2019 Ram 1500 ANOTHER *CLUNK* PROBLEM after 175,000 Miles of Ownership | Truck Central

Another problem! Plus... should you change your transmission fluid or leave it alone?
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[TruckCentral]

*QUESTION FOR YOU: Do you change your transmission fluid regularly or do you believe it's best to avoid it?*

[jasonfalk]

Good save @ 1:26. "Having all these thoughts on 😅. My opinion, is transfer case. It sounds like the chain has stretched, or maybe a chain guide had left the chat. While I haven't heard too many going bad, that seems to be the cause of that clunk.

[moonwalker]

Justin, it’s possible it’s just a u joint that needs replaced or a slip yoke that needs packed with grease. A transfer case that’s getting some slop is also a possibility. As far as the transmission oil change, the people that have issues after a oil change are mostly caused by worn out clutch packs. Basically their transmission was worn out and replacing the oil with new slicker fluid can speed up the issue. To help prevent that possibly, most transmission shops add Lucas Transmission friction modifier to keep the clutches happy. Checking or adding fluid on a sealed transmission is easy if you have a lift or pit. Warm the truck up to operating temp in neutral and pull the fill plug. Add fluid until it starts to drip. Insert plug after no more fluid comes out. I change my fluid about 60k miles. Just finished the video. Definitely transfer case chain.

[TheNewenglandboys]

Anxiously waiting to hear what you found! As always, great video. I could watch your vids for hours!

[rcasoriousa]

Hi Justin, Rick from Michigan here and I have a low milage 2019 Ram CC Laramie 4x4 that I custom ordered new. It's now got 23, 000 miles on her and I too have HAD this same problem. I noticed mine really starting to clunk going between reverse and drive about a year ago and steadily getting worse like yours. To a point where it would lurch the truck when shifting into gear when trying to inch forwards or backwards when getting in or out of a parking spot. I took it to the dealer in March2022, they did a software update, no change, they then put a new transfer case in it, no change, they then replaced the valve body, no change, finally July2022 they replaced the zf transmission and that did the trick. Buttery smooth now.

[cerisme]

Ram 2014 1500 8 speed 216, 000 Miles. Notice transmission was starting to run a little bit warm 220-230°. The transmission fluid is supposed to be changed every 100, 000 miles so it was a little past due for its second change. Took it in got a full service new filter new fluid. Things running smooth as ever can't get it to come past 195° now. There is a service life on the transmission fluid. I think best to change it, because if you go too much past that service life you're doing unnecessary damage to the transmission anyways 🧑‍🔧

[jhwmqeu]

had all my fluids serviced - trans, TC, front and rear diffs @80, 000km. 19'ram limited

having exclusively owned only german cars until this ram, you could say I've learned the hard way how important clean fresh fluid is

[jimlove]

Seems to be coming from the transfer case, not the rear dif. But I’d probably still do a drain and fill or flush. I’ve heard both sides of the fence on this one. But in all honesty, flushing or drain and fill couldn’t hurt. If the trans fluid is dirty, change it. You wouldn’t want to run an engine on old oil, same goes for old tranny fluid. This isn’t the days of old anymore, parts and technology have improved drastically since then. Just my two cents, but it’s your truck. Good luck, and good to see as always Justin.

[JohnSmith-evsm]

Ram says don't flush the transmission, but ZF who makes the actual transmission says to change it every 90K miles or so. I will definitely flush mine, like changing the rear diffs or engine oil, anything that needs oil needs a flush. For the clunk, does it do it you shift to neutral, wait with foot on brake, then shift to park with auto engage park brake; let go of brake, push brake then shift to drive etc? In other words, if the park brake is used to prevent the strain on the transmission while parked, do you still get the noise? Mine will sometimes clunk if the truck is parked on a slope without using the park brake, then shifting to drive/reverse it might clunk. Since I use the auto park brake I very very rarely hear any clunk, except when I hold my foot on the brake too long when starting engine. If you tap the brake to kick engine over and then right away release brake, no clunk.

[nickgrant]

I’d do a drain and fill with the transmission. Not a flush.

[ramrider]

My dealer states that these transmissions are sealed units. I. Hearing different things on being able to do transmission oil changes. Can’t wait to see what you find out. Thanks for the updates

[jc]

There is a good article in gears magazine called. gears-for the transmission rebuilding industry- about the zf 8-speed transmission fluid and filter change. in this article it says that a transmission shop can use a scan tool to check out the health by checking the clutch packs in the transmission. it also says that each clutch has 4 sets of numbers and values and you can see how each clutch is . zf has numbers that gives high and low and as long as it's performing between them it still operating properly. it doesn't tell if you have a bearing or gearcase worn but usually you can hear it whining. it's a interesting read that also says that even zf recommend 70, 000 to 80, 000 miles fluid and filter change. but what was interesting was that you can see if yes your transmission is still good and it will benefit from having a fluid and filter change with the miles you have or that you might want to think about getting a transmission overall because it was not healthy

[MTBD]

I've got 256k miles on my old 96 Caravan 41TE and I flush the fluid and change filter at round 30k-40k miles. I once went to 65k on it and the trans filter plugged up. I would never NOT service the transmission, you want that fluid to be in the best shape possible. You also want remove any wear debris from bottom of pan and system as well. You also don't want the filter to become restrictive.

[mattdavis]

Sounds like the transfer case. Probably the chain is getting slack. Check the fluid

[clopez]

Definitely change the fluid in the transfer case. Mopar transfer cases are notorious for making noise when the fluid has broken down to much. Probably do the front and rear diffs too. Leave transmission fluid change for last but only do a fluid and filter change. No flush.

[zmcdole]

I’ve got an 06 MDX with 230k miles. Since I’ve had it (purchased at 102k miles) I’ve kept fresh tranny fluid in it every 30ish thousand miles. Still shifts well and smooth. It ain’t like new, but I’m certain that good tranny fluid will extend the life of your transmission.

[RobCabreraCh]

My 2022 Ram has a very light clunk when going into gear as well. And that truck only has like 10, 000 miles, probably less. As you mentioned, when it's cold or it has been off for too long, it will do it louder.

[kelbymorgan]

Hey there my Oklahoma Buddy, not sure if I can provide much incite on the transmission service. But, I will be changing the fluid, pan/filter, & electronic sleeve on my ‘19 limited once it reaches 50k miles. I will say, my grandfather rebuilt transmissions here in Henryetta for 40 yrs. He always told me on ford & chevy transmissions to change the fluid every 60k miles or NOT at all. This may be a different case with the German ZF 8 speed. I can also say that I recently changed the trans fluid, pan/filter, pan bolts, and electronic sleeve on my 2004 Jag XJR with 75k miles and it did not effect the 6 speed ZF in it at all.

[Austin-iqds]

I am in the camp of changing it on schedule as the manufacturer says. I don’t believe in flushing a high mileage trans though. But I don’t see any issue with drain and fills

[kuhndog-]

As for the trans, drain and fill with filter change. Do that a couple times spread out over a few thousand miles. Basically do it until the fluid stays looking new.