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Transmission issue and engine damage

SarcasticDwarf

SarcasticDwarf

Diamond Member
The truck (98 ram 1500 4x4, 86000 miles) I purchased from a family member had a new (refurb) transmission installed a couple months ago at the dealership. It has been driven about 2000 miles and had no problems.

Today while driving I dropped it out of overdrive at 30mph and then put it back in a minute later. I then drove at about 45mph for 5 minutes (including one full stop at a sign).

I then get on the highway accelerating fairly hard. A minute later I realize that the engine seems to sound a bit loud. I glance down and at 70mph it is showing 4100RPMs (redline is 5000). I continue driving until the next exit and pull off, checking the engine (put in park).
Total time at 4100RPM was about three minutes. I did not notice anything wrong and got back on and it stayed at just under 2,000RPM the rest of the way home.

Now I figure I HAD to have redlined it for at least 20 seconds while merging (I was not aware of a problem at that point). What are the chances I damaged something? My own guess is that it never reengaged overdrive (though the status light indicated that it did)


EDIT: I will be taking it to the dealer later this week. Does everyone else think that it is something to do with either the new transmission or its installation?
 
You probably didn't do any major damage. Since it's fairly new it should have a rev limiter to keep the engine from exploding.
 
At 2000 miles it's broken in, so what's the problem exactly? You had it at redline while it was shifting through the gears, it's auto so it won't overrev in lower gears, and then ran it at a high RPM for a while? One dragstrip run will do more than that.
 
Originally posted by: jagec
At 2000 miles it's broken in, so what's the problem exactly? You had it at redline while it was shifting through the gears, it's auto so it won't overrev in lower gears, and then ran it at a high RPM for a while? One dragstrip run will do more than that.
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Something was seriously wrong. I was driving steadily at 70mph at over 4,000RPM. It should NOT have been that high. My thought was that something is wrong with the overdrive selector, where it never engaged in overdrive or something (although if that is the case, I don't think it could get to 70mph...nevermind then). Regardless, it was running at RPMs that were far higher than normal.
 
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
The truck (98 ram ...
Click to expand...

I got this far before I stopped reading. Don't get me wrong, I like Chrysler / Dodge, but they CAN NOT build / design an automatic transmission to save their lives 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
The truck (98 ram ...
Click to expand...

I got this far before I stopped reading. Don't get me wrong, I like Chrysler / Dodge, but they CAN NOT build / design an automatic transmission to save their lives 🙁
Click to expand...

Well yeah, note the fact that the transmission was just replaced at 84,000 miles (just blew with no warning while on the highway).
 
Your engine is fine. Even if you were not in overdrive though, the engine shouldn't have been revving that high. I've taken my car out of overdrive at speed before and the revs really didn't increase all that much above when it was in overdrive...maybe 500 rpms.
 
Originally posted by: Mike2002
Your engine is fine. Even if you were not in overdrive though, the engine shouldn't have been revving that high. I've taken my car out of overdrive at speed before and the revs really didn't increase all that much above when it was in overdrive...maybe 500 rpms.
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Depends on the gearing and how fast you were going. Dropping out of OD on my old dodge 4spd neon at 70mph could raise it 1-2k.

But yeah, you generally dont want to bang it against the rev limiter like that.
 
Since it is a '98 Ram, it either has a 318 or a 360 (unless you have a 3.9 liter V6!!). Those engines are unbreakable. You won't hurt one of those by touching the rev limiter.
 
You have a tranny problem, sounds like, but your engine is fine. Don't sweat it.

Before you take it to get checked out, try and pin down exactly how to make this problem repeat. If it only happened this once, and the tech can't duplicate it, there will likely be nothing they can do.
 
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
Originally posted by: Black88GTA
Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf
The truck (98 ram ...
Click to expand...

I got this far before I stopped reading. Don't get me wrong, I like Chrysler / Dodge, but they CAN NOT build / design an automatic transmission to save their lives 🙁
Click to expand...

Well yeah, note the fact that the transmission was just replaced at 84,000 miles (just blew with no warning while on the highway).
Click to expand...

yeah, but it was replaced with the same unit at best, or even a generic unit or rebuilt unit, which would be even worse (is it even possible to get worse?). never underestimate the power of mopar trannies to fail you!
 
Could just be a sensor went flukey and it went into limp mode for awhile. 4100rpms sounds kind of high for 3rd gear even on the highway and the limp home gear is usually second which would rev the piss out of it on the interstate. Dodge has built some of the best automatic trans ever, they just haven't had much luck with over drive automatics.
 
Heh, my car runs 3500 RPMs on the freeway normally. (Damn 4.10 FD)

Anyhow, are you sure the O/D light was off (or however it indicates it is using O/D?) If so, there might be something wrong with the transmission again. However, it might also be that the torque converter is not locking, but I doubt it would be that high. I wouldn't worry too much about the engine, though. You should definitely have the place that installed the trans pressure test it, if I am reading this correctly, though.
 
Originally posted by: Captain Howdy
Heh, my car runs 3500 RPMs on the freeway normally. (Damn 4.10 FD)

Anyhow, are you sure the O/D light was off (or however it indicates it is using O/D?) If so, there might be something wrong with the transmission again. However, it might also be that the torque converter is not locking, but I doubt it would be that high. I wouldn't worry too much about the engine, though. You should definitely have the place that installed the trans pressure test it, if I am reading this correctly, though.
Click to expand...

I am absolutely positive the light went off.
 
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