Nathan,

Did you by chance activate the rev limiter at any time recently? In an earlier thread, Sal mentioned that this would nearly shut down your truck until the PCM recovered.

Just a thought.

adp
#1530
Black

 

I thought that might be the case, as it has happened in the past. However, I completely shut the truck off and have gone through several run cycles since.

 

Nathan,

It was good to see you at the track Friday night. What do you mean I rag on my tranny!? I treat her with TLC and respect, except on the track, and then it's as merciless as I can make it.

Try removing the neg battery terminal and turn the headlights on. This will drain off the residual charge that keeps the PCM's non-volitile memory alive. I let it sit for about 5 minutes, just to make sure the charge is completely down. The computer will have to go through the learning process again, but if you have a fault in the shift table or some such, it may go away.

Just a thought,


------------------
Chuck 'Wyldman' Shelton
wyldman@houston.rr.com
Black 99.5 Lightning Build # 1273, DOB 5-14-99, NLOC #315
Best run to date 12.857 @103.48
CD Changer; Tow Pkg.; Lojack; Sal's custom nitrous chip; G-Tech/Pro; SnugLid; BedRug; Invinca-Shield, full kit; NOS KIT 100 hp shot (currently); Clear and smoke Lexan fog light covers; 3M Ti Window Tint; Bel radar detector (shouldn't be an accessory); PowerStack cone filter (a.k.a. supercharger waker upper); American Auto Designs ram air hood; Cal-Tracs traction bars; Bassani headers;Goodrich T/A Drag Radials; Muth Signal Mirrors, inbound

 

Nathan, Caka (w/Superchip) and I (PSP) are having the same problem. Mine just feels like it is starving for fuel. It does not miss, just feels like you are dragging something behind you. I'm calling Sal after he gets off work, I'll let you know. Mine does not do this on stock chip mode.

------------------
Jerry Jordan
99.5 Red Hot Bolt
13.44 @ 101.64
PSP filter and chip (tire destroyer)
Inpulse Lo-Pro bed cover
71 Cutlass conv.
Piper PA28-235
74 Suzuki TS185 (128 original miles)
Looking to buy an 8 second rear engine dragster (cheap)

 

I'm not sure this is the same problem, since it persists even AFTER the chip has been completely removed from the vehicle. Unless, these chips are somehow messing with the PCM in some way. I did notice that my radar detector would occasionally reset itself as if I had pulled the power plug and put it back in. Funny thing is, the problems didnt surface on the track, it was only on the ride home that they started.

 

I hate to sound condescending, and I'm guessing that you tried this already, but sometimes the simple things elude the most intelligent.... You mention intercooler level and/or aspiration, but did you check the tranny fluid level?

Another simple one... You CAN have too much tranny fluid! Maybe the truck was serviced recently, and/or you AND someone else tried to correct a low fluid level?!? Over filling causes the fluid to foam, and thus a lot of air gets circulated in the lines. This would create a similar behavior to what you are describing. I only mention this because when I picked up my truck from the dealer, SOMEONE had over filled the oil! I drained some out "just in case".

Maybe there is a slight design flaw... where the fluid level is ok in normal driving, but the increased stress on the drive train in race conditions exacerbates a "slight" fluid level problem. i.e. maybe the dipstick is marked conservatively.

I do know for example that the oil dipstick on the 99 dakota r/t is too long. What has always bothered me on that issue is whether its too long above the mark or below the mark.... Does dodge even know?

Let us know what you find out!

 

Sal also mentioned the the PCM would give the tranny the "no-go" if tranny temps were too high. some of the guys experienced this after repeditive runs. your 8psi can be routed to the dump.

 

If you saw 8psi the supercharger was not by-passing. I beleive the pressure reading comes from manifold pressure and if it was by-passing pressure would be low. Also I beleive the high tranny temps cause it to by-pass not letting the supercharger build boost.

[This message has been edited by SCOTTODOG (edited 02-07-2000).]

