1999 Auto Transmission Shift Problems

[rontomed]

My 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 automatic transmission has difficulty shifting from 2nd to 3rd at times. This usually happens if I am easy on the accelerator. A harder acceleration shifts fine. I bought this three years ago when it had 90,000 mines on it and it now has 120,000 miles.

[Stevo2]

Originally Posted by rontomed

My 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 automatic transmission has difficulty shifting from 2nd to 3rd at times. This usually happens if I am easy on the accelerator. A harder acceleration shifts fine. I bought this three years ago when it had 90,000 mines on it and it now has 120,000 miles.

Have you had the tranny fluid and filter serviced and the correct fluid installed? That's where I would start.

[troy1]

Sounds like the 3 clutch inner seal. They get old and shrink up into into the grove and dont seal properly. Very common problem with the Dodge's

[wafrederick]

It might be electrical,the solenoids.You can use dextron,but pour in Lubegard(black bottle,one bottle only) in too.You can find lubegard at any parts stores.The lubegard does work.Also check the bottom transmission line towards the radatior,the rubber hose part.There is a plastic checkball in that line and REMOVE that checkball.You will burn the transmission up that way if you don't,the plastic checkball melts and plugs that line up.There is a tsb on that,some dumb engineer at Chrysler thought of that and it was a really bad idea.

[neon_rt]

I totally dis-agree with the Dextron and Lubegard recommendation. The Lubegard addresses the friction modification needed but still does not account for the fact the some brands of Dextron has incompatible detergents that will destroy the clutch material and ruin the transmission. Use only the MOPAR ATF+ series (3 or 4) that is called for. You may get lucky and the additive work, then again you may not and you will need a new trans.

[wafrederick]

The Lubegard changes the dextron into the mopar fluid and it says on the box instead of paying $5.00 a quart for the mopar fluid.Chrysler does approve Lubegard,it says on the box..That plastic checkball in that transmission line that I mentioned,Chrysler origanally put that in for preventing antifreeze going into the transmission.It was a huge bad Idea,it melts and plugs it right up

[neon_rt]

OK Mr LubeGard,
I have viewed a picure of the box have concluded, you've been duped.
I did not see an endorsement from MOPAR or any other manufacturer for this product. The language on the box says that the product will convert DEXTRON to a Highly Friction Modified Fluid such as.... and it gives a list of HFM Fluids. It doesn't say it converts the fluid for use in these apps, it says that the fluid is now a HFM fluid. That still does not make it compatible with Mopar transmissions, since it is the nature of the addatives that give these transmissions problems. I did not see any hint of Manufacturer approval on the box or on their website or anywhere, just clever marketing language. I think this is the stuff that @@mc0 puts in MOPAR transmissions when you don't pay for the 3 year extended warranty. The transmission lasts about a year to year and a half and dies b/c the clutches are flaking apart and clogging everything up.

Part 2:
I found this later after making my rant above. My jab at @@mc0 was due to a personal experience, aparently someone else has had the same experience.
http://www.noria.com/message_boards/...essagenumber=1

[troy1]

A late 2-3 shift under accleration is a bad seal on the direct drum (3rd drum) The minute you let off the gas it shifts right?

[wafrederick]

Most of the automakers approve Lubegard.You did not look good on the top of the box.I have used Lubegard in Mopar transmissions WITHOUT any problems and the transmissions worked.

[BleedDodge]

Wow.

[rontomed]

I was checking the trans fluid in Park. Checking it in NEUTRAL indecated that it was almost a quart low. Shifting much better now.