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Have you experienced the torque converter problem?

  • Yes, I had this problem and had or plan to have it fixed.

    Votes: 191 30.5%
  • No, I have not noticed this problem.

    Votes: 313 50.0%
  • I can't determine for sure if I have this problem.

    Votes: 122 19.5%

Torque Converter Poll

130K views 453 replies 198 participants last post by  freezer16801 
#1 ·
If you have a 4th gen Ram (2009-present) and either have or have not had an issue with the reported grinding noise, please vote in the poll. My intent is to see how widespread this issue is among forum members.

As for me, I can tell for sure because my Magnaflow cat back exhaust upgrade is the dominant noise I hear (when my radio is not blaring). So I am having a hard time determining if I have this issue.
 
#289 ·
Well, "frisbee on concrete" is a pretty good description of the converter "warble", but the speed you report (30 mph) is lower than usual (normally it's around 50 mph), and as I said you should not get the noise unless the TCC is fully locked. I'm not sure offhand how Tow/Haul mode would affect the TCC schedule. But I would demo it for a dealer tech (with scan tool) and see if the noise coincides with full TCC lockup. If not, then I suspect it's something else.
 
#290 ·
@ TransEngineer....I dont know why i put 30MPH, i meant to say 40MPH and up, whooops lol...I had the truck at my local Dodge dealership today...After waiting ALL day to hear from them and having heard nothing, i decided to give them a call...The only person i was able to speak with was the woman working the service desk, she couldnt tell me much but what she was able to tell me was that i was getting an entirely new transmission installed tomorrow under warranty...I dont know whether this is good news or bad news, she was unable to tell me whether it had anything to do with the torque converter or not, i guess i will find out when i pick it up...
 
#291 ·
They did WHAT?!?! There goes our warranty costs! It will be interesting to see whether this "repair" actually fixes anything for you.

If you could post your VIN (last 8 digits), it would be helpful. I'll try to see if we can get our hands on your old trans to see if there was actually anything wrong with it....
 
#292 ·
I got the truck back today, and the service adviser lady i spoke to on the phone was wrong about replacing the entire tranny, even though i asked her to double check on this! They just replaced the torque converter and now the noise is all cleared up! One thing i noticed now that i have the truck back is i am getting a hard downshift at around 40mph ish......Shifts down really hard and has NEVER done this before, is there a reflash for the 2010 rams ?
 
#293 ·
..... One thing i noticed now that i have the truck back is i am getting a hard downshift at around 40mph ish......Shifts down really hard and has NEVER done this before, is there a reflash for the 2010 rams ?
I don't know whether any updated flashes are available. It's possible they ran a "quicklearn" when they replaced your converter (which resets all the trans adaptive parameters), so it might just need to learn back in to where it was.

When you say "hard downshift," I presume you mean a hard coastdown shift (at closed throttle, as you're slowing down), and not a hard kickdown shift (when you go to pass someone, etc.). Is that correct? Give it a week or two and see if it learns out of it.
 
#295 ·
Good day

I had my tc changed under a problem with noise. Now the rpms are fluctuating between 1000 rpm and such as well as constant speed shuddering. I can't seem to pinpoint at what rpm it shudders but when it does it is awful at highway speeds there is a drone wave noise that gets worse from 100km and above with cruise on or off and the trailer tow on or off. I don't know what to do. They replaced my entire rear carrier as well and it's still there
 
#298 ·
BS is correct. The converter kit you'd need for a standard 5.7L (RL051146AB) is in stock at several parts depots, including 8 in New York and 15 in Atlanta. There are also 943 of them in stock and available at our national Sherwood depot. There should be no problem getting one of these converters.

And in case you've got an R/T model, that converter kit is RL051167AB. There are 2 in Atlanta and 54 at Sherwood.

These converter kits are NOT backordered. They are available!

And for you 4.7L fans, kit RL051241AB is also in stock (715 available).
 
#300 ·
Took my truck in for its ten k service and asked them to check on the noise ( I knew it was there ). The service manager confirmed this. They kept the truck overnite and changed the torque the next day. Noise is gone and now its is hard to tell when the mds kicks in. Before there was a noticeable vibration when it was on.
 
#301 ·
t/c is replaced

This info about the grinding noise that we were hearing during lock up mode would be ignored by most dealers if it was not for the star case that we are armed with. I heard the noise on my 2011 ram with about 2600 miles on it then went to the dealer for my first free oil change told them about the noise and I was told that it was normal for this model truck.Thanks to this board with the star case I had the ammo that I needed. I waited until the noise got louder as time went on, only to be told that my after market exhaust was too loud and the service tech could not hear what I was talking about. That is when I pulled out the star case and told them to look up the case number. I was informed that a new t/c was ordered and in three days it was in. I set up an appointment to have it replaced it took 7 hrs and the noise is gone at four weeks later and 7200 miles. Thank all of you for your great information on this and other issues that have came up with these nice trucks.
 
#303 ·
Isn't there like a check engine light that comes on or a engine code that pops up on the truck if the TC is goin bad? I'm just wondering because incase I start to notice anything specially since I have an aftermarket exhaust system. And another thing, this might sound stupid to some of u but what is a STAR CASE?
 
#304 ·
No, you get no CEL or fault code. The problem is a rattle noise that is due to excessive clearance in the spline between the turbine damper and turbine hub. If you get a converter with spline clearance at the upper end of the tolerance, you can get this noise. But it is not defect that causes a fault or CEL. It is just an annoying noise.

