Alrighty. I know that a Diablosport Predator will datalog all of the various functions including input and output shaft speeds. You can also monitor the transmission temp. I can check this evening if it will show line pressure as well.

As far as a cleaning the valve body, it is fairly easy. You will need plenty of space, light and various pics, screwdrivers, brushes, etc.

 

BTW, that is a very sharp looking Dakota you have there

 

thanks man, I'll put up some pix from a car show a few years ago now as well later on.

 

Oh and thanks for looking into that stuff for me! I just hate the thought of spending a bunch of money at a trans shop if I don't have to.

 

I know how that is. What are the symptoms again? What exactly was it doing? When did the problem start? What have you done so far? I'll see if I can do a little more digging and try to find some information on stuff to check for ya. Definitely think about getting a predator though. I love mine, it is so nice to not have the sloppy slow shifts as well as being able to datalog.

 

Basically, it surges on hills at low speed. On the highway, climbing a hill if I get it to kick down, the rpms will rise as it downshifts, but the truck doesn't accelerate. Then, the rpms actually drop about 400-600rpm and the truck starts to accelerate. This is all under same throttle load...rpms rise, then fall slightly...weird I think!

 

Are you losing speed at during the time of no acceleration? If you are it might point back to the shaft issue, that you've damaged a gear and aren't transferring power anymore in that gear till you loose so much speed the truck gears down again and gets on it. The way you describe it seems like you've lost a gear..but can't be sure. Can you count the gears and see if there's a pattern? Like always 3rd gear? Any different areas you can take the truck here? Like here we have a deserted area with a sharp hill incline iwth no curves. I can hit it at about 90mph and see how the truck pulls. You could see if it's only a certain band or something. We need more dater .

 

All gears intact. That is a fact! LOL. I can produce this "problem" (if it is a problem) again and again by pushing the tow/haul button. Tonight on the freeway, I would keep my speed steady, say 65mph, push the button, and the rpms would come up, then it would feel as thought something was locking in inside the trans, and drop the rpms about 500. Again, don't know if it is normal, or something that is bizzar.

More data I'm afraid would only be available with use of a scan tool. Then we could scientifically prove one way or the other. Mean time, I'm prepping 5 gallons of ATF.

 

Some pretty hefty coin for that tuner! So you say you can increase line pressure through that though?

Also...what is this about recalibration for tire size? Is that a permanent recal, or is it in the tuner only? Could you recal and unplug?

 

Hey also, found a different unit. Called the SCT Dashscan data monitor. Looks like it does the same sort of thing, but without the feature to mod things around...$100 cheaper though! Do we know anyone with one of these units? It is listed as monitoring "Slip Torque Converter" and "Torque Converter Clutch DC", and also "Net Torque/Torque Converter" amongst other things...

http://sctflash.com/DSParameters.php

 

Oh, and it isn't losing speed between gears...it holds, just won't accelerate until the rpms drop slightly by the 400-500 I described. Its a weird thing. Like it downshifts to 3rd, then a few seconds later, locks the converter (dropping the rpms), and then accelerates. Does that sound normal? I really need to probably get some kind of monitor on it to see what is going on with trans pressures and input/output speeds.

 

Hey guys what brand of tranny fluid are you useing? I was going to use Royal Purple, what do you think?
Thanks ~Gage~

 

Its a good choice...I like Amsoil personally. This many miles though, probably doesn't matter as much!

 

Thanks, on my 2000 Expy 5.4 XLT Sport it has 84000 miles.
~Gage~

 

Yeah, we are at 155K