Anyone knowledgeable on the Aisin (Ram) 6-speed?

[carringb]

One of my trucks ('08 Sterling 4500) is showing some shifting errors under light to moderate throttle. Heavy throttle it generally shifts fine. Intermittently it will miss the 1->2 shift, and hold 1st until it hits the fuel cutoff at 3200 RPM, then it makes the shift. I've also have it not make the 2->1 downshift at WOT. Also had it once rev up like its in neutral, and slam into 1st, as I was trying to pull away from a stop sign on a mild grade.

Fluid looks good. We run the recommended Mopar stuff. We change the fluid and filter every 7,500 miles (standard practice for us on all of our class 2-5 trucks). No codes.

Has anyone else experienced this? There are 300-some data channels for the transmission. We can monitor 12 at a time. Any suggestions which one to monitor?

Truck has close to 70,000 miles. Empty weight is around 10,800 with full fuel. Loaded weight is usually less than 16,000 pounds combined. This is a recent development in the last month. Yes, the transmission has alway had some shifting quirks, but this is new, and its twin does not do this.

Thanks!

[USMarine0369]

No doubt.

[carringb]

Sad part is that it had to get to that point to get warranty support. If they would have done the turbo cleaning a few months prior when we asked for it, I'm pretty sure Daimler would not have had to buy us a new turbo and transmission.

[USMarine0369]

Good to go! Thanks for the update!

[carringb]

Transmission was swapped with new after waiting 3 weeks because it was on back order. Dealer couldn't really give us a why because it was metal everywhere. Best we decided was the sticking turbo was simply causing the motor to make more torque than the trans could handle. The replaced the turbo at the same time also under warranty.

[USMarine0369]

I know it's been a while, but what was the outcome? Thanks!

[carringb]

BTW - we are still struggling to get warranty work done. The turbo replacement was denied under warranty. Dealer is still dragging their feet on the transmission replacement, so we can't tell what is going on with that. We may tow the truck back to our shop later this week if progress isn't made. We could have already done the turbo and dropped the trans ourselves, in the amount of time the FL dealer has sat on it.

[carringb]

Ford sold its Heavy truck line completely to Daimler, including production tooling and equipment, and the designs to Daimler. Production moved to Portland, OR and St. Thomas Ontario. The exception was the Bullet (Ram) and the 360 (Mistubishi Fuso). Those were re-badged Daimler models. But everything else in the Sterling line was a Ford truck at one point. The only change Daimler made was changing the blue "Ford" oval to a black "S" oval.

Ford:


Sterling:


Sterling was discontinued because future models would be re-badge FL brands, and they did not want to dilute the brand by having identical trucks with different nameplates.

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

I didn't know that, I drove a L9000 Aeromax HD wrecker for a buddy of mine but it said Ford on it. I was told and appears incorrectly that Ford sold the dies and tooling to Sterling as they no long wanted to build class 8 tractors.

The body dies where all built here in Toledo by Modern Tool and Die.

Don

[blt2ski]

Don,

The Sterling line was Ford Louisville line of trucks before FL bought that part of fords MDT/HDT lineup. Ford kept the F series up to 750's.

Marty

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

I know when Ford droped the class 8 tractor line at their Kentucky plant they where having Sterling build them for them for a short time. Then they dropped them all together and allowed Sterling to take over the Aeromax line. Never know Ford had any ownership in Sterling though.

Also I have never seen a Sterling Ram sold anywhere other then at a Dodge, Freightliner or Sterling dealer but I will take you at your word thar Ford dealers could sell them.

Don

[carringb]

SoCalDesertRider wrote:
Since the Sterling is mechanically and otherwise the same as a Dodge cab/chassis truck of the same year, '07-'10, why not take it to a Dodge dealer for the tranny work?

Dodge dealers won't do Sterling warranties. Already tried that.

Still haven't heard why the tranny failed, but the Freightliner dealer also decided the turbo was beyond just needing a cleaning, and that is being replaced too.

It's a good thing it happened in our slow month. Could have hurt much more if it was any other time of the year. Also, one of our '05's we recently retired is still in the yard so we put it back into service.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Since the Sterling is mechanically and otherwise the same as a Dodge cab/chassis truck of the same year, '07-'10, why not take it to a Dodge dealer for the tranny work?

[carringb]

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
OK I have to ask........the Sterling is just a rebaged Ram......so why pay more for the same thing? Kind of like someone buying a VW minivan.....it's just a rebaged Chrysler Town and Country with one less year warranty. Just does not make since to me.

Don

Actually, the Sterlings tended to sell for for less since not everyone knew they existed, so they sat on lots longer. Our '08 Sterling didn't enter service until September '09. And.... most Sterlings dealer were Ford dealers, so there was a higher chance of pulling a buyer away from a Ford. shopper. (Don't forget Sterling was Ford before Daimler bought the line).

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

OK I have to ask........the Sterling is just a rebaged Ram......so why pay more for the same thing? Kind of like someone buying a VW minivan.....it's just a rebaged Chrysler Town and Country with one less year warranty. Just does not make since to me.

Don