Tranny overheated

[kfp673]

Hello All,

2018 Ram 2500 6.4L Hemi with 4.10. Heading back from camping today, tow/haul mode on, after a long hill my truck suddenly left "D" and locked itself in 4th gear. I was on the highway doing about 65 so it was not that big of a deal, but I could not make it go back to D, upshift, downshift, nothing. Kept driving 2 miles until the next exit which happened to be mine. Seemed fine until I came to a light in town. It never left 4th. Needless to say it was not pretty trying to start from stop with 10k Lbs trailer in 4th gear. Got it going just to clear the intersection and pulled over where I could. Just as I pulled over a light said "Transmission is too hot". I let it idle for about 5 minutes hoping the trans cooler would cool it. After that 5 minutes the light went off but I was still stuck in 4th. Turned the truck off and re-started and all seemed fine for about 4 miles and then the same thing. I was about 10 miles from home thankfully so I limped home, shutting down and restarting at each light. Almost home the engine light went on. I am in warranty so I'll take it in this week but curious if anyone has seen this issue. Truck pulls the trailer great and never had an issue. It does scream sometimes pulling long hills but never felt like it was struggling. Also strange that when I re-start it shifts fine until it locks in 4th again after 5-10 min. Any thoughts? Thanks!

[pitch]

My '13 Ram 1500 runs approximately 80 degrees above ambient.

[goducks10]

You are correct in that your temps were rising but you didn't know it. Had you had the page with the engine, trans and oil temps and oil psi on, you should've been able to watch the temps rise.
My trans temps run around 168-172 under all normal driving and towing conditions. Only when I get to a steeper grade and it's warm to hot out does the trans temp rise. If my trans temp hit 180+ and I was under normal conditions that would've been a sign that somethings not right.
Anyway nice to see your dealer is getting it fixed.

[kfp673]

rhagfo wrote:
Well May I say it is time you dig into your owners manual, and understand the Information Center. I can see digital engine coolant, transmission fluid, and engine oil temperatures, along oil pressure is one screen below the digital speedometer. This menu is accessed simply by pressing the down arrow on the left spoke of the steering wheel.

Of these things you list trans fluid temp is the one I don't currently have showing. I have my trailer break gauge showing instead but I will add it for sure. That said, the overheat did not happen until long after that limp mode kicked in so not sure what it would have done for me, but I guess it's nice to see if it is creeping up in temp.

[Grit_dog]

If it didn't actually overheat and it was just an electronic issue, then a pan drop and replacing half the fluid is fine.
If it did overheat, I'd want to see the fluid, at a minimum, which I'm guessing you didn't check. And regardless, I'd do a complete fluid replacement.

[goducks10]

rhagfo wrote:
Well May I say it is time you dig into your owners manual, and understand the Information Center. I can see digital engine coolant, transmission fluid, and engine oil temperatures, along oil pressure is one screen below the digital speedometer. This menu is accessed simply by pressing the down arrow on the left spoke of the steering wheel.

X2.

[rhagfo]

Well May I say it is time you dig into your owners manual, and understand the Information Center. I can see digital engine coolant, transmission fluid, and engine oil temperatures, along oil pressure is one screen below the digital speedometer. This menu is accessed simply by pressing the down arrow on the left spoke of the steering wheel.

[dodge_guy]

I'm guessing they put a valve bidy in it. Those have the computer built into it and need to be programmed. Yes they take about 7 qts and is more than enough for a fluid change. I say do the next fluid change at 50k miles.

[kfp673]

Called this morning and asked the service guy to confirm with the tech that the pan does need to be dropped and fluids would be replaced which he did confirm. So they replaced the solenoid pack and also found another part had failed I think he referred to as the trans "brain". Left the receipt out in the truck and forget exactly what it is called, but they replaced that as well. So because it did require the pan drop the fluid replacement was covered which I believe was 7qts. So not a full flush but a typical fluid change which I was happy to hear. Picked it up a few hours ago and it seems to be back to normal. I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks all for the feedback over the past few days!

[dodge_guy]

Fluids are covered under a warranty provided they are being replaced due to the repair. I`ve yet to see any warranty deny fluid if it was being replaced as part of a repair.

And yes I do believe the first "rcomended" service is 100k miles. but as I have said the fluid is cheaper than a trans. and even if you say "well I have a warranty" its still better than sitting on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck. and potentially ruining a vacation. granted this failure isn't the result of a missed fluid change, it just shows that when fluid gets hot it should be replaced.

[deltabravo]

pitch wrote:
Do not assume anything. Tell them that they will change the fluid under warranty.

I've never seen a warranty repair include fluids that were required to complete the repair. The parts replaced are warranty, but not the fluids.

I've been down that road multiple times on various vehicles from different manufacturers.

[rhagfo]

kfp673 wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
The pan needs to be dropped to change the solenoids, basically the entire valvebody. So about 5 qts of fluid will be changed out. And yes I've seen those solenoids fail before.

On my vehicles that towed or hauled I changed the trans fluid every 25k miles. Overkill, maybe, but a trans fluid change is cheaper than a trans. Although the new 8 speed fluid is pricey!!!!! The 6 sped still uses ATF+4

Good info thanks! I just researched and am seeing videos saying this same thing so I guess the service advisor is wrong. Hopefully they change the filter while in there but I guess I should not assume they will. Thanks again!

I don't have my owners manual handy, but I believe the first scheduled service for the 68REF is at 100K+ miles.
I always felt the best practice is to watch the engine and trans temperatures. I have my instrument cluster set on our 2016, when one menu down from digital speedometer is the temperature screen. I watch my temps even where I have a HO Diesel and Aisin trans, and towing about half of towing capacity.

[pitch]

Do not assume anything. Tell them that they willchange the fluid under warranty.

[kfp673]

dodge guy wrote:
The pan needs to be dropped to change the solenoids, basically the entire valvebody. So about 5 qts of fluid will be changed out. And yes I've seen those solenoids fail before.

On my vehicles that towed or hauled I changed the trans fluid every 25k miles. Overkill, maybe, but a trans fluid change is cheaper than a trans. Although the new 8 speed fluid is pricey!!!!! The 6 sped still uses ATF+4

Good info thanks! I just researched and am seeing videos saying this same thing so I guess the service advisor is wrong. Hopefully they change the filter while in there but I guess I should not assume they will. Thanks again!

[ACZL]

Tho I have a Ford, I'm w/ dodgeguy on changing tranny oil every 25-30k. Likewise, I still drop oil every 5k as well Like DG said, "Oil is cheaper than........"

On a side note, this thought came to mind as I was reading the updates and suggestions and all. Why can't mfr's design the software to have the engine fan come on (even tho water temp is ok) if a sensor is telling the computer something is getting hot and to draw more air thru to try and cool things down?

[rhagfo]

kfp673 wrote:
I was not planning on having them change the fluid since it’s only 26k miles, but now you have me thinking. Going to call back in the morning to discuss. And yes it was overheat. I have the larger dash display and it actually says those words “Your Transmission is too hot”. That was on just for a few minutes until I pulled over and it went off. THe regular engine light did go on and stayed on as well but the truck did say the tranny was too hot. I was kind of hoping they had to drop the pan and the service would be included, but they are telling me these solenoids are mounted to the side of the transmission and the pan and tranny do not really need to be touched. Again, I’ll call in the morning to discuss the fluid change.

Thanks again all!

Well if you use the digital speedometer, the engine temp, trans temp, oil temp, and oil pressure is one menu down. I find it hard to believe you have had this truck for two and a half years and didn’t look into the information center options.