Strange Tranny problem

[TexAg]

Just found this place and thought you guys might be able to help me before I go drop a few grand on some mechanic.

I bought a 2003 Dodge Cummins 2500 4x4 automatic with Goodyear Wrangler 305/70R17 to pull my tractor back and forth to the shop when it needed work and to be able to drive out into areas the 2 wheel drive 1500 couldn't go. This is my first Dodge, first diesel, and first 4x4 so I'm about as lost as I could be.

My problem seems very complicated to me but hopefully you guys on here can clear it up quickly for me. It began with minor annoyances such as it didn't seem to shift properly from 2nd to 3rd while driving to work unless I let off the go pedal a bit, then it would shift and move on down the road. I didn't think anything of it and just assumed it was something particular with the Dodge.

Next, I was on a trip out to west Texas and coming home in an ice storm. When I reached a fairly substantial hill, I noticed the truck started slowing down. I wasn't pulling anything and the roads were clear by then. I turned off the cruise control and stepped on the gas to get on up the hill. This is when the current problem first showed up. The transmission shifted out of OD and increased the rpms but there was no response from the transmission. Just the hum of the engine got a little louder. The rpm gauge went to 2500 and would not go past there at all. Pedal all the way to the floor and I'm still losing speed. When it finally dropped down to about 40 mph, I shifted down to 2nd manually to see if there was something wrong with 3rd and the problem continued. I finished climbing the hill at about 40 mph / 2500 rpm. This continued until I got home but everything went back to normal the next morning.

Up until a couple of weeks ago there were minor occurrences of the same problem but nothing I could get to repeat. These last two weeks things have gotten worse. Today I was going about 60 mph down a flat road and pulled around to pass and when I stepped on the pedal to pass, I get the same downshift, rmp to 2500 and nothing power wise. Just like I was coasting. Had to pull back in behind the vehicle again and slowly coax the truck back up to 60 mph. This problem is going to get me killed. I pulled over and thought something might be stuck. I shifted into 4x4 low and drove about 20 feet forward and back, then to 4x4 high and the same 20 feet back and forth. Even when starting from a stop, if I stomp on the pedal for a quick take off, there is no power at all and this thing would spin all the tires when I got it. One other thing that I noticed that I'm not sure if it is related but when going about 40 mph to 60 mph and I let off the accelerator the rmps stay at about 1500 and don't drop down to the normal idle of about 800 or 900 until the speed drops down below 40 or so.

I know this was very wordy but there was a lot to explain that I have no idea where to start. Any takers?

Just spent $1400 to replace the entire dash so the wife is more upset than anyone at this point.



TexAg

[rnb_cattle]

Not sure, but you might want to adjust the bands. There is procedure on here on how to do it. Just search for 48re band adjustment or something like it. (I am sure the experts will chime in soon so just have patience)

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2005 white Big Horn Ed. Quad-C, Auto, Dually 325/610 S-Jr., 5umBaldwin & 2um Fleetguard Fuel Filter system.

[smkstk]

sorry to say but i think with the pedal to the medal climbing up that hill might have screwed you. how does the trans fluid look/smell? get some new stuff to compare it too. if it smells bad and is really dark, you probably burned your clutches/bands, which means, rebuild time, and if it's rebuild time DO NOT go cheap, get an updated valve body and torque converter and heavier duty bands and clutches. but like rnb said, the bands might to just need adjustment.

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[Buck08]

IMO, sounds like possibly a engine problem. Trans downshifts when needed under hard accel. but no power. Does it redline or just sit at 2500 rpm?. If it was the trans, wouldnt it just be slipping and letting the rpms go sky high?

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07 silver Mega cab 5.9 6 sp smartyjr and some other stuff

[bobcat67]

Originally Posted by Buck08

IMO, sounds like possibly a engine problem. Trans downshifts when needed under hard accel. but no power. Does it redline or just sit at 2500 rpm?. If it was the trans, wouldnt it just be slipping and letting the rpms go sky high?

these 48RE's are junk i thought i had an engine problem with my pickup to, but in fact it was a burned up tranny problem, similar symptoms to what he's having right now only mine quit almost completely, my engine would only rev up to 2k rpm's but the truck wouldn't move either, i tried to manually shift it from 1st to 2nd, didn't really help, it would clunk up into 2nd occasionally when doing this, I hate to say it but i hope it's just the bands needing adjustment but to me it sounds like the tranny is shot

[TexAg]

Something I just thought of....

