2004 5 Speed Auto

[SheepDog]

2004 3.0 Edge 5sp auto, 2x4, 4.10 gears, 28in tires.

What is the transmission supposed to feel like in the rangers? From a stop when I give it gas, it seems to go to like 2500rpms and just stay there while the truck accelerates to speed. At speed it drops down to OD and stays there like it should. It feels like it's not shifting at all or it is slipping so much I dont feel each shift.

In comparison I have a 2013 Dodge charger with a hemi and you can feel each individual gear as it shifts and watch the tachometer do the same. My Duramax with the Allison transmission shifts like the dodge when warmed up and more like the ranger when cold.

Is this a normal thing for the 5 speed auto ranger? I did do a drain and refill of the 14 year old original fluid because I had a bad converter shudder. The shudder is gone but the lack of distinctive shifting is still there.

 

[adsm08]

Ideally you will never feel an automatic transmission shift, but unless you have a CVT (You don't) you should be able to see the tach drop each time it shifts. You should be able to know easily if the trans is slipping because there would be a large increase in engine RPM with no corresponding increase in ground speed.

Chrysler transmissions should not be used as a baseline to compare anything to for determining proper operation as they are garbage. The Allison behind your Duramax is a very different beast and probably not a good comparison either.

I haven't spent a lot of time driving Rangers of that era, but I had an 05 Explorer with a variant of the trans in your truck and you didn't really feel that shift either, until it got time to change the fluid, then you could notice it a little bit.

 

[SheepDog]

Ok maybe thats just the way these Rangers are then. Im just used to driving automatics that actually have noticeable shift points all day every day so when I get into the Ranger it doesn't seem normal lol.

I drive a 2018 Explorer PPV at work and that thing shifts like its a tap-shifter transmission. Shifts are nice, snappy, and quick and each gear is very distinctive. But I think it has one of the fancy new Dual Clutch Autos or whatever they are called.

Also, that Dodge has a Mercedes transmission in it. One of their older 5sp units. People like to hate on Dodge but I think today's Dodges are much different that the old ones. Maybe not great, but still light years better than what they used to be.