98 Ram 1500 Overdrive in Cold Weather

From : scott aleckson

Q: i have noticed that the overdrive ceases to engage at temperatures around and below -30f. it doesnt matter if everything is warm and running fine and i just drive through an area where it is that cold but when i get there if i do anything that makes the overdrive shift out it will not go back in until the outside temps are back up to a tolerable -20f or higher. anyone else experience this problem or have any reasoning for it .

Replies:

From : max340

anyone else experience this problem or have any reasoning for it i gotta ask its april and you just noticed this the ecm for the trans is programmed to kill od and lock up below certain trans temps. at the temps you noted i am sure od is not available. max life liberty and the pursuit of any jackass that threatens it. embellished usnavy slogan .

From : denny

to add on to max suggestion you may have a thermostat that is not bringing the engine up to temp. ive ran into this numerous times over the years where the gauge doesnt come up quite as far as it used to and the heater is not quite as warm as it used to and the trans wont shift into overdrive and a new t-stat took care of all the symptoms. denny anyone else experience this problem or have any reasoning for it i gotta ask its april and you just noticed this the ecm for the trans is programmed to kill od and lock up below certain trans temps. at the temps you noted i am sure od is not available. max life liberty and the pursuit of any jackass that threatens it. embellished usnavy slogan .

From : federally protected witness

anyone else experience this problem or have any reasoning for it i gotta ask its april and you just noticed this the ecm for the trans is programmed to kill od and lock up below certain trans temps. at the temps you noted i am sure od is not available. max life liberty and the pursuit of any jackass that threatens it. embellished usnavy slogan the important question is are -20 degree temperatures really tolerable at 20 below od would be the last of my worries. keeping my butt from sticking to the seat would seem more of a concern. - .

From : denny

federally protected witness witnessprotectionprogram@fbi.gov wrote in keeping my butt from sticking to the seat would seem more of a concern. - the possibilities are endless..................... but you have come to the right group as there are numerous gentlemen here that have heated leather seats to warm their posteriors when it gets a little chilly out... vbg denny .

From : scott aleckson

max340 wrote i gotta ask its april and you just noticed this nope i notice it pretty much every crew change drive every 2 weeks through the winter where i have to go through about 100 miles of gods country where is often runs -40 and less. at the start and end points of my 450 mile journey it is typically between zero and 20 above so there are some huge temperature changes that i have to drive through. the ecm for the trans is programmed to kill od and lock up below certain trans temps. at the temps you noted i am sure od is not available. i kinda figured it might be something like that. thanks for the info. .

From : scott aleckson

federally protected witness wrote the important question is are -20 degree temperatures really tolerable at 20 below od would be the last of my worries. keeping my butt from sticking to the seat would seem more of a concern. - get fabric covered seats never leather or any of the plastic variants. the old dodge heater keeps the cab nice and toasty too. and yes -20 is tolerable. naturally id rather it stayed at a cozy 25 above all winter but when you get much less than -20 it gets hard to breath and you have to watch for rapid onset frostbite etc. but id rather have to dress for cold than not be able to get out of the heat they have down in america. cant stand the heat. snow rocks. .

From : scott aleckson

jerry wrote scott aleckson wrote the ecm for the trans is programmed to kill od and lock up below certain trans temps. at the temps you noted i am sure od is not available. i kinda figured it might be something like that. thanks for the info. you wont believe this but they stuck that information in the damnedest place .......... the owners manual. never read it. you mean there is stuff in there besides stupid warning pictures that try to explain how to fasten the seat belt and not to put babies in front of the air bags .

From : scott aleckson

i havent noticed the temp gauge running any cooler than normal and the heater puts out plenty of heat in the cab. that thing will roast you out of there in a heart beat. but im due for a coolant and tranny oil change this spring in my maintenance schedule so it will be getting a new t-stat at that time whether it needs one or not. i guess well see if it makes any difference next winter. thanks. denny wrote to add on to max suggestion you may have a thermostat that is not bringing the engine up to temp. ive ran into this numerous times over the years where the gauge doesnt come up quite as far as it used to and the heater is not quite as warm as it used to and the trans wont shift into overdrive and a new t-stat took care of all the symptoms. denny anyone else experience this problem or have any reasoning for it i gotta ask its april and you just noticed this the ecm for the trans is programmed to kill od and lock up below certain trans temps. at the temps you noted i am sure od is not available. max life liberty and the pursuit of any jackass that threatens it. embellished usnavy slogan .

From : jerry

scott aleckson wrote the ecm for the trans is programmed to kill od and lock up below certain trans temps. at the temps you noted i am sure od is not available. i kinda figured it might be something like that. thanks for the info. you wont believe this but they stuck that information in the damnedest place .......... the owners manual. jerry .