After the first trip with the long hill climb, I did take the truck into the shop and they checked the transmission then changed the fluid and filters. That was when it started acting better. I checked the fluid tonight and there was no burned smell and I couldn't really tell color since it was dark and I was using a cheap led flashlight. Another thing that might come up is the odometer is at 126,000.
Under the hard acceleration, the rpms peak at about 2500 and just sit there.

TexAg

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Last edited by TexAg : 11-16-2008 at 08:11 PM.

[runninlean]

Did you buy this truck around Tomball TX? Is it metalic grey and have a lift?

Most of the 48RE's will burn 2nd and 3rd gear clutches even with stock power. If you bought the truck im thinking of you will need a tranny.

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(runninscared) 06Silver,sport,QC, 2500, 4x4, 48re Built By Relentless, 3.73, BDTD/CL Beta, Dr. P stage 3, 62/12, small shot, S&B intake, Quad BF, Relentless LP, Magnaflow,Dune Grappler's 285/55/R20, 652 rwhp and 1266 tq 7/23/08 12.476 @ 108.96 mph 10/10/08

[rnb_cattle]

Originally Posted by bobcat67

these 48RE's are junk i thought i had an engine problem with my pickup to, but in fact it was a burned up tranny problem, similar symptoms to what he's having right now only mine quit almost completely, my engine would only rev up to 2k rpm's but the truck wouldn't move either, i tried to manually shift it from 1st to 2nd, didn't really help, it would clunk up into 2nd occasionally when doing this, I hate to say it but i hope it's just the bands needing adjustment but to me it sounds like the tranny is shot

why do you say they are junk? I see you run the Bully Dog Triple Dog downloader w/ Crazy Larry. Seems a little harsh for a stock tranny. The 48re is 12 times better than the autos before it. and I assume the 68re will be hands down better than the ones before it. Just curious..

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2005 white Big Horn Ed. Quad-C, Auto, Dually 325/610 S-Jr., 5umBaldwin & 2um Fleetguard Fuel Filter system.

[barnhill1]

i think if its an 03 its a 47re . i bought an 05 2 weeks ago and friday had to take it in to get pressure solenoid and transducer replaced because it kept shifting back and forth to 2nd & 3rd dont know if this will help but it tsb#21-009-07 call the dealer or check the 0648re thread on this forum

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05 dodge 2500 4x4 48re , automet. gages, quad boost fooler, /no silencer ring, bully dog/crazy larry,stage 3 afe air intake

[S. KONDOLAY]

Alot of the 48RE's burn up 2nd and 3rd gear as a result of governor issues, we used to change them with new OEM governor solenoids, until we started offering the new Billet governor assemblies became available which has had a 100% success rate so far, but before you waste any money I would do a governor pressure test.

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[rattledbycummins]

i had a problem with my 1999 and th trans seemed like it was holding everything back, like u could matt the pedal but it was like the engine could not increase rpm. i found out that the problem started with the tanny filter being plugged. i changed filter and fluid and it seemed good but had no overdrive. at that point it had desroyed the overdrive planitary, burned the clutches and cost a lot of money to have a previously built trans with 26000 on it to have to be rebuilt again. id start with the trans filter and fluid and pray u didnt burn the clutches together.

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1999 Ram 2500, Edge Comp, Stage 5 Injectors, HX 40, K and N intake, BD Fuel Pump, Glowshift Boost Pyro Trans Temp guages, Low fuel pressure warning light, 5 inch straight pipe dual Exhaust, Built Trans, 2'' leveling kit .

[garyoja]

is it that big of a deal to put hevyer clutches and bands in a trans that is working well if you are woried about the new power wrecking it ???? sory for jacking your post

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