Hello Ya'll,

Question from somewhat novice.

I have a 2004.5 Ram (140K mi.) that I bought used one year ago.

It recently came to my attention that the I needed to have the transmission fluid replaced.

I heard a nightmare from someone who did it the wrong way and ended up getting metal shavings into the transmission... resulting in disaster. The local lube shop says they have a method of just sucking it out and then replacing the fluid. I definitely want to make sure that its done the right way.

Any advice?

Also have to replace differential fluid...but I am assuming that is fairly straightforward.

Thanks in advance,

Mike

 

If it is a higher mileage tranny(140K you said), I wouldn't have it serviced in the manner you described. With something with that many miles, I would drop the pan, clean it out, change the filter, put it back together and refill it. I do mine regularly myself and it is quite easy and the fluid change is about 8 quarts. When I do mine I've measure it quart by quart with the old fluid and it always close to the 8 mark. I also do it every 15k since it only changes 8 quarts at a time.
If you go the route of 'sucking it out' or flushing it, I would not be shocked if you soon after develop problems from that.

My 48RE just hit 100k yesterday afternoon and the thing still operates the same way as when I bought the truck...

 

The tranny is fairly easy. Drop the pan, change filter, install pan, fill with fluid and check fluid level in Neutral. Never heard of problems with metal shaving.

While you are in there look up how to adjust the bands, they probably need it.

 

Dont' go the sucked through the dipstick route. Drop the pan and change the filter too. Many posts on procedures in these forums. fairly easy
1 loosen bolts at back of pan till almost out, just leave a few threads.
2 work forward removing bolts on side of pan, by the time you get to front of pan fluid should be draining out back into reasonably clean catch pan.
3 remove front and rear bolts and drop pan.
4 change filter, clean magnet, adjust bands if needed or mechanically inclined and replace pan.
5 measure fluid drained and reinstall same amount.
6 locate better explination of this before actually starting this task.

I put the mag h pan on myself and followed basically these procedures. You should be able to do it.

 

I just checked my post and two guys had already answered while I was typing. Just look at the time stamps, you cant get an answer this fast from a dealer. Confirming my belief this is a great site. Lots of helpful people and almost no flaming. You can't beat this.

 

Man, this forum is great.

Appreciate all the advice. Dropping the pan sounds like the only way to go.

I know I can handle the dropping the pan, replacing filter, replacing, refilling, etc, etc.

I did buy this used and have not had the tranny serviced as of yet. Again, I am looking at 140K mi, and I don't know if that has ever been serviced. However, I do know the trans fluid looks like crap.

If the front and rear bands need to be addressed, is it best that I let a "trusted" shop handle it this one time?

BTW-What do the bands do? Tighter and smoother shifting?

Thanks again,

Michael

 

Not an answer to your last question, just a suggestion. While you have the trans pan off, put a drain plug in it. B&M has one for around $10. I put one in both my Ram and my wife's Jeep Liberty. Makes servicing the trans a bit less messy.

 

You can do it yourself if you have a in/lbs torque wrench its not very hard at all
http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/transmi...T_band_adj.htm

 

why is there no spec here for 04 band adjustment? mines an 04.5 high output.

 

All 48re's are the same

 

Just an FYI. There are no '04.5 SO engines. Jan 1, 2004 is when the 325/600 engine was released. Since that date, there has been only one version of the Cummins turbo diesel available at a time so the terms HO and SO are no longer applicable.

 

I guess this method gets most but not all the fluid out. What does Dodge do if you give it do them? A full flush or just what is described here?

I cant imagine a few liters being that big a deal?

 

What does Dodge do? IMO, they mostly overcharge you! Seriously, a reputable transmission shop would do a fluid swap. I "think" they pull the cooler lines, hook a device onto the inlet side that would pump new fluid in. They do this until new comes out the outlet side.

I use the method that bierk76 describes. With 83K miles on my '04, I've never adjusted the bands. Trans shifts fine. Haven't done but one heavy tow so perhaps they still don't need it.

 

Have you done it yet?? It does get kinda messy if you don't have a drain plug.
which I hope you installed for future maintainence or bought a extra capacity pan. Going with a double deep pan actually would help on keeping the temp down, heat is #1 killer of trans. Anything above 220* and your fluid is breaking down and has a burnt smell, not good.

 

Kinda off subject here. I had a coupon to have a local indy shop drain adjust replace filter and refill for 20.00. The car was a mid 80's Camaro. I am watching the guy puts my car on the lift removes all the pan bolts and starts to pull on the pan, as the pan hits the floor and all the hot tranny fluid spills down the guys front I start laughing and tell him that seeing that was worth the 20.00 bucks.