Although it’s engineered to be “Ram Tough”, it’s very possible that after shifting out Park, your Dodge Ram 1500 stalls in Reverse and/or Drive. You may also experience Dodge Ram 1500 overdrive problems, both of which occur with the 545RFE transmission. These are obviously very serious issues, and can occur before or after a total transmission rebuild.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Dodge Ram 1500 dies when put in gear
If your Dodge Ram 1500 shuts off in reverse, then the problem is likely a failed TCC converter limit valve spring. This small spring lives inside the pump cover, and really doesn’t cost all that much money. It does however, cost a lot of money and labor to replace it because the 545RFE transmission has to be removed and partially disassembled to access the pump cover.
Dodge Ram 1500 overdrive problem
One of the more common Dodge Ram 1500 overdrive problems is experiencing a shudder or bang sound from the transmission when the torque converter clutch engages. This happens more than just when overdrive is engaged and can contribute to hard shifts, as well as stalling when you put the truck in gear. This Ram 1500 transmission problem is usually caused by a broken TCC accumulator valve spring. Like the spring mentioned above, this little guy is located in the pump cover and can cost a pretty penny to replace.
In case you were wondering, the TCC converter limit valve spring limits the torque converter clutch release pressure. If the valve gets stuck, the torque converter will not decouple the engine from the transmission, which causes the engine to stall. The TCC accumulator valve spring is designed to act like a shock absorber so that the torque converter can engage smoothly. If this spring has an issue, you’re going to have harsh shifts every time the torque converter engages. These springs often be overlooked by inexperienced transmission rebuilders, which is why this frustrating problem can occur even after a transmission rebuild.
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Why a remanufactured transmission might be a good option
While you can’t buy a brand-new transmission, a remanufactured transmission is a terrific alternative. These are completely reengineered and put together on a factory assembly line. They often contain a lots of upgrades over their stock form, which means many of the design flaws that result in premature failure of components can be eliminated. This can give a reman transmission a much longer service life than it originally had.
Remanufactured transmission companies like Street Smart Transmission put each of their reman transmissions through a rigorous build process that ensures a quality product every time. It starts with nearly 100 trained technicians that specialize in different aspects of the build process.
This remanufacturing process starts with the inspection team that test all of the critical components from the donor transmission to ensure that they meet the original equipment (OE) tolerances and specifications. The case, pumps, gears, shafts, valve body and torque converter are checked for hairline cracks, metal tensile strength, warping and other parameters. If any component fails to meet the required specifications, it’s discarded and replaced.
All the parts are then cleaned and sent to the appropriate stations on the assembly line for reassembly. Throughout the process, quality control managers inspect the build to ensure that it meets the desired specification. Any necessary modifications or upgrades that are needed to correct factory design flaws are also performed or added. The valve body is rebuilt and tested on a special dyno machine to ensure that it performs according to the specifications. All of the solenoids are also tested prior to installation.
Once the build is complete and passes its final quality control inspection, the newly remanufactured transmission is sent to the dyno room, where it’s tested on a special dyno machine using a proprietary software program called C.A.R.S. (Computer Aided Real-world Simulation). This cycles the transmission through a number of real-world driving situations, to ensure that it performs according to the factory specs. It also helps to break in all of the friction components, that way it’s completely tuned and ready to go once it’s installed.
What Transmission Do I Have?
Warranty – One of the benefits of buying a remanufactured transmission vs. a rebuilt transmission is the warranty. Street Smart Transmission for example, covers all of their reman transmissions with a 3 Year/Unlimited Mileage Nationwide Warranty (there is a mileage restriction for commercial vehicles). This covers parts and labor for transmission repairs performed by any licensed repair shop in the country. It’s also completely transferable if you ever decide to sell the vehicle. Compared to a mechanics warranty on a transmission rebuild, a remanufactured transmission warranty offers superior financial protection.
