Speedy Auto > Auto FAQ > Cars > Dodge

Dodge: transmision slips out of overdrive and overheats, dodge ram 1500, dodge trucks


Question
I have a 98 Dodge Ram 1500 I was driving it and it slipped out of overdrive and would not go back in I drove it for 5 miles then the transmision overheated. I let the truck cool down for 10 min started it back up and it was back in overdrive drove for a mile and it kicked back out of overdrive. I let the truck sit for 3 hours and drove it 18miles going 45 miles an hour and nothing happened.  

Answer
Hi Jamie,

I'm sorry to say I'm only a Stealth expert and don't know much about Dodge trucks, but I'll give it a try anyway.

It sounds like the transmission is overheating because the torque converter is doing "too much". I would wonder if you were towing an oversized load and this caused the transmission problem. Normally the overdrive would lock the torque converter so it wasn't doing anything, so it shouldn't cause an overheating situation. If the overdrive lock has failed (bad torque converter?) this would cause the problem you've described.

Since you mentioned that slowing down to a low speed caused the transmission to act normally this implies that it probably is the torque converter OR the transmission cooler is plugged/bad OR one of the pumps is going out and isn't pumping enough transmission fluid around to keep the transmission locked and cooled.

All I can say for sure is to have it checked out by a qualified transmission shop. They probably won't have much trouble diagnosing the problem. You can also look for a Dodge truck expert here and ask the same question.

Bill
91 TT "Old Red"