The STAR Center is our technical assistance hotline for dealer technicians. So a STAR case is a record of a call to the hotline, and what the specialist at STAR recommended to the dealer (on how to diagnose or repair the vehicle).
 
#307 ·
No particular date codes. The noise is usually heard at light cruise, maybe 45-50 mph, with the trans in ERS "5". This disables MDS and allows full converter clutch lockup (the noise only happens in full lockup). The noise has been described as sounding like a Frisbee sliding across concrete, which is as accurate a description as I've seen. If you don't hear such a noise, then you're OK. If you can hear it, then you need to decide whether it's enough of a problem (annoying enough) to justify getting the converter replaced. This is only a noise issue (not a durability problem), so if it doesn't bother you, it's OK to just leave it alone.
 
#309 ·
I'm about 90% sure I have this problem. Never really paid too much attention as I have 295 70 R18 trail grapplers and magnaflow exhaust. I get a decent amount of noise from the tires but lately seems to be more with a slight vibration, I have almost 28,000 on my 2011. As soon as I'm done with work I will be taking it for an in depth test drive. Already have an apt. with the dealership next week so I'm glad I found this today. Will be back to vote after the test drive.
 
#311 ·
I had my tourque converter replaced at 20000km and now my rpm,s flutter in 1000 to 1500 rpm increments. At cruising speed and cruise set at 100km/h it fluctuates between 1500 rpm and 1800rpm on straight flat roads. It also kicks out Eco mode. They are bringing me in for another tourque converter replacement. Hope this fixes it
 
#315 ·
Torque replaced but....

Good morning. I just purchased my Ram about a month and a half ago. It's a 2011 Dodge Ram Laramie Crew Cab w/ the 5.7 Hemi. I will upload some pics soon. I bought it with about 23,500 miles on it. Loaded down and was hard to pass up this deal. Absolutely beautiful truck.

After a week or so of driving through my subdivision (stop sign heaven) I did start to dial in on the quite noticible drop down into ECO mode and the change in the exhaust sound. It completely sounds like it's bogged down and it only amplifies when you give it a bit of gas until it kicks back to all 8 cylinders (then it's perfectly fine). I read all about this converter poll and read plenty to realize I might have had the same issue so I took it to the dealer. They had it for two weeks and I just got it back yesterday with a new torque converter and about 3 or so flash updates they said. Sadly, when I got to my subdivision I got the same exact rough drop down by the MDS and the bogged down sound/feel again. I brought it back to them and they said they drove another 2011 and it did the exact same thing. I just have a hard time swallowing that this is "normal" and if it is, shame on you Dodge. They told me that it's opperating the way it should and there isn't anything else that can be done about it except to complain to Chrysler (which will probably do nothing). They said I could always leave it in Tow Haul mode which would leave it in all 8 cylinders in which it doesn't do it by the way. That is such a cop out and I shouldn't have to do that. They should have designed a system that works or don't do it at all. Sounds to me like it's something with the MDS system. Has anyone else had any luck with a similar problem after having the torque converter replaced and not fixing anything? Thanks in advance for the replies.

Drew
 
#316 ·
What you're describing is it going from 8 to 4 cylinders and then back to 8. That's mds. It is normal
 
#317 ·
Really? Normal? When it drops into MDS and shakes the truck quite a lot? Plus the bogged down feeling? I am sorry but that's very disappointing. Is there any chance that there is a flash update or computer update of sorts in the works that could correct this? Sounds like that wouldn't be a mechanical problem but a computerized problem. I do understand the bogged down highly underpowered feeling, but it's the rough transition into 4 cylinders and change in exhaust sound that is my biggest gripe.
 
#320 ·
After waiting for more then 2 months the dealer finally got my replacement torque convertor in. I had been calling every 2-3 weeks for an update and they told me they were waiting for a new part number to issued that would address the problems Dodge has been having with our trucks.
I dropped the truck off tonight and asked what part number convertor they were installing in my truck, He told me R8051146AB and said the "R" meant re-manufactured.
Does this seem correct? has Dodge issued a new part number and are the parts re-manufactured?
 
#321 ·
..... I dropped the truck off tonight and asked what part number convertor they were installing in my truck, He told me R8051146AB and said the "R" meant re-manufactured.
Does this seem correct? has Dodge issued a new part number and are the parts re-manufactured?
You got the right part. Yes, that is a "reman" number, but that does not mean you got a remanufactured part. As far as I know, these (2011 service) converters are all brand new.

They use a "reman" part number because they want your old converter back for a core. If they sell you a "regular" part number, there is no core charge and they don't demand the old part back. But with a "reman" number there is a core charge to ensure the old part gets returned.
 
#324 · (Edited)
After 4 days at the dealer I got my truck back, the noise is gone but I noticed on the weekend that it is dripping transmission fluild between the back of the engine and the transmission. I assume that means the front seal in the transmission was damaged during the converter install. This morning on the way to work at highway speed it starting shuttering really badly when at 110-120 km/hr.
Any idea what that means?
 
#325 ·
I think it means you need to take it back to the dealer!

How bad is the fluid leakage? Sometimes this might just be some residual oil from when they did the replacement. So if it's just a few drops, I would wait a few days and see if it continues or quits.

As for the shuddering, I don't know what would cause that (or how a cut impeller hub seal would cause it), so if that continues, have the dealer check it with a scan tool to see what's going on.

Did they replace just the converter, or did they replace anything else?
 
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