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Brandon
Dodge Dakota
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10/18/2007
13:56:41
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 Subject: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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I have posted about my truck before, but here is my situation again. 1993 Dakota Ext. Cab, 4x4, 3.9L with 176,000 on it. Sometimes when I start the truck after it has been sitting a while(like over 4 hours) the truck doesn't want to shift properly. It is fine at like 25mph for a while, but if I come to a stop, it tries to die. Then, it also doesn't want to shift into OD. One day, I tried hitting the gas up and down really quick while driving to make the truck jerk and that seemed to knock it into OD quicker than it would have on its own. If I don't do that, eventually after driving down the highway at 65 w/out overdrive, it will just shift into OD on its own.
People on here before were talking about the torque converter locking and not locking up properly. I am wondering if it could be that the fluid and filter could need to be changed? Could something be stuck in there causing it not to shift? I have owned the truck for about 50,000 miles now and I haven't changed the fluid or filter since I had it since the fluid doesn't look bad and is never low and never had a problem before.
So, I am planning on doing a fluid and filter change before winter and was wondering what I should use for ATF? I heard you guys talk on here before about ATF-4 and was wondering if that is what I should go with. Anybody have any other opinions or brands that I should go with?
Thanks.
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Lee
Dodge Dakota
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10/18/2007
15:49:07
|  RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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I have heard about people having trouble if they use non-Mopar brand trans fluid. Marketing hype or not, that's all I use and everything's fine at 87,000 miles. I have changed the fluid / filters twice because that's the frequency it's supposed to be done according to the manual (2000 2WD Dakota).
On the OD issue, I read somewhere that the trans will not shift into OD until it's warmed up to a certain temperature. Mine has never done that as it never gets that cold here, but I am wondering if your trans might have a faulty sensor. I could be way off base because of the differences in years, but it's something to consider.
Lee
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Curly
Dodge Dakota
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10/18/2007
16:43:35
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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for what its worth
most WalMarts now carry Mopar atf4
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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10/18/2007
17:36:13
|  RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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Message:
Sounds like a pump pressure issue within the
tranny.
Lee is correct about the tranny will not go into
OD untill it's warm enough. Colder weather coming
on in most states and we all notice this starting
to happen. We tend to forget about it during the
summer months.
Glad to hear Wallie world selling Mopar ATF+4
also. Gonna check it out..
Good luck, Brandon.. Please let us all know what
you find out.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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10/18/2007
19:51:00
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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Auto parts stores carry it as well. I usually go to advance just because it's close, I know they carry it in their brand too.
- Dan M
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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10/19/2007
08:34:47
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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It's the solenoid pack on the right side of the valve body. Drop the pan and see if the screws are loose that hold it. This prevents release of lockup and prevents OD engagement if loose. If not loose, dealer has new solenoids for $60. You can pop the shift lever into 2nd when decelerating at 25 mph to release lockup and prevent stalling in the meantime.
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Lee
Dodge Dakota
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10/19/2007
15:29:17
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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Since we're on the topic of transmissions, I would like to share an experience I had. I do all my own maintenance and as many of the repairs as I am capable of. I enjoy working on vehicles, and I feel that I can do a more thorough job than a quickie joint where they want to get you in and out as quickly as possible. You know those "28 point inspections" the quickie places advertise (and charge for)? I actually DO THAT on my vehicles. I look at everything. Sometimes I even spot something wrong before it becomes a major problem. The latest instance was a leaking rear brake cylinder I discovered when I was rotating the tires (inspect brakes and bearings at the same time). The one I really want to talk about is the transmission.
My Dak is a 2WD, but it sometimes gets treated like a 4WD. While I was removing all the bolts to change the trans fluid one time, I noticed that the paint had been scratched on the trans pan. After I removed it from the truck, I noticed that the scratch was also a small dent, and the dent was starting to crack! No fluid had started to leak out, but it would only be a matter of time with the heating and cooling cycles.
I was going to need a new pan. It's good to have another vehicle when you do your own work. Fortunately I do, so I can chase down parts and even drive it to work if I have to wait for something. I let my fingers do the walking, and my first call was to Autozone. They could get it on Tuesday and it would be $80. This was Saturday, so I would be without the truck for a few days. I then called Kragen. Same story, only they could have it by noon Monday for the same price. I thought I would call the dealer, as I had noticed the price for coolant, brake fluid, and trans fluid was about the same as the auto parts stores.
So I waited until Monday morning when the parts department was open. Friendly guy. Knowledeable. They could get one by 4 PM the same day and it would be $20. That's $40 less for the Real Thing, and they could get it same day.
The moral of this long story? When you need something, call around. The dealer will be more expensive MOST of the time, but every once in a while they can surprise you!
