Transmission issues... doesn't like to move when first started..

[Haggar]

On my dodge (96 3/4 ton, V10 automatic), if its been sitting for a couple weeks, when I start it up, and put it in gear, it doesn't want to move.

Sometimes, revving up high enough(2500 rpm), it'll go. Once it warms up a bit, or really, once it gets going, its fine, shifts 100% normal, no slippage, no laggy shifts. Its just that first time or two, that it doesn't seem to want to go.

I've had a few times where it seems more like a linkage issue, perhaps, where it wouldn't barely move, then with enough throttle, it'd light up the rear tires..


Any thoughts? Just curious. Trans has less than 10k on it..

[KILLER"B"468]

if it is a rebuilt trans, chances are they removed the check ball in the cooler line (the checball gums up and stops cooler flow and burns up a trans). With that being said when the truck sits that long the fluid all drains back into the trans even the convertor. So when it is started it seems like it lags. Since the only time the pump pumps is in neutral or in gear. With those mods if it has them, that is the best thing for that trans. I suggest when you start it, put in gear let it pump for a few seconds and you should be on your way. If you drove it daily it wouldn't drain back as much as when it sits for length's of time.

[Haggar]

Was kinda thinking something like that, since I have over 1000 miles towing a loaded car trailer with it, its always fine, excep those startups.

I *still* need to get it to you for a shift kit..

[PavementPounder]

Mine does the same thing, but not until recently (approx 180k).

[zj kid]

mine does it to...only in the morning when shifting out of park

[GreaseMonkey]

Mine will lag a few seconds sometimes too after sitting for a weekend when shifting out of park. After that it's fine. 55K on mine. Must be a Dodge thing.

[PavementPounder]

From DiRT this morning, in response to a similar post made recently:

This is a common complaint for these trannys. The truck often seems to drain
fluid out of the torque convertor as well as the fact the pump doesn't pump when
set in Park. So even though the truck may be running, the pump won't start
moving the fluid around until in some sort of gear or neutral.

I know that often, our Rams will be slow at first or will shift real hard into
reverse. The advice thats been given on this list, websites all over and techies
is to shift the truck into Neutral after starting it up. This allows the pump to
pump the fluid through the tranny, torque convertor and lines/radiator. After
about 15 seconds, usually it will not bang into reverse and not as sluggish.

With most shift kits, there comes an option for drilling in the valve body or
changing something within the tranny (not sure) that allows for the pump to pump
fluid even while in Park.

[YJFreland]

Its a valve in the valve body. can't remember what its called , but if replaced it will pump fluid in park and all other gears. We put them in all trans that we rebuild because it is such a problem with dodge. I will ask are builder what it is called monday.

[user name]

its probly the manual valve that you change. that sound right? im getting ready to rebuild my 518 soon i think and wouldnt mind knowing where you get them through.

dodge has never circulated fluid in park, 727s are the same way. all other brands circulate fluid in park so you dont notice it as much. just pop it in neutral for a few seconds wile you let the engine warm up a bit and you never notice it again. and it probly is a bad drain back valve from the torque convertor.

[YJFreland]

thats right it is the manual valve. we get are's from gordon automotive and transtar. I think gordon automotive is in detroit.

[Roadhouse]

my ZJ will do the same thing if I let is sit too long without driving.

[Haggar]

Yeah, fro me, where I park it in the back yard, its at a little angle, so the torque converter is higher than level, so it probably drains all out, since sometimes it'll sit for a month or two without being driven.

[GreaseMonkey]

Do any of you also have this problem:
On the freeway, cruise on, it feels like the TCC slips, RPMs shoot up 100-200, and drop back down. The weird thing is that it ONLY does it with the cruise on, but it definately feels trans related, though I'm starting to think otherwise.

[Haggar]

Dunno... never used cruise in this truck. With my 2000 (5.9), I didn't like the way cruise worked when towing.

This truck is solely a work truck, so if i'm on the highway, I'm probably pulling a load.

[BigBlueBurban]

im thinking it's probably line pressure and torque converter fluid. like mentioned above, sitting for a while, fluid will tend to follow gravity. it'll take a few seconds for it to pump up to pressure. same thing happens with my suburban in the morning when it's cold, but only takes about 1-2 seconds before i start to move.

[user name]

if you park it nose up higher than the rear the torque converter is higher in the system than normal that would let even more fluid drain out wile it is parked so it will take even longer to fill back up(start moving) when you put it in gear(or neutral).

[Haggar]

In the future, I'll park nose down.

Took probably 2 minutes to fully feel like it had all the bubbles out of it. I hadn't driven it in 2 months, though. Drove 100% fine after that.

As a side note, with me in it, it tipped the scales at 6880 lbs this morning.

[YJFreland]

Originally Posted by GreaseMonkey

Do any of you also have this problem:
On the freeway, cruise on, it feels like the TCC slips, RPMs shoot up 100-200, and drop back down. The weird thing is that it ONLY does it with the cruise on, but it definately feels trans related, though I'm starting to think otherwise.

your problem is most likely your throttle postion sensor on the motor. I had the same problem on my durango. The trans use the tps to control lock up.

[71jeepster]

Originally Posted by YJFreland

your problem is most likely your throttle postion sensor on the motor. I had the same problem on my durango. The trans use the tps to control lock up.

my 97 does the same thing!! and the same thing everyone elses does at start up, i'd suggest the neutral thing because i already had 1 torque converter go and it filled the tranny full of metal, they wouldn't even give me a warranty if i had it rebuilt, so i got one from the junk yard for 300 bucks and that was 3 years ago!