Servicing - A/t Dodge Ram I

IDENTIFICATION

TRANSMISSION CODES

Transmission

Change fluid and filter every 30,000 miles; if under severe usage, change more often. Adjust bands when fluid is changed. Fluid level should be checked every 6 months.

Transfer Case

On 4WD models, change transfer case fluid every 30,000 miles.

1. Park vehicle on level area. Oil must be at normal operating temperature, parking brake engaged and engine at idle. Shift transmission selector through each position, stopping briefly in each position.
2. Place selector in "N" position and clean area around dipstick tube. Ensure fluid level is between lower and upper marks, but never over upper mark in "HOT" range. Add or drain fluid as necessary. CAUTION: If severe darkening of the fluid and a strong odor is noted, fluid and filter should be changed and bands adjusted.

Transfer Case (Raider & Ram-50)

Lubricant level should be to bottom of fill hole on side of transfer case.

Transfer Case (Colt Vista)

Transfer case is equipped with dipstick. Fluid level should be between marks on dipstick. (Scheme 37)

Scheme 37

All transmissions use Dexron II automatic transmission fluid. Chrysler Motors does not recommend use of special additives in their transmissions.

Transfer Cases

All transfer cases use API GL-4 or GL-5, SAE 75W-85.

FLUID CAPACITY

TRANSMISSION REFILL CAPACITIES

DRAINING & REFILLING

Transmission (Conquest, Raider & Ram-50)

1. Carefully remove drain plug on Raider and Ram-50 models. On all models, remove oil pan and drain fluid. Install new filter on bottom of valve body.
2. Clean oil pan, replace gasket and install oil pan. Tighten bolts to 20-30 Ft. lbs.(27-42 Nm). Pour 4.7 pts. (2.2 L) of specified fluid through filler tube. Start engine and allow to idle for 2 minutes.
3. Shift transmission into each position, ending in "N" position. Check fluid level with engine running at idle and add sufficient fluid to bring level to lower mark. Recheck fluid level after transmission is at normal operating temperature.

Scheme 38

1. Remove drain plug from differential and drain fluid. (Scheme 38) Remove bolts and lower oil pan. If necessary, install new filter on bottom of valve body. Replace pan gasket and install pan. Tighten pan bolts to 90-102 INCH lbs. (10-11 N.m).
2. Tighten differential plug to 22-25 ft. lbs. (30-34 N.m). Ensure dipstick hole area is clean and pour in about 4.2 qts. (4.0L) of Dexron II fluid.
3. Run engine for 2 minutes at idle. Shift transmission to each position, ending in "N" position. Add sufficient fluid to reach lower mark. After reaching normal operating temperature, fluid should be between upper and lower marks of "HOT" range.

1. On Raider and Ram-50 models, drain plug is located on bottom of transfer case. Change drain plug gasket whenever fluid is changed. When refilling, fluid level should be up to bottom of fill hole in side of case.
2. On Colt Vista models, drain plug is located on bottom of transfer case. Fill case through dipstick hole.

Conquest (2nd Brake Band)

Remove oil pan and drain fluid. Loosen lock nut. Tighten piston stem to 60-84 INCH lbs. (6.8-9.5 N.m). Back off adjustment screw 2 turns. Hold piston stem and tighten lock nut to 11-29 ft. lbs. (15-39 N.m). (Scheme 39)

Adjusting 2nd Brake Band on Conquest Courtesy Chrysler Motors. Scheme 39

Conquest (Overdrive Band)

Overdrive band is located on bottom of case in front of oil pan. Loosen lock nut. Tighten piston stem to 60-84 INCH lbs. (6.8-9.5 N.m). Back off adjustment screw 2 turns. Hold piston stem and tighten lock nut to 11-29 ft. lbs. (15-39 N.m).

