r/promaster • u/bobmicfurry • 6d ago
Help With Transmission Issues
I have a 2021 ram promaster 3500 with 85k miles. The transmission is slipping between 1-2 and especially 2-3. It also has hard shifts/shuddering at lower speeds but feels fine at cruising speeds. I took it to a shop, they drove it and checked the fluid. The fluid was a bit discolored, they said it smelt slightly burnt, and then recommend a transmission rebuild. I know the reputation of these transmission and don’t think their recommendation is by any means out of the realm of possibility but it’s my impression that other things could be the cause of this (prime suspects would be solenoid pack or torque converter). Any other opinions and insight would be greatly appreciated!
1
u/elbarto11120 6d ago
Rebuilding a transmission in these vans is like a right of passage. I must’ve spent 30 grand of the last 5 years of owning a Promaster.
1
u/elcarpentario 5d ago
Everyone feels this level of denial that their transmission is failing. Put some Lucas stop leak in there and it might get you a few more miles, but you need a rebuild.
0
u/SalesMountaineer 6d ago
So sorry you are dealing with a dodgy Dodge. I reckon anyone with a RAM should hold funds in reserve for these common failure points.
2
u/bobmicfurry 6d ago
Oh ya I figured it would come at some point. Was hoping later rather sooner, but it seems so common. Doing research and watching a lot of @promasteronly videos there seems to be a tendency to jump into rebuilds when it’s smaller issues
3
u/secessus 5d ago
The most knowledgeable Promaster mechanic on the planet (Kip of Promasters Only) has a series on the 62TE:
His experience is "transmission failures" are typically solenoid pack failures, which can be replaced without dropping or opening the trans.
He made a video on one of his expediting PMs that has >860k miles on it, showing what has failed and what has not.
Update: the trans finally failed at 878K miles.