2000 Dodge Ram Low pressure duing fluid change

Tiny
KAHAIW
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 DODGE RAM
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 127,000 MILES
During my long overdue ATF change there was a very low flow out of the radiator hose. At high revs a little more came out but not much. I had to drop the pan in order to empty fluid. I have been noticing "slipping" or "up and downshifint" while going uphill between what seems 2-3rd gear. The fluid was surprising clean, light red, and smelt fine. The filter seemed to be in good shape. Regardless I changed both fliter and fluid anyway. The bands havent been serviced in at least 40k miles either. There also seemed to be bubbles in the fluid prior to the change.
Saturday, April 4th, 2009 AT 12:30 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
OK if I understand right you disconnected the trans cooler line from the radiator to try to change fluid? This will not work and not so good for the trans. You lower the pan and change fluid and filter and then you need to know what line is pressure and which is return to do a trans flush and alway's have a bottle of fluid to feed through to flush without a flush machine. So if the trans is shifting ok then it may be that you disconnected the return line which don't have much for pressure. If it is a consern then I would recomend taking it to a good trans shop and have them check the pressure as there is port for them to hook up test equipment to do just that and test what pressure is in each gear and see if it is right. I hope this helps if you have anything else just ask.
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Saturday, April 4th, 2009 AT 9:21 AM
Tiny
KAHAIW
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
If the Ok well that doesnt sound like the flow isnt much of the problem. However the rest of my question was about the slipping and constant up/downshifting between 1500-2200 rpms at hwy speeds. After the fluid change (added lucas) and filter change it almost seemed to be shifting worse. Is this a symptom of a long overdue band adjustment? I have been researching how to do that and feel confident in doing so if it is as easy as just using a torque wrench.
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Saturday, April 4th, 2009 AT 12:53 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
What fluid did you use in the trans? It was either the 7176 or ATF +4 right? If not then you have wrong fluid in it and that will need to be flushed and the correct fluid put back in.
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Monday, April 6th, 2009 AT 9:48 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,331 POSTS
Good answers. Also, the initial problem could be caused by a sticking throttle cable and have nothing to do with internal transmission problems. There may be more problems in it now, and attacking the bands can really add to the misery. Bands don't affect the shift points.

Caradiodoc
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 AT 10:32 AM
Tiny
KAHAIW
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I used ATF+4. My next attempt of adjusting the bands really broke it. As I was putting to much tourqe in the front adjustment a piece of the strut(?) Fell out. Whoops. It's in the shop now 900 to fix and hopefully it was bent to begin with. Your right though bands don't have much to do with shifting. The mechanic said it's more on the electric side of things. Well see I guess. He quoted me 2800 for the rebuild. I shoud just go for it but it's just to much right now and he said the tranny should last up to 150000. That all sound reasonable?
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Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Wow that sucks now have you considered a transmission out of a wrecking or salvage yard. Most will give a warranty and you may be able to find one with lower miles too. This would cut your expense and you can probably do this yourself with some help. Yes it sounds about right for an overhaul. Let me know how it goes.
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Thursday, April 9th, 2009 AT 11:06 AM
Tiny
KAHAIW
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Well its back from the shop. The strut was fixed and it all seems to be fine now. Its not even doing the "slipping" noise at freeway speeds. Probably all it needed was a fluid change from day one. He did say that my clutches all looked good and the tranny seems to be in good shape. I'm a thousand dollars poorer and will triple check my torque wrench from now on. So now every one knows its 1000 dollars if you over tighten your fwd band. I guess all this internet knowledge can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Thanks for the help.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 AT 8:06 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Well glad to hear it is fixed. I hope there are no more problems. If you need anything else just ask. Have a Great Day.
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Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 AT 11:31 PM

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