Dodge Durango Forum II Archive

Re: Transmission problems at 19,000 miles

Did you have the trans just serviced before that two months ago it started to shift funny time? And if so where? Have seen alot of very unwise owners think it silly and just not care that the FACTORY update and recomendation of ATF+4 fluid was for a reason! EVEN thou your older dipstick and manuals says MERCON/DEXIII and or ATF+3. A trans service SHOULD only be performed using the newer ATF+4 fluid. You can mix it with the older stuff, but can not put the older stuff in a ATF+4 trans. MANY shops use the merc/dex stuff with what they call a friction modifier they add to it for YOUR ATF+3 OR ATF+4 MOPAR trans. That is a cop out. And they only do it to keep ONE fluid type on hand for all vechs. IT IS NOT the right stuff for MOPARS. USE of it will do jsut what you got now. BAD/HARD/WEIRD/SHUTTERING/ shifting. And will lead very soon to trans failure. Mopar trans clutch packs and plates have been shown/designed to NEED to slip a bit more then other trans during shifts. MERCON/DEX is too sticky and hense they try to modifiy SOMETHING that is WRONG for teh trans in the first place. If your trans is a 2000/2001 or older one use of ATF+3 that was in it, is ok but update calles for ATF+4. ALL 2001 and newer trans ONLY USE ATF+4. And use of anything other that is a accident waiting for you to happen. THIS IS NOT for the ASIAN trans in the JEEPS! USE in them what is on the manual or dipstick. I think it IS MERCON/DEX.

Sun Sep 1