Hey guys, new here! Quick intro, Dad has always been into Dodge. I've never been a big car geek, but I like tinkering here and there, and ended up owning Dodge's for the last 10 years due to my dad.
Anyways, here with a problem (surprise)
09 Dakota 4.7 Big Horn
Engine Code: P0868, Low Transmission Pressure.
Symptoms: Rough idle, occasional a "soft" stall when coming to a stop (almost like the RPMs just drop at the same rate throughout the stop until it hits 0. Sometimes I cant even tell it stalled), when I let the truck warm up for more than 10 minutes its extremely sluggish and almost feels like it's starting in 3rd gear. This has been an issue for ~1 year and symptoms haven't worsened.
Known facts:
133K Miles
Full Carfax report shows there was a Transmission Input Speed Sensor replaced, as well as "PCM Reprogrammed"
No other major services aside from yearly tune ups... also no records of a Trans fluid change or flush, ever.
My boss says the first thing I should do is get a transmission fluid change (including filters) and work my way up from there. After some research, apparently I really shouldn't due a full flush due to the high mileage and the lack of records of any transmission maintenance..
It works out that I will come into the money to get a new transmission come March, so worst case that is what I will do..
Anybody have any arguments against my boss, or any other pointers? Consider me completely mentally car defunct.
Definitely change out the trans fluid, just drain & fill, not a flush. Make sure you use Mopar filters, aftermarket filters can cause issues, there are two filters in the 545RFE trans. The P0868 code could be cause by an improperly installed filter.
10-4, this is on hold for a week or two due to finances.. but I just flagged a P0841 "Transmission Fluid Pressure Sensor" while waiting for my truck to heat up after the bad freeze we just had last night in the southeast. So its compounding whatever it is 🙄. Fluid levels are normal, and fluid is a darkish pink. Needs to be changed for sure, but seems like it's not as simple as bad fluid, I'll be back on here I'm sure.
If your going to do a transmission fluid change on a vehicle that has not had one, my advice is to do fresh fluid and both filters and do them twice in one week. Do the change, and drive it daily for a week (I would say around 100 miles tops) then do the change again both fluid and filters.
Because transmission fluid is a detergent, fresh fluid gets into the trans for the first time in 100,000+ miles, its going to breakdown the built up crud and run it through the filters. The filters are going to get filled up really quick. What kills transmissions after a fluid change is the clogged filters that filled up due to the fresh clean transmission fluid breaking up all the crud.
The down side to doing it twice in one week is the cost of a fluid and filters + Labor cost
The downside of NOT doing it twice in one week is rolling the dice of the transmission being damaged due the fluid clensing the transmission and the filters getting clogged. Which a new transmission would cost MORE than the cost of a fluid and filters change.
And then in the end, It really depends on the current health of the transmission and if damage has already occurred. So there is no guarantee the method will work, its just an opportunity to rescue the transmission from damage due to years of neglect.
This method has always worked for me, and I have known many people who have done this method and had no future transmission issues. so I am compelled to believe it works.
This method has always worked for me, and I have known many people who have done this method and had no future transmission issues. so I am compelled to believe it works.
I actually did this, but three times, with my Honda Odyssey when its transmission started acting up...3 drain-and-fills. And, I drain and refill the transmission reservoir every 15K miles. Their transmissions are notoriously more finicky. But, since they don't have a filter to change and you drain the fluid like you would drain the oil (literally using a drain plug), it's very easy to do as part of routine maintenance. I haven't had any problems with the transmission since then. I would certainly give air_ram's idea a try.
The intention is to do it soon… 1week of daily driving is what I always did… 100 miles should be close to 1 week driving. I threw that out there for reference… you don’t want to drive long… if you do it between 75-100 miles it will be a good window to shoot for
Thanks.
But what I meant to ask, is 100,000 without a fluid/filter change the line you would set for transmission maintenance neglect? I am not into neglecting fluid/filter changes, but I ask because I have a Chevy pickup I got around 86k & I have no idea what had been done & not done (I changed the fluid & filter relatively soon after I got it) & the same with my 48k Dakota that I would bet a lot of money that a fluid/filter change had never been performed on. ( I did that one at 53k plus.)
Personal opinion...maintenance neglect for any fluid is letting it go for 50-100% longer than the manufacturer recommends without doing it. So, if the manufacturer recommends a transmission fluid change at 50K and you wait until 100K, then it has been neglected. If the manufacturer doesn't recommend a change until 100K and you're doing it at 100K, then it hasn't been neglected.
Of course, there are usually conditions for each recommendation. My truck has different recommendations for someone that is towing and hauling a lot versus someone that is just using it as a daily driver. If I had just bought it used, then I would assume that the previous owner used it to tow and haul a lot and follow that schedule, at least initially, just to be safe.
subscriber to 30000 miles transmission/transfer case fluid change here too, regardless what any manual say. do the double fluid/filter change and cooling line return use it to flush all fluid during second change prior to second filter change. do not forget brake/ steering fluid flush.
my .02 worth
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