Tranny issues and four diff trouble codes.

my05hammer · Post by **my05hammer** » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:19 pm

chefred112 wrote:sub'd... am curious what your outcome is..have swapped my tranny out several times and can't put a finger on what's causing my issue's...I know the very first time I had one of the original ds's from day one and it caused havoc to alot of tranny's early on which seemed to get fixed with an updated crom at the time...but I'm scared to death to update my tuner now, I'll have to check what the current crom is..

IMHO the 545RFE is just not meant to handle even the stock 390hp of the newest Hemis. I felt the shuttering before I even used a tuner on the truck. I bought the truck new, it was delivered with 176 miles on it (delivery from Indiana), and it has downshifted funny (shutter when cycling down from OD to 2alt) since day one. I hear that there is a performance set of clutches available from PATC (www dot transmissioncenter dot net), but I also have read that the 2009 and up Rams have these upgraded clutches. Who knows... the first chance I get... I'm getting a Richmond 6 speed.

my05hammer · Post by **my05hammer** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:39 pm

Ok. I took it to another dealer, didn't say anything about being refused warranty or tuning it. They told me today that the tranny has either a bad piston seal, or clutches on 4th and/or 5th gears. They have ordered the parts and are repairing the tranny. I put a note in the truck when I dropped it off sunday night stating not to do any work that would cost me any money and I have not signed any work orders yet. I am assuming that it will all be covered under warranty and that they have not contacted the dealer refusing to cover the work under warranty. There has been no mention of it.

Anyway, as I suspected there must have been a defect in the tranny because since day one when I took delivery, the tranny has shuttered when downshifting under full throttle at 50-60 mph. But the first dealer didn't want to hear this and wanted to charge me for the repairs stating that I tuned it and that voided the warranty.

You guys that are experiencing the same full throttle downshift shutter between 50-60 mph in 2009/2010's might want to start looking in this direction. I spoke with the mechanic doing the work at the dealer that ended up covering it under warranty, and without even pulling the tranny or dropping the pan he seemed really confident that it was the seals and or clutches for 4th and/or 5th gear. This tells me that there may be some internal bulletins within Dodge and that this mechanic is well aware of what the problem is... its not related to the tuner that's for sure.

I will keep you posted with how this pans out.

Post by **mikel** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:53 am

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

Glad you got taken care of

my05hammer · Post by **my05hammer** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 10:45 am

OK, Just heard back from a very good dodge tech at the forum I am a member of, and he has stated that the under drive seal is a known issue. I explained the problems I am experiencing with the tranny and I am assuming that this under drive seal may be part of the shuttering issue when downshifting into passing gear from 50-60 mph.

my05hammer · Post by **my05hammer** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 4:06 pm

The dealer said that there was a problem with the valve body and they are replacing it. I am still skeptical that this may not fix the issue.

Post by **mikel** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 4:12 pm

my theory has always been based on the converter, but I suppose the valve body could be the culprit, maybe it is allowing the gear to disengage prematurely causing the shudder?

my05hammer · Post by **my05hammer** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 5:56 pm

Update: Just went and looked at the truck. They pulled the tranny and it is all torn down other than what looks like the last set of clutches back near the tail shaft housing. Everything else is out and on the bench. They showed me a set of clutches and steels that were completely burnt. They were around 8 inches in dia and I do not know if they were from 1st, 2prime, or 2alt. But they are working on it like flies on stink. I am happy.

MikeL, your comment about the TC is an interesting one could you explain? You have my interest peaked. What is is about the TC that raises your suspicions about it? Now, the shop has ordered a new valve body for my tranny, but I did put a TransGo kit in it and I am wondering if they are just changing it just because they noticed it was modified? Or did it really have a 4th gear solenoid issue like the trouble code indicated? Who knows. The only give-away that I modified it would be the fact that it had a thicker (better) spring retention plate and I bought my own replacement cap screws that were of better quality that stock and were black anodized vs the factory natural finish.

They said it should be done by tomorrow afternoon.

Post by **mikel** » Wed Sep 14, 2011 6:02 pm

the way the issue is described just sounds to me like the converter locking and unlocking, which could be in the factory programming, or could be a hardware issue...

my05hammer · Post by **my05hammer** » Thu Sep 15, 2011 12:03 am

mikel wrote:the way the issue is described just sounds to me like the converter locking and unlocking, which could be in the factory programming, or could be a hardware issue...

Ahh... I see what you're saying. I almost with it had been a TC problem too... I would have upgraded to the R/T TC. It stalls a little higher (I think).

my05hammer · Post by **my05hammer** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 3:32 pm

CRAP!! The tranny is wasted again!! I drove it a total of 100 miles and had to limp it into the dealer today. And I mean it LIMPED in there. I parked it in the wrong stall and wanted to move it over one spot... no reverse, no forward gears and a strong smell of tranny fluid. On the envelope with my keys in it I wrote that I want the Dodge Warranty Gods to get me a new tranny and a new TCM. We'll see what happens.

white_lightning · Post by **white_lightning** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 4:36 pm

man that sucks. 100 miles and total toast to the point of no reverse or 1st is messed up.

probably needs a new TCM. bad TCM could destroy the tranny in short order.

my05hammer · Post by **my05hammer** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 10:56 pm

Yea. I tried to tell them that before they rebuilt it the first time last week. Good thing its a toy, cause this will be week 2 without it.

You know... I am not too upset over this, but man, its this kind of stuff that is going to kill Dodge. The tranny and the TCM should have been replaced the first time around.

white_lightning · Post by **white_lightning** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 3:56 pm

x2, Dodge dealer should have fixed it right the 1st time!

keep us posted.

my05hammer · Post by **my05hammer** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:33 pm

No doubt. It shoulda been fixed the first time. I'll keep you guys posted. So far though no word as of yet from the dealer.

Tranny issues and four diff trouble codes.

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