My trans left me stranded in town today. I was after a belt for the spreader in the grain bin, all was going fine. I took a right to go onto US Hwy 14, all is well. I see a cop coming up behind me so I take it easy and stay at about 50 mph. Cop shutes by, I proceed to speed up to 60 mph. I started noticing a lack of power. The wind was fairly strong outside but not too strong. Ok, accelerator goes down engine revs up but speed does not increase. I'm beginning to wonder about this. At this time I still figure it's the strong winds but I was beginning to get tense and nervous. Find out trans isn't in lockup mode and I was going 50-60. Pushed OD button, nothing changed, pushed it again nothing changed. I'm coming into town and slow her down to 30, try maintaining speed and I was struggling to with the engine well above 2000 rpm. Coasted into a camper dealer and park it, trans temp isn't even registering. Get out and check the fluid, with the truck in park and engine off, shows overfull like it should, color is reddish brown but not burnt or hot. Started the truck up again, put it in drive and it drives for 15 ft, then engine free revs again. Shut truck off, wait five minutes, start truck up again and it is driveable for another 15 ft. Did the same thing over again once while I was waiting for a ride back home.
Ended up going down to Chrysler where they basically quized me until they found something that I did wrong. I told them I used Dextron III with a good name-brand friction modifier at the last fluid change since a parts store told me that I could use Dextron III with no problems, and I couldn't find ATF 3 anywhere locally. Darn parts stores...
I've ran that for probably 4000 miles with no problems or symptoms, not even a shudder or vibration. They put the scanner on it and found a code that said "High Clutch Volume Index" which they thought to be something wrong with the clutches and definately an internal problem. Of course they keep on blaming the problem on the fluid, which I can understand why, but they won't go into further detail.
They gave me prices for rebuilt transmissions. One from Chrysler was $1900 with a 3 yr/36k mile parts and labor warranty. Also there was one from Auto Service Center (ASC) for $1829 with a 2 year warranty and $1695 with a 1 year warranty. They figured the labor would be around $500 and thought that I wouldn't be able to get out the door with any less than $2700 minimum.
Thought about it for a few minutes and called them back. Gave them my credit card number for the bill of putting the scanner on it and told them to park it out back for me to come and tow it home.
I can't justify paying for a whole stock rebuilt trans when who knows what is wrong, and i'd be getting a plain-jane rebuilt trans. I want to know what happened inside of there. Transmission companies, be expecting a call from me! If nothing else, i'll rebuild it myself but i'll have no part at getting a full rebuilt trans from Chrysler.
Does anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong or have any suggestions for parts to put in it? I'm planning on a converter and rebuild kit for sure, but debating on a update kit and a valve body or shift kit as well. Who knows, maybe there will only be one thing wrong or maybe the whole trans will be wiped and require full replacement.
-Trever-
Turns out after we get the new belt for the bin home, we end up putting the old one back on again since the new one is too long. Don't know whether to say the belt brought me good luck or bad luck!
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