Dodge Cummins Transmition

[meledward23]

I have a 1996 Dodge Cummins. I believe I have had melt down with the transmission. My mechanic, said up, time for you to get a rebuild. See yeah. My Mechanic won't touch dodge. He has enough business to be very picky.

Anyway, anyone in the Memphis TN area that knows a good independent mechanic that can work on a 96 dodge transmition?

 

[Kendall69]

I don't know if you want the best or you want to save money - but you can't have both.
If it were me, knowing the Cummins will out live us all an dthe tranny is the weakest link - Iwould go with these guys. G&W is their dealer.

G and W Diesel - Engine Parts, Diesel Engines

Restoring the layer structure...

 

[dmccarty]

I can't help you with a mechanic in TN but there is a Dodge website that would likely be helpful. I can't remember the name, something like TD registry or some such. Hopefully you can find it on google or another TBNer will pop up with the URL.

On Ford truck related websites many people are going to very specific companies for replacement automatic transmissions. They have been very happy with the service from some/most of these copmanies. There is one company/guy, BTS, that is in TN somwhere. He is so busy he can be hard to get ahold of but people swear by his work. I think BTS stands for Brian's Transmission Shop. Sooo, maybe I DID help you find a mechanic in TN!

Good Luck!
Dan

 

[Michael_E_Tx]

Hi meledward23. Here is the website of TDR, Turbo Diesel Register. I agree with dmccarty that you are likely to find this site very helpful.

12 Valve Engine and Transmission (1994 - 1998) - TDR Roundtable

The url I've given you is for the engine and transmission forum for 2nd gen CTD's. It is only one of many on this site. I think this is a most valuable resource for any owner of a Cummins Turbo Diesel. My truck is a '97 with a manual transmission. You don't say whether yours is a manual or automatic.

If a manual, you really need to pay attention to the possible solutions for the infamous " disappearing 5th gear" problem.

Good luck. I love my truck.

Mike

 

[meledward23]

Thanks all. Looking at your links.

The truck is an automatic. It is one nice hauling machine. I really enjoy it despite that it is a dodge. And I believe it will keep running for quite some time just needs a little fixing to with a hammer.

 

[NIXON]

Another good Dodge Diesel site is
www.dieseltruckresource.com/

 

[thatguy]

Another good Dodge Diesel site is
www.dieseltruckresource.com/[/QUOTE...ke the TDR site its free... good luck Brian

 

[pappy19]

Best tranny for Dodges is a Suncoast including their torque converter. Don't ever change one w/o the other. Best service and warranty in the USA.

Sun Coast Converters Inc.

 

[BTDT]

How many miles on it? 11 yrs old it's probably out of warranty

Good luck.

 

[jinman]

Thanks all. Looking at your links.

The truck is an automatic. It is one nice hauling machine. I really enjoy it despite that it is a dodge. And I believe it will keep running for quite some time just needs a little fixing to with a hammer.

Don't be too quick to replace or rebuild that transmission. I had mine rebuilt at 160k miles and added a new torque converter. The thing was slipping so bad when cold that I could not climb my driveway's gentle hill . It worked well after the rebuild so I thought nothing more about it.

At 300k, it started to do the same thing again, so I took it into the same shop that rebuilt it the first time. They said it needed another rebuild, but the shop had changed owners and I didn't trust the guy.

The truck acted like a nightmare. It would not shift or not go into overdrive and slip like crazy. I thought a couple of times it was going to fall out of the truck because it shook and shuddered so bad.

After checking all the websites, the only things I found were the TPS and a special electrical shielding that would keep noise out of the thottle position sensor (TPS) circuit. So I replaced the TPS and cleaned the battery terminals. That didn't help much.

Then I started reading about the Power Control Module (PCM) and how it was the computer that controlled the shifting. I read that many of the later models of truck (not '96s like ours) had a reflash and cured the transmission problem.

Hmm...the PCM is really a computer...Hmm...The lights started to come on in my head. I decided to do what I'd do to my PC if it started to really act up. I needed a cold reboot. To perform this, I completely disconnected both battery terminals so there is no power (like turning off a PC). Only with the PCM, you need to do it for several hours (like overnight) because it retains the program for short time disconnects.

The next morning, I got up and reconnected the terminals to the battery and my transmission suddenly started working like a new one. It shifts perfectly and has continued to work for 50k miles. What I needed was a PCM "reboot."

This might not be your problem, but it is sure cheap and easy to check. Make sure you take the opportunity to clean your cables really well while they are disconnected. Take off all the accessory and ground connections and clean them too so you have perfect electrical connections when you reconnect after letting it sit overnight.

If this doesn't fix it, then continue looking for a transmission shop or a new transmission. My guess is that you might be pleasantly surprised.

 

[QueBota]

I will second that, I have a manual in my Dodge Cummins but know five guys running Suncoast, all with more power than stock and the trans just flat out operate the way you want an auto trans to.

They will ship you a reman trans on a pallet that will be a perfect match for the Cummins. You can R&R it yourself or pay someone you trust a couple hundred to do it.

Dave

Best tranny for Dodges is a Suncoast including their torque converter. Don't ever change one w/o the other. Best service and warranty in the USA.

Sun Coast Converters Inc.

 

[meledward23]

Jinman, Thanks, I will give that a try. Your problems seem to be in line with mine. My truck is 11 years old, but only 129,000 miles as we literally only haul our horses, tractors, or hay with it.

Your description of the problem closely matches with what I experience. When cold it has issues. When hot seems to be fine. It has been getting worse for some time. At first it just would take it's sweet little time to shift into gear. (take it out of park, and put it in R or D and it would sit there for 5 or 20 seconds and then suddenly shift). Lately and recently even after getting into gear it is very loose. No hard shiffting jsut very loose. It takes about 5-8 miles of running before it will tighten up. Then it runs like normal.

So I will try the computer thing. I talked to my mechanic, and he did say if I order a tranny from someone such as suncoast he will drop it in for me. So things are looking up one way or another.

 

[jinman]

With slipping only, it may not be the PCM at fault. It could be you need to have the filter changed and a band adjustment. My PCM caused really hard shifting and the truck would refuse to go into overdrive. It's worth a try on disconnecting the batteries, but that could easily be another problem.

Also, ATF3 or ATF4 is the correct choice for Dodge/Chrysler automatics. Dextron-Mercon will absolutely cause a mess.

 

[RedRocker]

I went throught the infamous 5th gear thing 4 time!! Finally put a 6 speed in the 97 and put the 5 speed in my CJ-7.

 

[orezok]

you need to do it for several hours (like overnight) because it retains the program for short time disconnects.

I used to own a transmission shop, sold it about 15 years ago. If the transmission gave out in the 96 Dodge that I own, I wouldn't have it rebuilt or even rebuild it myself. I would buy a remanufactured unit directly from Chrysler. The are a little bit more expensive than aftermarket units, but they come with a full same as new warranty good at any Chrysler dealer nationwide. Many independent shops will install it for you so don't have the dealer do it. There are a lot of oem sellers on the net that will significantly undercut your local dealer.

As far as the quote above, after you disconnect the battery, turn on the key and hold it at the start position for about 30 seconds. This will drain the power from the PCM. You can reconnect and it will be reset. (One of the tricks of the trade).