So I picked up a 96 ram1500 standard cab short box for 600$ the previous owner said it had trans problems and had stoped driving it a couple of years ago. He said it felt like it was slipping in 3rd. Not a mopar guy, so i trailered it home. I drove it to the gas station yesterday and it shifted fine all the way into overdrive but it never felt like the torque converter locked up. it was only 3miles to the store but i did get the engine to operatin temp. So today I droped the pan and it was quite clean and the fluid was dark red and did not smell burnt. Just the normal black gunk on the magnet. The truck has 160k on it. So my ? is bad torque converter or could it be a solinoid? I am going to get the sure cure kit for it but if I need solinoids or a torque converter I want to do it all now. any insight would be helpful.

Have someone read the tranny codes for you. Even if you have to pay a few bucks it can save big bucks.

Hold off pulling the trans, check the temp sensor and LU solenoids as well as the actual engine temp reading of the coolant temp sensor for the computer not just the gauge. All of those are easily checked with a scanner, there are other ways to test them without one but the scanner method is easiest. They can also all be changed without removing the trans.

My cheap scanner reviels no codes. So I will look into the temp senders and solinoids.

Sure it could be a host of issues, these tranny's are nothing but a crapshoot of problems,...if it doesn't bother you to pull the tranny, replace the torque converter before it disintegrates and fouls the rest of the tranny up, get rid of the anti-drain back valve in the fluid line

I had a 96 and I believe there was a service bulletin about the front drum not machined correctly. Mine would not go into
drive unless you let off the gas.