Powet wagons don't like cold!!!

[SnakeEyes]

I don't know about the rest of you but it's been -25 to -35 plus wind chill for the last week here in SK! I have been avoidin starting my truck for that reason but after driving it twice in the last 2 days in -42 with win chill days I discovered it doesn't handle to cold to well and I was a bit pissed off...
I drove it for 10 and parked it for 1/2hr then when I went to put it in drive it just showed a D4 beside the drive selector and wouldn't shift out of 4th gear! It made the truck very hard to drive and I could get it to change. So I drove a few blocks and shut it off for a few hrs thinking it might stop on its own. Started it again same deal plus a CEL... Arg! So I pulled out the DCX that I can tune with yet lol and read the code P0882. Some Tcm short voltage or something like that. Cleared it an all was fine...
Today the same thing happened but when I cleared the code it instantly came back with stuck in D4! At this point I was raving mad! New $66,000 truck with 2500km on it and already having problems... So I said hell with it and drove it around the city till the temp on the tranny was high. Shut it off to pick up my new couch and the CEL and D4 were gone...
So either my truck doesn't like the cold or there is a problem and it's only starting now...
Anyone else encounter problems like this?

[nts007]

It's cold. I'm in the same place as you. Do you have winter covers on the grill? I have to have mine on. My tranny will hardly warm up otherwise

[TwinStick]

I may be wrong, but My thought is this: These new/er transmissions do not let it shift into overdrive until trans reaches a certain temp. Using this logic, because of the extreme -42* temp, & the short distance driven, maybe the trans fluid was SO thick, it wouldn't/couldn't shift out of gear once stopped ??? I realize it is 11 years newer but my 04' 2500 QC 4x4 w/Hemi & 545RFE would hold gears for a LONG time when it was really cold (-10) here in Western NY State.


In an interesting comparison, years ago, we had someone from Yellowknife Alaska who owned a PW. He seemed to have many more issues then the rest of us & IMHO, it was from the extreme temps. He had days when it was -60* straight temp WITHOUT the wind chill, add 60 mph winds to THAT !!! (somewhere between -122* & -150*F !!!) Think about that for a minute. That is around a 322-350* temp swing on your engine & all the things around it. Thats a lot of contraction when it cools down & a lot of expansion when it heats up. Seals will wear/break/crack faster, grease will not work as well & things will just wear quicker. Synthetic everything is the order of the day in extreme temps.

Sorry for your troubles but please keep us posted on the outcome of this.

[TrueBlue13PW]

I don't know about the rest of you but it's been -25 to -35 plus wind chill for the last week here in SK! I have been avoidin starting my truck for that reason but after driving it twice in the last 2 days in -42 with win chill days I discovered it doesn't handle to cold to well and I was a bit pissed off...
I drove it for 10 and parked it for 1/2hr then when I went to put it in drive it just showed a D4 beside the drive selector and wouldn't shift out of 4th gear! It made the truck very hard to drive and I could get it to change. So I drove a few blocks and shut it off for a few hrs thinking it might stop on its own. Started it again same deal plus a CEL... Arg! So I pulled out the DCX that I can tune with yet lol and read the code P0882. Some Tcm short voltage or something like that. Cleared it an all was fine...
Today the same thing happened but when I cleared the code it instantly came back with stuck in D4! At this point I was raving mad! New $66,000 truck with 2500km on it and already having problems... So I said hell with it and drove it around the city till the temp on the tranny was high. Shut it off to pick up my new couch and the CEL and D4 were gone...
So either my truck doesn't like the cold or there is a problem and it's only starting now...
Anyone else encounter problems like this?

I had the same problem last year when it was -20 below. What it turned out to be on mine is it was starting with a low voltage(Seamed to turn over normal but got a error code the same as you). This low voltage puts the truck into a type of limp mode. Done a full deep charge on the battery and everything has been fine since. I experienced several days as cold and colder with no issue. I think the batteries in these trucks may not be quite enough for these trucks and when this battery has enough age on it or if I have any more issues with it I'll replace it with a better battery with more CCA.

