Transmission in 97 Ram

[LTJGWorth]

I posted on this problem before and this is just an update. Ok. For about 5 or 6 months, the transmission in my 97 1500 has been a real pain in the ass. After sitting for a while, reverse wouldn't engage until you ran it at about 1500 rpms for about 5 minutes. Then it would go into reverse. Then, it wouldn't shift out of second until I drove it for about 15 minutes. After that, it would shift fine. Even after I parked it for a short period of time. Well, when I got in it yesterday, it started out like normal, not going into reverse. It went in and I pulled out of the driveway and headed out onto the road. I always watch my RPM guage because of it not going out of second I don't want to hurt my engine by having it rev or work to hard to push it. Well, I was watching it and to my surprise, it shifted out of second, into third, and into overdrive like normal (something it hasn't done in over 5 months). I thought, "Oh, it's just a lucky break." No dice. It sat for 8 hours that day without being driven and when I got in it, shifted normal again. I didn't drive it at all today, but I was interested in seeing if reverse would engage like it should. Sure enough, I went out and started the truck, put it in gear, and it started backing up in idle! WOW! How lucky can a guy get. His tranny fixing itself! So if anyone was having the same trouble and waiting for my fix, thats it. If anything else happens to it I'll post.

[BleedDodge]

It's possessed.

[LTJGWorth]

I believe it.

[BleedDodge]

If I had an automatic that did that I'd probably just put a manual in it, or trade it for a truck that has a manual.

Do you ever pull anything at all?

[LTJGWorth]

I never really pull anything, although I believe that it was used for pulling before I got it. The most this truck has done for me is 800 pounds of junk in the bed hauled to the dump, and an 800 pound roll of hay (both hauled at different times). I use it frequently to haul square bails of hay (about 4-6 at a time, weighing probably 75 pounds a piece). And about the manual thing, I kept saying that over and over again, "I'm going to put a manual in this thing if it doesn't straighten up!" Maybe I scared it?

[BleedDodge]

I don't think you can break the 5 speeds. They can take such a beating, I'm here to tell you.

Weight isn't so bad, it's the pulling that will kill it I think. As long as the tranny works I'd probably just run it until it gives up. Now it's afraid.

[LTJGWorth]

Yea, that's what I'm going to do. If it works, don't fix it. And to tell you, when this thing shift right, it has got some power. I think the tranny does a good job of transfering the power from the engine to the wheels. That truck has got some power.

[LTJGWorth]

I have another question that I can add to this. What kind of throttle body do you have on your truck? Is it a mopar?

[BleedDodge]

I guess so, I haven't touched it and I've had the truck since brand new so it's whatever it is. I won't do any modifications to this engine, I don't want to put money into it since it's just a 6 cylinder. Exhaust is as close to the motor as I've gone.
I just want to wear it out and put an eight in it.

I've heard of guys putting K&N intakes on their truck, but I don't know how effective that is. If you asked any of them about it, they'll just be like "It's a K&N so it's good." Well how about numbers? Mileage? They won't know. "It must be good because it's K&N."

[LTJGWorth]

Well, I asked because i was changing the air filter and checking my throttle body and fittings and everything and my throttle body is a holley. I bought the truck used and I was wondering if Dodge actually put Holleys on there as a stock option, or if the previous owner put it on. It works so I guess that's all that matters.

[BleedDodge]

Must be right, because mine says Holley on it too.

[LTJGWorth]

Hmm... Dodge is wierd.

[bcw629]

haha have ya messed with your speakers at all? mine were"Audio Latina" ????? lmao dodge is wierd

[LTJGWorth]

Yea mine were something like that. Mexican, or puerto rican, or mexican? I replaced all of my speakers though. 2 new stock-like pioneers in the doors, and replaced those 2, what were they 5 inch, in the back with roadmaster 200 W 6x9's. And I have a box in the backseat with 2 1 inch tweeters and 2 8 inch subs. A lot better than stock.

[BleedDodge]

It might have been built in Mexico. My grandfather's 1995 Ram was built in some place in Mexico. My truck was built in Warren Michigan.