a moderate hill, or coasting toward a stop from about 40 mph, the tranny doesn't seem to "freewheel" like it used to. Any ideas? I know I should feel lucky to have this truck still work at 200,000 miles, but I just got done 2 weeks ago boasting that it's the only vehicle I own that doesn't break!

I'd check the fluid. If the trans got that low, then it's possible there is or was some air in the trans, and on initial fill it was trapped.

The trans also might be fried though, but definitely check the fluid.

As I said, I did check the fluid, which is where the 5 quarts of fluid came in. That's how many I had to add toget it to move. Now that it;'s running, I'm having the other symptoms. I thought maybe it was air, or pressure transducers not repressurized, or something. I haven't had time to run it up to 75 or 80 on the highway yet, probably do that tomorrow after work.

I'd definitely check the level frequently, and maybe even do a complete flush and refill. If the symptoms continue, you may be looking at a rebuild.

Now that I'm thinking about it, a sensor or two may have been damaged....I'm not sure though, maybe a trans expert will take a look and give some input.

your checking it in neutral right?? got to do that ya know. The tranny is probally history you probally burnt up the forward clutch pack or scored up the pump and it can build pressure. I have seen some guys weld the gears to the stator also the rear have of the trans is lubed by the return flow from the radiator so the OD section could be damaged.

Checked it in neutral. Got the results. As it was explained to me once on a Lincoln Continental, if any of the clutch packs weld themselves together, the symptoms would be that it would still try to go in neutral, and revers would be almost nonexistent because it was fighting whichever forward clutch pack was ruined. I have neither of these conditions. As I stated earlier, my confusion is as to whether the overdrive is actuated by a hydraulically controlled sensor or an electronic sensor, as well as whether the coast down freewheeling should be there, or did my tranny just do that before when it wasn't supposed to.

well its turned off and on buy the solenoid on the VB your ram should be old enough that its not fully electronic just the TCC and OD

So, judging by your reply, there could have been something happen to the solenoid when the tranny ran dry and overheated a wee bit, right?

1400 BUCKS! So. a snap ring in the overdrive let go and metal shavings and half the snap ring were found in the pan. So long clutches, so long valve body! I hear these trannies don't last more than 80 or 90 k anyway, so I guess I'll have to keep this truck around for another 100k.

saw that everything you described was what I needed to see. my truck did the same, driving from Tulsa to Vegas. I am now looking to find a good deal or good place to get my new tranny. I have a 94 2 wheel 5.9 360 std. duty 4 sp. auto 46 RH. If anyone has suggestions or comments they would be greatly appreciated.

There is another thing to check,the bottom transmission line towards the radatior.Some moron engineer at Daimler Chrysler thought of putting a white plastic checkball in the bottom transmission line.There is one problem with the plastic checkball,it melts and plugs the line right up.It also burns the transmission up.Get rid of that plastic checkball by drilling it out and a spring will come out.Blow out the line out very well and no more transmission problems.Do not get a transmission flushed,a big no no.My father knows a guy that owns a transmission shop that cleans valve bodies because someone had the transmission flushed.During a transmission flush,dirt gets stuck in the crevises of the valve body,causes shifting problems and a flush uses more transmission fluid