[SnakeEyes]

No I don't have a grill cover on it but if the temp holds like this I might throw some cardboard in there to help. Driving home on the highway today it was holding temp only slightly less then usual. Trans temp was around 86*C but I don't know what it would be otherwise a I've never thought to look. Big beast only got 24.5L/100km tho so I'm guessin IT wasnt warm enough to shift into a higher gear or use MDS.
I am guessing this whole issue is like twin stick says. Although the engine was warned up the tranny never had a chance to warm up the fluid enough to shift gears easily and it held gears or went into safe mode in D4 till it wa warmer. Atleast that's my hope *fingers crossed*

[JBM Power Wagon]

It was -31C here on the weekend and my 2014 didn't have any problems at all. Drove completely normal. However I did let it warm up for a long time (close to 30 min) before driving it.

[Ducky's Dad]

I have been in Barrow AK when it was -60F, plus whatever the wind chill was. All the vehicles were just left running 24/7, whether gas or diesel. Nobody bothered plugging in their block heaters because those wouldn't warm the oil enough to get things moving in those conditions. It will be 79F today in Temecula CA. BRRRR...

[old sole mopar]

Dodge uses a thematic valve on the Trans cooler line. These can fail transmissions any time of year. They need a certain temp to open and flow oil through the cooler. Some stick or just gum up. Cooler may never flow! Transmission is trying to save itself in limp mode. A transmission shop in Edmonton told a friend of mine he sees dodge transmission failirers from this all the time. I havent looked at my 14 to see if it's there but if it is, it mat just get removed!

[jeep_boy02]

Dodge uses a thematic valve on the Trans cooler line. These can fail transmissions any time of year. They need a certain temp to open and flow oil through the cooler. Some stick or just gum up. Cooler may never flow! Transmission is trying to save itself in limp mode. A transmission shop in Edmonton told a friend of mine he sees dodge transmission failirers from this all the time. I havent looked at my 14 to see if it's there but if it is, it mat just get removed!

That seems like it would help in cold weather but sounds scary if to fail in summer while towing.

[old sole mopar]

Keep it in mind. It never used to be there years ago. It's not needed. The transmission is fine with out it. If my 14 has it. It's gone as soon as warranty is gone!

[SnakeEyes]

No problems today. But I let it idle till the tranny temp was atleast 20* before I moved

[2wagons1driveway]

Hey snake eyes there's a Norwegian company that was just at my work that actually makes a preheat kit for the ram 1500's it's an electric coolant pump and heater grid that runs on 120 volt plug near the front bumper. Not a block heater but a pre heater! Think I may look into this myself may help with tranny temps considering the heat transfer from the block to the trans case may help for the overnight situations....trying to find the name of these guys...give me a bit!


Sent from somewhere your not

[2wagons1driveway]

http://www.erindodge.com/sales/defa.php here's the link to a dodge near me using them! The defa rep says their planning on having more systems for more vehicles very soon! The BMW ones were pretty trick.....here's the company website http://www.defa.com/en/fp/


Sent from somewhere your not

[nts007]

My tranny won't shift last 4th or lock up the converter untill the tranny reaches 60F. Driving the other day I let it warm for half hour then it took 5 miles driving on the grid untill it was shifting better. In the summer hot the tranny will hit 130-140 normally and 180 towing. But in this weather it rarely gets over 100°. Even after 3-4hrs driving. This weather is hard on equipment as well as people. Still having extreme cold warning southern sask

[2wagons1driveway]

Cardboard infront of the trans cooler will help a lot. Or a grill cover periode


Sent from somewhere your not

[RustyPW]

My tranny won't shift last 4th or lock up the converter untill the tranny reaches 60F. Driving the other day I let it warm for half hour then it took 5 miles driving on the grid untill it was shifting better. In the summer hot the tranny will hit 130-140 normally and 180 towing. But in this weather it rarely gets over 100°. Even after 3-4hrs driving. This weather is hard on equipment as well as people. Still having extreme cold warning southern sask

My PW is like this. In cold weather. The transmission needs some heat into it before it is allow to shift up.

