[AT] 98 Dodge 3500

[Stephen Offiler]

Kevin:

That's really strange.  I am guessing this auto trans has electronic
controls, and, when choosing anything but P or R, a haywire signal is
reaching the powertrain controller and causes your symptoms, but why,
I have no clue.  This is just a guess... but it seems VERY odd to have
a couple transmission modes (P, R - one stationary, one moving) work
just fine; while others (N, D - one stationary, several moving) do
not.  It might be worth a few minutes to crawl under and do a visual
check on whatever wire harnesses you can find attached to the
transmission, looking for any outward sign of damage.

Is the Check Engine Light on?

I also took a quick look for known common problems and TSB's but find
nothing that seems to match your symptoms
(http://repairpal.com/dodge-ram_3500-1998)

My only other advice is kind of basic, but at the end of the day, this
engine needs the same things an old tractor needs to run:  Fuel,
spark, air, compression, all timed correctly.  Think about which of
those things is getting messed up.  Not much consolation but it's
actually a good thing that (a) the problem is not intermittent and (b)
you can make it fail while stationary (N) so you can actually work on
it.  Harder to do if they only fail in Drive.

Good luck.

Steve O.


On Thu, May 21, 2009 at 11:03 AM,  <oldiron62 at gmail.com> wrote:
> I picked up a 98 Dodge 1 ton truck the other day 360 gas engine. This thing runs fine in park and reverse, but shift to N or drive and it is over. I mean this thing runs so bad that it will not move its self except in reverse, misses sputters. I got this with the intention of using it as a tractor hauler tow vehicle. Yall have any idea what is going on here ?
>
> Thanks
> Kevin Mosier
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