Hey everyone,
I'm looking for some assistance with a problem I'm having with my '95 DAK (V-6 4WD with 5-spd. manual transmission). After several good years of trouble-free driving, my truck has developed a shifting problem that the local dealer cannot seem to fix. At 122,000 I replaced the original clutch. Soon thereafter, I started having significant difficulty shifting into 1st gear from a stop (after vehicle warmed up) along with consistent grinding when trying to go into reverse. After talking with several shops, I ended up having the transmission re-built since all indications were that the synchros were going bad. Within a year of that job, the shifting problem returned and progressively got worse. The only way I could get into first gear was to first grind it into reverse and then quickly shift into 1st. I took it into the dealer here in Alaska since the tranny shop insisted that the problem was that clutch disc was not fully separating from the tranny (clutch dragging). T
he dealer confirmed on a lift that the clutch was dragging supposedly because it was not properly installed (missing a bolt) and had worn 50-1073745190n just 8000 miles. It was replaced and the flywheel was machined, but 6 months later I still had the same problem.
After a long battle with the dealer on this, they paid to put in yet another clutch--again assuring me that they had fixed the problem. However, it is not. Reverse is now grinding again and getting into first gear is only marginally easier when the vehicle has warmed up (driven 10 miles or more around town).
So.....in the last 25K I've had the tranny re-built and 3 clutches put into this truck and I appear to still have the same problem. I can't really afford a new vehicle and I really like all of the other aspects of my truck. Taking the vehicle to another shop means big money out of my pocket and I just don't trust the dealer I've been working with given the history above.
I've searched the DML archive extensively and have seen all kinds of posts related to shifting problems that cover everything from incorrect fluid in tranny (non-mopar), to synchro problems, to bad pressure plates. However, with the exception of completely replacing the hydraulic clutch system, I think I've done just about everything that can be done. I've been told that the hydraulic clutch operation checks out, although neither master, slave, nor fluid has been replaced in the 150K I've put on the vehicle. I'm not low on fluid, nor have I ever had any leaks.
So.....I'm looking for some other opinions/suggestions from DAK owners out there who may have had similar problems.
Any suggestions/ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bill Romberg
wromberg@acsalaska.net
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