[old sole mopar]

I traditionally order an extra large pizza and use the box for my winter front. Feed the family and keep the truck warm. That's true love right there. Life is beautiful.

[Throttle 8]

I'm glad I've got a G56 up here in Northern Ontario----all you need in the cold is a strong left leg and right arm!!

[SnakeEyes]

I wish I had a 6 speed in my truck!
Before this weekend when I have to hit the highway again in think I'm gonna throw some cardboard in there and cover the whole grill up

[adeluca73]

When it's that cold no vehicle operates "normally". When I lived in Fairbanks, my truck had a full frontal cover, an electric battery blanket for each battery, an oil pan heater pad, a transmission heater pad, an engine block heater & I plugged it in from the minute I got home until the next morning everyday from Nov-March & when it hit -35 and colder, none of it helped. I was happy if it started, which wasn't a guarantee everyday, & been stranded at work more than once for sure & had to have the wife come get me until it warmed up enough to start the truck...life in the frozen tundra, gotta love it.

[TwinStick]

I'm glad I've got a G56 up here in Northern Ontario----all you need in the cold is a strong left leg and right arm!!

Ain't that the truth !!!!


My ritual: Start truck 10 min before leaving, t-case in N & transmission in 4th, let out clutch. Listen to TO bearing make weird noises while going back in the house !!!
Shifts fine after that.

Block heaters ROCK in cold weather. Glad i ordered that, $35 well spent.

[nts007]

When it's that cold no vehicle operates "normally". When I lived in Fairbanks, my truck had an electric battery blanket for each battery, an oil pan heater pad, a transmission heater pad, an engine block heater & I plugged it in from the minute I got home until the next morning everyday from Nov-March & when it hit -35 and colder, none of it helped. I was happy if it started, which wasn't a guarantee everyday, & been stranded at work more than once for sure & had to have the wife come get me until it warmed up enough to start the truck...life in the frozen tundra, gotta love it.

Ten bucks it was a Ford. Lol. Driving cummins for years in these temps and a block heater and a grill cover and you're good

[SnakeEyes]

I'm glad I've got a G56 up here in Northern Ontario----all you need in the cold is a strong left leg and right arm!!

Ain't that the truth !!!!


My ritual: Start truck 10 min before leaving, t-case in N & transmission in 4th, let out clutch. Listen to TO bearing make weird noises while going back in the house !!!
Shifts fine after that.

Block heaters ROCK in cold weather. Glad i ordered that, $35 well spent.

Would that work with a auto? Just put t case in neutral, push the park break and put it in drive?

[adeluca73]

When it's that cold no vehicle operates "normally". When I lived in Fairbanks, my truck had an electric battery blanket for each battery, an oil pan heater pad, a transmission heater pad, an engine block heater & I plugged it in from the minute I got home until the next morning everyday from Nov-March & when it hit -35 and colder, none of it helped. I was happy if it started, which wasn't a guarantee everyday, & been stranded at work more than once for sure & had to have the wife come get me until it warmed up enough to start the truck...life in the frozen tundra, gotta love it.

Ten bucks it was a Ford. Lol. Driving cummins for years in these temps and a block heater and a grill cover and you're good

Uh, yeah, of course.

[TwinStick]

I'm glad I've got a G56 up here in Northern Ontario----all you need in the cold is a strong left leg and right arm!!

Ain't that the truth !!!!


My ritual: Start truck 10 min before leaving, t-case in N & transmission in 4th, let out clutch. Listen to TO bearing make weird noises while going back in the house !!!
Shifts fine after that.

Block heaters ROCK in cold weather. Glad i ordered that, $35 well spent.

Would that work with a auto? Just put t case in neutral, push the park break and put it in drive?

I don't see why not. Unless there is an electronic nannie that says no. Make sure emergency brake is working well & on good. Keep us posted on this please. We are all curious.

Oh yeah, & what year truck ?