How to Troubleshoot a 2001 Dodge Truck Transmission

Transmission issues can be quite alarming because transmission repairs can be very costly. You can save money by troubleshooting your 2001 Dodge truck transmission at home before taking it in for a costly repair. There are some reasons why your transmission might be acting up. Many times the fix is as simple as adding transmission fluid. Be prepared to spend about an hour troubleshooting your transmission.

Things You'll Need

• Ignition key
• Rag
• Creeper
• Flashlight

Instructions

1. Look at the ground where your truck is parked overnight. You want to see if there are any leaks. If you see a spot on the ground, dip your finger in it and look at the color. If the color of the fluid is red, then you know that you have a transmission fluid leak.

2. Drive your truck for five miles to get the transmission hot.

3. Lift the hood of your Dodge truck and locate the transmission dipstick, located on the driver's side of the engine towards the firewall and labeled with the word "transmission."

4. Pull the transmission dipstick out while the truck is running. Smell the transmission fluid. If the fluid smells burnt, you could have internal issues. Wipe off the dipstick with the rag and reinsert it into the dipstick tube. Pull out the dipstick again and read the level of fluid on it. You will see a line on the dipstick for "add" and one line for "full hot." If the fluid is low, this could be the reason for your transmission issues.

5. Park your Dodge truck and let it cool down. Slide under the vehicle on a creeper. The creeper allows you to lie on your back and roll around under the truck.

6. Shine the flashlight all around the transmission. The transmission is attached behind the engine. You are looking for any wires that have come loose around the transmission. It is possible that a connection has worked its way loose, causing your transmission issues.

7. Look at the linkage on the side of your transmission with the flashlight. The linkage is used to connect the transmission to the shifter to change gears from park, drive, reverse, etc. Sometimes this linkage can come loose and cause issues with the transmission.

References

• Sam Smith; La Brea Tire; Los Angeles, California