2011 Ram stuck in 4th
#1763187
02/25/15 11:46 PM
02/25/15 11:46 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,013
South Park, Pa.
68LAR
OP
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,013
South Park, Pa.
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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.
4 speed street legal. Best time 10.99 @ 124 mph on 93 octane pump gas @ 3926# total weight
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Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th
[Re: J_BODY]
#1763189
02/26/15 03:16 PM
02/26/15 03:16 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,890
Spahn Ranch
RMCHRGR
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Spahn Ranch
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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.
'71 Duster
'17 Ram 1500
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Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th
[Re: RMCHRGR]
#1763190
02/26/15 03:32 PM
02/26/15 03:32 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,013
South Park, Pa.
68LAR
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master
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South Park, Pa.
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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.....
4 speed street legal. Best time 10.99 @ 124 mph on 93 octane pump gas @ 3926# total weight
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Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th
[Re: 68LAR]
#1763191
02/26/15 08:20 PM
02/26/15 08:20 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 178
Tidewater, VA
TMCCuda
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Tidewater, VA
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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.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
1994 Ram 1500 4x4 5.2L
2004 Ram 1500 4x4 5.7L Quad Cab
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Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th
[Re: stumpy]
#1763193
02/26/15 09:49 PM
02/26/15 09:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,165
Plymouth, MI
Blusmbl
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Plymouth, MI
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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.
'18 Ford Raptor, random motorcycles, 1968 Plymouth Fury III - 11.37 @ 118
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Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th
[Re: 68LAR]
#1763194
02/27/15 12:40 AM
02/27/15 12:40 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,890
Spahn Ranch
RMCHRGR
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Quote:
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.....
If your truck was NOT under warranty, I could see how you might not want to go to a dealership, but isn't that what the warranty is for? Not sure why you wouldn't take it back, you bought it there, right? Maybe they'd even give you a loaner vehicle.
Best thing about the dealer is that they will have a factory scanner. Even if the code is in history, they can take it for a ride with the scan tool to monitor all sorts of things that you might not be able to see otherwise. Sometimes the generic scan tools don't have as much capability for a particular vehicle.
Probably not the best idea to erase the code with the battery, really doesn't tell you anything except that there was a code and it's not active at the moment.
'71 Duster
'17 Ram 1500
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Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th
[Re: RMCHRGR]
#1763195
02/27/15 02:19 PM
02/27/15 02:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,013
South Park, Pa.
68LAR
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,013
South Park, Pa.
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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.....
4 speed street legal. Best time 10.99 @ 124 mph on 93 octane pump gas @ 3926# total weight
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Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th
[Re: 68LAR]
#1763197
02/27/15 03:24 PM
02/27/15 03:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,890
Spahn Ranch
RMCHRGR
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Spahn Ranch
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Quote:
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.....
This attitude always chaps me. Up until 2013, I was a Chrysler tech. We had to go through A LOT of school/training to be able to even touch cars. I made it to level 4 in a few areas before I switched careers, took me several years to get there.
An engine code does not tell you the problem, it only indicates which circuit is having the issue. The computer is seeing a variation in voltage outside of the normal range which indicates there is an issue somewhere. There is nothing in the scan tool that will tell you to replace something if you get a code. Sometimes through experience you know what fails but often you need to dig deeper into the situation to find the real problem.
That's where a lot of the misconception comes from. Just because you get code PXXX does not mean you automatically replace sensor XX or trans. solenoid pack.
The scan tool allows you to monitor the circuit under dynamic situations to help pinpoint intermittent problems. You'd probably have to monitor data streams and see if there was a glitch or an anomaly. Once found, then you start looking at the parts, wiring etc. Sometimes stuff does not happen the way you think it will and you don't find anything.
It's true there are plenty of guys that see a code and just replace parts - they are lazy. Sometimes they get lucky, often times not and they get a come back. It takes a lot to find a chafed wire in a harness, nobody wants to dig through all kinds of crap to find it.
'71 Duster
'17 Ram 1500
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Re: 2011 Ram stuck in 4th
[Re: 68LAR]
#1763200
02/28/15 11:33 PM
02/28/15 11:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,417
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
NITROUSN
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Posts: 18,417
UPPER MICHIGAN, MARQUETTE COUN...
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Quote:
Yes, It's still under warranty. I just hate dealing with the Dealer ship. Plus the inconvenience......
If it were me I would go to the dealer and have the concern documented. They should at least scan it for codes and make sure there are no updates or flashes to correct the condition. That way you have something to fall back on it there is a problem It also could help in getting assistance if the problem reoccurs after the warranty expires. If you don't do something no you could find yourself wiping your eyes, nose, and butt with the same rag when they hand you the bill. 
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