Lee
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Brandon
Dodge Dakota
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11/20/2007
13:34:44
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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Message:
OK guys. I still haven't got around to fixing the transmission problem on this truck, but I have come across an interesting development in the last couple of weeks. I have a '06 Dakota that I had been driving around for most of the summer, so now with winter coming, I am going to store that truck and drive the '93, so I have started driving it regularly for the last couple weeks. I have had no problems with the dieing issue and the only thing I have done differently is start the truck, put it in neutral, and let it run like that for a minute or two before taking off. Does this help anyone? Any new ideas. I am fine with letting it warm up if it isn't going to die on me.
Also, to Bob Lincoln above who mentioned that I could downshift into second to stop it from locking up in the meantime, I drive the truck like it is a stick a lot of the time. I almost always put the shifter in 2nd to start with and then upshift from there and downshift back to 2nd when slowing down. It still dies anyway.
Hopefully the truck will make it through the winter and maybe I can get it fixed in the spring/summer, but any ideas now again would be helpful as always.
Thanks everyone
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MX Willy
Dodge Dakota
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11/25/2007
08:25:09
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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Message:
Brandon,
on my '93 and '97 I too start them and warm them up in neutral for a few mintues. If I don't i experience the same situation as you. I drive the 93 to work daily, my wife drives the 97. On Thurs I was late, and noticed that the shifting was poor,, it hung and wouldn't shift to OD until a few miles down the road. Its done it before and usually does if I don't warm her up in neutral first.
When we bought the 97 new, our saleman suggested to do that.... warm the truck up in neutral before venturing down the road, said it helps lube the tranny before you drive, makes shifting smoother. Must say, after 346000 kms and only trans fluid changes, I think he was onto something.
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MX Willy
Dodge Dakota
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11/25/2007
08:27:55
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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Message:
Brandon,
on my '93 and '97 I too start them and warm them up in neutral for a few mintues. If I don't i experience the same situation as you. I drive the 93 to work daily, my wife drives the 97. On Thurs I was late, and noticed that the shifting was poor,, it hung and wouldn't shift to OD until a few miles down the road. Its done it before and usually does if I don't warm her up in neutral first.
When we bought the 97 new, our saleman suggested to do that.... warm the truck up in neutral before venturing down the road, said it helps lube the tranny before you drive, makes shifting smoother. Must say, after 346000 kms and only trans fluid changes, I think he was onto something.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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11/26/2007
08:14:40
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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Message:
"on my '93 and '97 I too start them and warm them up in neutral for a few mintues. If I don't i experience the same situation as you. I drive the 93 to work daily, my wife drives the 97. On Thurs I was late, and noticed that the shifting was poor,, it hung and wouldn't shift to OD until a few miles down the road. Its done it before and usually does if I don't warm her up in neutral first." Part of that is because these trannies are designed not to shift into OD until the coolant temp is at least 60F, and won't lockup until coolant temp is at least 140F. Depending on where you live, that can be 4-5 miles of driving in winter.
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Brandon
Dodge Dakota
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11/26/2007
13:21:55
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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I understand the not shifting into overdrive thing until it is warm enough, that is normal, but my truck dies slowing down for stops and that is what I don't get. Usually in the cold weather, my truck takes a mile or two to shift into overdrive, but even in the summer when its warm out, sometimes it can take 6 miles or so of 55-65 mph driving before it will grab overdrive. But, now in the cold, ever since I started letting it warm up in neutral for a few minutes, I have not had this problem. It won't die and it won't not shift into OD.
Thanks again.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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11/27/2007
08:01:07
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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Have you checked fault codes yet? And how old is your battery?
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Brandon
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2007
11:03:34
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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OK, I did the code thing on the truck last night where you turn the key on and off 5 times to get the Check Engine light to flash the codes. I got a 12 and then 55. If my memory serves me correct, 55 is the end of the test. I can't remember what 12 is. Is that battery disconnected recently? I am not sure how old the battery is, but it was in there when I bought the truck. I bought it with 127,000 miles on it, and now it has just over 175,000 on it.
If someone could tell me exactly what the code 12 is that would be great. Does this information help at all or not?
Thanks
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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11/29/2007
08:33:58
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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Yes, code 12 is battery recently disconnected (or voltage too low). Try a free battery load test at Autozone to see if that's the issue first.
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Brandon
Dodge Dakota
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11/29/2007
09:21:54
| RE: '93 Dakota Trans fluid/filter change
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How would the battery voltage being low cause a transmission problem? The truck sits outside all the time now, but starting hasn't been an issue. Seems to crank over fine and starting fine. I do have another battery I could put in it too.
Thanks
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