 

After a very successful night at HRP and a pretty good autocross Sunday, I headed back to SA from Houston. I was cruisin at about 90-100 and eventually started to notice a surging / stumbling feeling. Then, I got passed by a chevy and decided to shut him down. I gassed it and the engine revved to about 3500 and the boost guage indicated about 8 pounds. However, the truck did NOT accelerate. I would take it into the dealer but I think that if I tell him that I am experiencing 'hesitation' at 100-120 mph he might find that funny. I DONT.

As I see it, there are a few possible causes:

Bad Superchip connection ( but this isnt it because I removed the chip and the problems persist)

Bad Gas - ( could be, but the superchip is out and the truck performs fine under very gentle acceleration.)

Intercooler fluid aspiration (I am loosing fluid - could heavy throttle cause aspiration of the fluid and thus incomplete fuel burn?)

Dying transmission (please say it aint so. I thought these trannys were heavy-duty. And besides, I dont rag mine out as bad as wyldman anyhow.)

Does anyone have any ideas whats causing my baby to die like this? SAL ???

 

I've heard of problems with this trans, besides my own experience. Some of the torque converters are "Ballooning", not exactly sure what that means though. I would think that you would have a problem all the time.

------------------
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
PFA
'99 WHITE LIGHTNIN'
#0873--1 of 866--
RHINO, Soft cover, LoJack, Valentine 1, Mobil 1
Superchip, Water Wetter, Phantom Boost Gauge
Best ET to date-13.54 @101.51MPH--10/29/99
Best MPH to date-102.33MPH @13.68
Best 1/8---8.70 @80.82MPH
NEWEST ADD.--16" SNOW TIRES
SuperChip out for now

'98 Red Lincoln Continental
1/8 mile--10.25 @69.64MPH
1/4 mile--15.82 @88.16MPH

 

Is the trans shifting into overdrive or are you hitting the rev limiter? Your electronic lockup for the torque converter may be the problem. If you are only seeing 2 shifts(1-2, 2-3) I would check that.

------------------
Red 99.5 Lightning,
#0975,
Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99
Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,
PSP Filter(track untested),
Water Wetter,
Mobil 1,
Foglamp Covers,
13.573@101.08




[This message has been edited by 4D THNDR (edited 02-08-2000).]

 

Check to see if you have been losing intercooler. If you are low on intercooler then DO NOT ADD any. bring it to the dealer ASAP. This is likely the same problem that I had. Many intercoolers have started to fail at 8,000 miles. if you monitor your intercooler level and catch the problem early then you won't damage anything except the spark plugs.

The only other thing it could be is a faulty EGR; however, these should set an engine light and they normaly don't act up until you hit 100,000 mi+

 

Ok, so its probably not the engine. That means the transmission is slipping or something else is going wrong. I had it up to 100 again today and a BUICK LESABRE passed me. I trounced on the gas and the engine RPM went up but no increase in speed.

SAL, if you are around I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this one.

 

Hey Nathan, Sal here. It's had to say what is causing your problem, but there are a few obvious points. It can't be your Superchip if the truck still does it with the chip out. It can't be your engine if the motor revs as it should when you accellerate. The stumbling/suging feeling could be caused by the EGR as mentioned, but that would only happen during cruise before you hit the gas, because the PCM shuts the EGR off at WOT. If I had to take a guess, I would have to say it's trans related. Probably either the convertor or fluid pressure related. And yes, these trannys are considered heavy duty, but so were the first gen trannys and they turned out to be disasters. Believe me, I'm surprised there aren't more tranny concerns here on the board. There will be.

------------------
SAL
13.35@103mph
All stock with PSP 99 Lightning Chip and Filter Kit

Power Surge Performance--- Your SOURCE for SVT Lightning EFI Tuning and Performance!! http://members.aol.com/NLOCsvt/svt.html

 

Morning folks:

Boy, Sal's last two sentences sent a cold chill down my spine! Gonna add a tranny fluid check to my daily PM check list starting today. Other than short bursts, haven't pushed Moby for a couple of months, but you never know.

Bill