The Car Care Clinic with the Dr John

1999 Durango - shifting points seem a little off

Jason in Tunbridge Wells

Question

I recently had my transmission removed and rebuilt in my 1999 Durango, and since I got it back, the shifting points seem a little off, but the main problem I'm having is that if it sits over night, and I first start it and put it in gear to either back or pull out of my driveway, the Durango won't move, I give it throttle and it seems like there is no gear whatsoever, but after a couple seconds, 10 or more it goes in gear and works fine. The longer the Durango sits, the longer it has no drive gear, but before it engages, you hear the pump and everything but it still won't move, then it goes in and is fine untill it sits again. A tranny shop told me that they're 100% sure it's the check valve in the tranny line and they said they have to replace that. When in fact I changed that the day I got the Durango out of the shop. And if it sits for a couple days there's a puddle under it from tranny fluid, but I believe that's just the pan gasket. And the transmission shop has it now and says its fine, its normal and has no problem going in to gear for them. Any idea what the problem could be.

Answer

Your problem Jason is the result of an internal leak in the transmission. The torque converter drains back into the transmission overnight. We call this "morning sickness." When the truck is started, it can not move until the transmission refills the torque converter. When the truck sits for several days, the torque converter over-fills the transmission to the point that the fluid leaks out of the vents.

Good Luck!
Dr. John