04 Dakota overdrive problem

[jhd1962]

My 04 Dakota automatic transmission runs rough when driving at 1500 rpm, when overdive is on. It acts like the rpm's are too low and it's bogging down when driving on semi-hilly areas. It won't shift to another gear unless I give it gas or let off the gas pedal when it goes down to 1500 rpm's. It only does this when I'm cruising at about 45 - 50 mph. If I turn overdrive off the rpm's go higher and I don't have any problems.
Any suggestions on this problem? Thanks.

[wehswarriorS-10]

sounds like you have a problem with your lockup clutch in your converter

[1thunder]

what size of engine might be a little too small not powerfull enough to pull you through the hills without giving it gas to kick it down to a lower gear

[jhd1962]

it's a 3.7 liter V6. It only does it when the rpms get down to about 1500. It bucks a little like it should be in a lower gear. If i increase the rpms it stops doing it. It's acts like if you were driving a manual trans. in fifth gear when it should be in 4th.

[TopherTJ]

Originally Posted by jhd1962

it's a 3.7 liter V6. It only does it when the rpms get down to about 1500. It bucks a little like it should be in a lower gear. If i increase the rpms it stops doing it. It's acts like if you were driving a manual trans. in fifth gear when it should be in 4th.

Sorry to dig up an old post, but....

I just picked up a 2003 Dakota with the v6, and am experiencing the same problem. The transmission seems to be 'shift happy', changing between 3 and OD frequently. I can understand on hills etc for the need to change gears, however sometime the transmission will drop two gears with a hard shift.

Did you ever resolve your transmission shift problem on your 2004, or does anyone else have any other thoughts? Right now it is still covered under the powertrain warranty, and has 82,000 KM's on it.