Scheme 40

1. On Colt only, ensure throttle lever of carburetor is in curb idle position. Engine must be at normal operating temperature. On Colt Vista only, turn ignition key on with engine off for 15-20 seconds. Ensure throttle valve is at standard idle opening.
2. On Colt and Colt Vista, raise cover "B" of throttle cable upward to expose nipple. (Scheme 40) Loosen lower cable bracket mounting bolt. Move lower cable bracket until distance between nipples and top of cover "A" on throttle cable is.02-.06" (.5-1.5 mm).
3. Tighten lower cable bracket mounting bolt to 108-126 INCH lbs. (12-14 N.m). With throttle lever in wide open throttle position, pull cable upward to ensure cable still has some free play. CAUTION: Whenever idle is adjusted on Raider and Ram-50, always adjust throttle control cable.

Scheme 41

1. Ensure engine idle is adjusted correctly. Ensure carburetor throttle lever and throttle cable bracket are not bent.
2. Measure gap between inner cable stopper and cover end with carburetor throttle valve fully open. (Scheme 41)
3. If gap is not 2.05-2.09" (52-53 mm), adjust inner cable bracket. Tighten cable bracket bolts to 96-112 INCH lbs. (10-14 N.m).

Conquest

1. Disconnect vacuum hose at vacuum diaphragm. Remove diaphragm from transmission case. Using depth gauge, measure depth "L". (Scheme 42)
2. Ensure vacuum throttle valve is pushed into valve body as far as possible. Select correct length rod to adjust. See «VACUUM DIAPHRAGM ROD SELECTION»(/dodge/ram/i-1981-1993/remont/automatic-trans/#servicing-at).

VACUUM DIAPHRAGM ROD SELECTION

Scheme 42

1. Kickdown switch is located at upper post of accelerator pedal. When pedal is fully depressed, a click should be heard just before the pedal bottoms out.
2. If click is not heard, loosen lock nut and extend switch until pedal lever makes contact with switch and switch clicks. If switch makes contact too soon, transmission will downshift on part throttle.
3. If car upshifts at 30 and 60 MPH only, the switch may be shorted internally.

Colt & Colt Vista

Shift cable is adjusted at transmission end of cable. Place shift lever in "N". Ensure transmission shift lever and neutral safety switch are in neutral position. Turn adjuster at cable end so it fits into manual lever on transmission.

Place shift lever in "N" position. Transmission selector lever should also be in Neutral. If not, loosen lock nuts on end of cross shaft below shift lever assembly. Adjust selector rod and tighten lock nuts. (Scheme 43)

Scheme 43

Raider

Loosen swivel nut on transmission control rod. Ensure shift lever and transmission are in Neutral. Tighten swivel nut. (Scheme 44)

Scheme 44

Ram-50

Disconnect shift cable at transmission. Ensure shift lever and transmission are both in Neutral. Adjust transmission end of shift cable to fit in transmission shift lever.

Colt, Colt Vista, Conquest & Raider

To adjust shift lever sleeve, remove shift handle on top of shift lever. With lever in "N" position, turn sleeve so distance between sleeve and lever end is.60-.63" (15-16 mm). (Scheme 45) Ensure beveled side of sleeve faces toward push button.

Scheme 45

Place transmission control lever in "N" position. Loosen switch retaining bolts. Turn neutral switch body so aligning hole end of lever overlaps switch body flange. Tighten bolts to 90-102 INCH lbs. (10-12 N.m). (Scheme 46)

Scheme 46

1. Place transmission in Neutral. Remove screw on bottom of neutral safety switch at transmission. Loosen attaching bolts. (Scheme 48)
2. Using an.08" (2.0 mm) alignment pin, move switch until pin falls into hole in rotor. Tighten attaching bolts to 43-61 INCH lbs. (5-7 N.m).

Scheme 47

Scheme 48

1. Neutral safety switch is located under shift lever console. Set shift lever so pin at end of rod is positioned correctly. (Scheme 47)
2. Using an ohmmeter, check continuity between Black/Yellow wires when neutral safety switch is moved back and forth. Mark bracket.
3. Tighten neutral safety switch mounting screws so clearance between switch and selector lever is.1" (2.5 mm).

On Ram-50 models, neutral safety switch is part of ignition switch assembly.

See also:
• VACUUM DIAPHRAGM ROD SELECTION