1998 Dodge Durango – No go after trans rebuild

[quote=”Old_School” post=70608][quote=”Xyius” post=70554]I would call the dealer and see if they can tell you what the normal stall speed is on that truck. Then compare it to the one you bought.

But first I would see if it is actually the stall speed that is causing the problem. Does the car move when you rev it above 2000 rpm? A stall speed of 2000 means that the wheels will not move unless the RPM of the engine is at least 2000 rpm.[/quote]

Well this morning i did a stall speed test per the instructions in the Factory Service Manual… With the e-brake on and my foot holding the brake petal while flooring it i can redline the tack… Reading in the FSM it says if doing that and the RPM’s exceed 2500RPM that the clutches are slipping. Being that the clutches are brand new that leads me to think that the bands are not adjusted properly… thoughts?[/quote]

I definitely like that conclusion. I would bring it back to the rebuilders, tell them what you did and have them fix the problem.

[quote=”sunset” post=70543]It sounds like a torque converter problem-either wrong one or defective. I agree to contact the rebuilder and pick their brain too.[/quote]

I think you really need to read this.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-transmission-problems

[quote=”Old_School” post=70893][quote=”EricTheCarGuy” post=70883]If you rebuilt the transmission yourself and did not measure and adjust the clutch pack clearance then that might be the problem. In order to do a proper transmission diagnosis you would need to check the pressures in the transmission and compare them to factory spec to nail down where to begin your search. It could also be sticking valves in the throttle body, Improperly assembled clutches, misadjusted bands, internal leakage, low or no main line pressure, or a seal that’s not placed correctly. To just go at this blind is a waste and you might as well get a replacement transmission or take what you have to a professional. If you do that, be prepared to pay more if you’ve worked on it yourself previously. Transmission rebuilding is not for the DIY in my opinion as it involves a few special tools and some experience to back them up. More info can be found here. Good luck.

http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/solving-transmission-problems%5B/quote%5D

Thanks Eric for more insight on it…. The transmission and the torque converter where bought threw the dodge dealer. There factory Remans, the only thing that i did was install it as a whole unit because the dealer wanted $1900 in labor to do so.

I did contact Dodge about it today and they told me i have one option. That is to remove it once again and send it back into them.. they will have it looked at and if they find it to be defective on there part will send me a replacement.

I have come to the conclusion that it either has to be someone goofed putting the clutch packs together or it is the torque converter… I did save the old converter just for this very reason. There where 2 reasons i decided to go ahead and replace it. 1) the guy at Mopar said he would not to any transmission work after a failed one without installing a new torque converter and 2) before the transmission failed (lost reverse) when you would be going forward it would lag till i hit 10-15MPH and it be like someone gave it a giant push and everything was fine again. I am just wondering if the old converter really was bad or if that was caused by the fact that some of the forward clutches where bare?

I guess what i am trying to ask is if i send this transmission and converter back to Mopar and the next one comes back and does the same thing is it safe to say they are giving me the wrong converter and i should try putting back in the old one?

I think at this point sending everything back is the best option, just a pain to have to rip it all out again..[/quote]

I’d have to agree, I think someone botched the rebuild. It happens but it shouldn’t. Each transmission built by a reputable shop should be dynoed before it gets sent out to avoid issues just like this. That said, be sure all of your electrical connections are intact. If one is off or there is an electrical issue, it can cause issues with transmission shifting. I guess what I’m saying is that if you’re going to remove the transmission to send it back, make sure everything is hooked up correctly and functioning as it should to be sure you don’t run into the same issue when you install the new one. Good luck and keep us posted.