A518 questions, been foreve since i drove an auto

[oldestof11]

So this auto thing has me scratchimg my head. Fluid is full and red.

It takes roughly 1 mile before OD kicks in after it sets a couple hours. Around the time the coolant gets warm it shifts in OD. Then another thing is happening.

I have to floor it to get any momentum. Once warmed and shifting right, its fine. Its like there isnt enough fluid.

Then it sounds like OD is kicking in and out but when I hear the slight exhauat note of it unloading, i can hit the OD off button and OD kicks out. When I press the button again to get it to engage OD, it loads up and goes like my old 5spd.

What's the problem?

[cmann250]

Is the temp switch good? Anything change if you unplug it?

[PToombs]

I would say OD won't kick in at 1st until the oil is warm. Have you checked the TV cable and TPS settings? That about limits my guess'.

[oldestof11]

My TV cable was tight against the bell thingy so when I pressed the throttle it was moving right away. Adjusted that so i had about a 1/4" gap. The OD is shifting around 40mph with light throttle which seems normal.

When cold, its like a turbine. I give it 100% throttle and it takes a mile to hit 60mph. Once warm it'll hit 90mph no problem.

[BC847]

What are the outdoor temperatures while it's acting-up?

[oldestof11]

Mornings:7-20*
Afternoon when I leave work:30-50*

[oldestof11]

Update:

I let it idle for 10min in neutral this morning. That and the TV adjustment helped tremendously.

[oldestof11]

So when I left work today I pulled up to a stop sign 3 blocks away. Its on an incline. I waited about 2-3 minutes until it was clear to pull out. Trans and engine are cold but it shifts correctly. I went to pull away and it rolled backwards slightly. It need 100% throttle to get moving. Once moving it did fine.

VB issue?

[PToombs]

That would be my guess, something is sticking in there. Maybe that's why the guy got rid of it?
I bought a truck on e-bay in Pennsylvania a few years ago. I drove down to get it and after I put in fuel I went to pull out on a downhill and it revved way up then slammed into gear. Did that twice, so I pulled across the street and checked the oil, burnt. I took it back and the guy gave me my money back. I got lucky.

[oldestof11]

I've driven it 500 miles since Sunday. Fluid is still red and no burnt smell whatsoever. Yes, I've burned a tank just this week. But that included the 150mi trip from Chicago.

The TV cable took care if the shifting. I'm dropping the pan this weekend. I want to see how bad it is.

[DodgeFreak]

can you get a valve body to test and see if its in the valve body or the trans??

[oldestof11]

DF, I don't think so. I've narrowed it down to a cold fluid issue.

I dropped the pan tonight. Fluid was red but darker and slightly clouded. The filter wasn't the best looking. The donut magnet was fuzzy. Now here's a bit of info I need to know about.

I had about a dozen tiny flakes/specs of a bronze/brass material. Is this something I should worry about at 230k miles?

[cmann250]

Those would be thrust washers doing their job. If it was like striking it rich in the Klondike, then I'd be worried.

I don't know if you already filled it up, but I really like running tractor hydraulic fluid. I think it's cheaper than ATF and it makes the converter feel tighter.

[oldestof11]

That's good to know. And I forgot about the tractor fluid ideas.

Another thing. I had about 4-5 COMPLETE turns on the rear band adjustment before it tightened up. Then I backed it out 2 turns. Haven't done the front yet.

[oldestof11]

Went for a test drive. It's a whole new trans. It actually loads the engine some when you press the go pedal. The speedometer matches the engine drone as it increases. Now I need a torque converter.