Posted By: 68LAR
2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/26/15 03:46 AM
Truck isn't driven much. Just turned 13K. I went for a ride today and on my way home I noticed the engine revving slightly. The dash indicator showed a "4" in the gear window. The "check engine" light also came on. It would not shift out of 4th. I stopped on the side of the road and restarted the engine. It shifted okay for about a mile then the same thing happened. Any ideas as to what is causing this? I really love the truck. This is very disappointing for such a "new" vehicle. Thanks for any input.
Posted By: J_BODY
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/26/15 03:22 PM
Limp in mode..... could be electrical, could be mechanical.
Posted By: RMCHRGR
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/26/15 07:16 PM
Need to have it scanned and see what the code is. Might be a solenoid pack but like said above, could be wiring or mechanical.
Should still be under warranty, no? Powertain stuff is usually covered pretty well.
Posted By: 68LAR
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/26/15 07:32 PM
Yes, It's still under warranty. I just hate dealing with the Dealer ship. Plus the inconvenience......
I don't have an OBD2. I disconnected the negative side of the battery for a few seconds, then reconnected and started the engine. Went for a ride and everything seems to be okay now????????? I hate when this grap happens. Intermittent problems are the hardest to fix.....
Posted By: TMCCuda
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/27/15 12:20 AM
Man that sounds scary. I remember limp in mode in the Ultradrive meant it stuck in second gear. I remember on my parents Acclaim, the internals of the tranny were trashed while on vacation in Florida.
I would at least check the fluid and maybe get the dealer to drop the pan and change the filters.
A bad trans is an even bigger inconvenience.
Posted By: stumpy
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/27/15 12:25 AM
What's more inconvenient being stuck on the side of the road with a broken trans waiting for a wrecker or spending a little time at the dealership.
Posted By: Blusmbl
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/27/15 01:49 AM
Next time it happens, take it straight to the dealer. They will be able to check codes, if it defaulted to 4th gear twice it should have set a code and you'll at least know what you're up against. Could be an electrical problem, could be a mechanical problem... but without checking for codes you won't know.
Anything made in the last couple decades is too complex to diagnose without some method of reading codes, unfortunately.
Posted By: 68LAR
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/27/15 06:19 PM
I drove the truck again yesterday and it ran perfectly. I'm going to do as you suggest. Next time it does it, (hopefully never), it will be driven straight to the dealership. Being a mechanic my whole life and doing all of my own work, I've NEVER been satisfied with the work that comes out of any dealership. Most mechanics now a days are just parts changers. It seem they don't know how to troubleshoot like in the old days. Time is money I guess.....
Posted By: stumpy
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/27/15 06:42 PM
The new cars don't need trouble shooting like the old days. The computer tells them what they need to know. That makes parts swapping the new mechanics as well as it's cheaper to replace than rebuild parts. A lot of things aren't made to be rebuilt anymore.
Posted By: Lefty
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 02/27/15 11:10 PM
Just a guess, but it might be cold related. The Wifeys Mazda 6 check engine light came on and stayed on. I scanned it and it was a weird "coolant colder than thermostat set temp" type code. I remembered it had been below freezing the week before and reset the code. Weeks later it has not returned.
I suspect there is a timer for measuring coolant temp and after the timer expired the coolant was still too cold for the programmed set point. I dunno, just glad it's gone.
Posted By: E-Ticket
Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th - 03/01/15 03:01 AM
If I am reading the complaint correctly......your trans. is not shifting out of 4th and into overdrive in the sub or near sub 0° temps....??....