V6 hard shifts when engine is cold

[EtherRam]

Hopefully someone can help me here - My local ram dealership has mechanics that are far from the best, so I want to try and be educated before I take it to a dealership further away.

I'm at ~24,000 miles on my 2019 ram 3.6L and it runs and drives great, except when I first fire it up.
When the engine is cold (even after leaving it running for 1-2 minutes before going anywhere) it seems to shift extremely hard. Talking about noticeable "slamming" into gear. It also sometimes refuses to accelerate for a brief second before down-shifting.

Once the engine temp is normal these issues seem to go away and the shifts are buttery-smooth, but the early shifts are so uncomfortable that I think something is possibly up with the transmission and I want to find out sooner than later. Never had this happen with any other trucks.

Anyone have any insight on this? Has it happened to you? Thanks in advance.

 

[RamCares]

Hopefully someone can help me here - My local ram dealership has mechanics that are far from the best, so I want to try and be educated before I take it to a dealership further away.

I'm at ~24,000 miles on my 2019 ram 3.6L and it runs and drives great, except when I first fire it up.
When the engine is cold (even after leaving it running for 1-2 minutes before going anywhere) it seems to shift extremely hard. Talking about noticeable "slamming" into gear. It also sometimes refuses to accelerate for a brief second before down-shifting.

Once the engine temp is normal these issues seem to go away and the shifts are buttery-smooth, but the early shifts are so uncomfortable that I think something is possibly up with the transmission and I want to find out sooner than later. Never had this happen with any other trucks.

Anyone have any insight on this? Has it happened to you? Thanks in advance.

I apologize for the trouble, @etherune. If it would be of interest, I would be more than willing to get your situation escalated on the customer care side so that you have an additional layer of support from a case specialist while addressing this with your dealer.

They can ensure that all available outlets of assistance are explored while working alongside your dealer to address this concern.

Our team is always a private message away to get the process started!

Mark
RamCares

 

[Lil'Mike]

+1 my Pentastar Ram is lethargic when it's cold. It'll have a tough time accelerating and then once it hits 3rd, it's surge forward even though I've applied constant throttle. I believe there is a TSB to address. Now, my dealer said that they applied the PCM and TCM, and HCP updates, but part of me doesn't believe it. At my first oil change I'll complain about hard shifting and issues with the truck when it's cold, hopefully to get them to hook up the computer again and update, if there's anything new...

 

[RamCares]

+1 my Pentastar Ram is lethargic when it's cold. It'll have a tough time accelerating and then once it hits 3rd, it's surge forward even though I've applied constant throttle. I believe there is a TSB to address. Now, my dealer said that they applied the PCM and TCM, and HCP updates, but part of me doesn't believe it. At my first oil change I'll complain about hard shifting and issues with the truck when it's cold, hopefully to get them to hook up the computer again and update, if there's anything new...

I apologize for the trouble, @Lil'Mike. If you would be interested in an additional layer of support as you work with your dealer, I would be more than willing to escalate a case on your behalf. Our team is always a private message away to get the process started.

Mark
RamCares

 

[lkuseian]

I am at 4k and I notice the same behavior jerk/jolting shifts I was assuming it was the behaviors of the transmission and the regenerative charging on the high voltage battery (2020 bighorn v6)

 

[EtherRam]

+1 my Pentastar Ram is lethargic when it's cold. It'll have a tough time accelerating and then once it hits 3rd, it's surge forward even though I've applied constant throttle. I believe there is a TSB to address. Now, my dealer said that they applied the PCM and TCM, and HCP updates, but part of me doesn't believe it. At my first oil change I'll complain about hard shifting and issues with the truck when it's cold, hopefully to get them to hook up the computer again and update, if there's anything new...

Please let me know! I'm going to have them look at it at my next oil change as well.

 

[Smerberj]

Have you disabled hill start assist? That seems to clear up some of the rough shifts for the Jeep guys. I turned mine off and have never had shift problems.

 

[EtherRam]

Have you disabled hill start assist? That seems to clear up some of the rough shifts for the Jeep guys. I turned mine off and have never had shift problems.

So I tried this and it seemed to help a bit, but the shifts are still pretty rough while cold.

 

[Lil'Mike]

I also read on the Jeep forums the cold hard shift issue may be related to low transmission fluid from the factory? I haven’t had mine checked yet, but maybe worth a check. Also I think the slip yoke on my driveshaft is bad. Either needs grease or replacement. It clunks when shifting between Drive and Reverse, and I get a feeling of hard shifts up and down. You could check that too.

 

[Boston]

An old zf equipped Land Rover did hard shifts in cold weather.

Solution was, after starting, shift into neutral for a few seconds and allow the fluid to warm up that way rather than in park. It might just allow more fluid to warm up.

Give it a try.

 

[EtherRam]

Update:
I brought it in to the dealer and there was a transmission update. After running the update I'd say the hard shifting, stuttering, etc has been reduced about 75%. Now I only notice it when the engine is cold (for the first 5-10 minutes), which is still annoying, but better.

Would there be a better cold-weather fluid that I could use in the truck that would help with the cold-shifts?

 

[Lil'Mike]

That’s good to hear, I didn’t seem to have the same luck. I don’t know if the cold hesitation/shifting issues are due to the transmission/clutch not moving freely due to too little or too much oil, or viscosity of oil, or if it’s the etorque system putting too much load or resistance on the engine when it is cold? I don’t know. It is frustrating and can’t be right...

2nd question if you don’t mind since there aren’t many people on this forum with the 3.6L, do you feel vibrations/buzzing at around 2000 RPM? Like an exhaust drone sound that vibrates the pedals and wheel and floor? Exaggerated when the truck is under load?

 

[EtherRam]

That’s good to hear, I didn’t seem to have the same luck. I don’t know if the cold hesitation/shifting issues are due to the transmission/clutch not moving freely due to too little or too much oil, or viscosity of oil, or if it’s the etorque system putting too much load or resistance on the engine when it is cold? I don’t know. It is frustrating and can’t be right...

2nd question if you don’t mind since there aren’t many people on this forum with the 3.6L, do you feel vibrations/buzzing at around 2000 RPM? Like an exhaust drone sound that vibrates the pedals and wheel and floor? Exaggerated when the truck is under load?

Hey Mike, sorry to hear about your luck - I can say after driving it the last few days that some of the fix may have been "placebo". It still does jolt/stutter/shift hard every once in a while - so I definitely think there are some issues with the eTorque/3.6 combo. I've driven several of the 4th gen 3.6s and they drive like butter compared to mine.

About the vibrations at 2,000 rpm, I haven't seen any of that. When I'm coasting on the interstate at around 1,900/2,000 RPMs it seems pretty smooth. Nothing more than a normal car I'd say. I've only towed a few times but no issues there either.

I'd recommend going to the dealer and driving another 5th gen 3.6 and see if the issues are there as well.

 

[User_3336]

The V6 in the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a very hard shifting transmission when its cold. We're only talking like 45 degrees. Rev's high too. Its just the nature of this engine it appears.

 

[Smerberj]

I've yet to experience any hard shifts on a cold day but I have noticed a "long" shift time when it's colder out. (Until the truck warms up)

 

[Black_Pearl]

So, i think i can add something to this. Jerkiness, erratic shifts were all things i experienced in my 3.6L etorque. I too had harsh vibrations, but mine were at 1,000 to 1,200 RPMs and caused the engine to feel bogged down. I was diagnosed with needing a new transmission and unexplained intermittent misfires on half the cylinders. I am currently in the middle of a buy-back situation as the problem has not been able to be fixed so far.

 

[strat41986]

Hopefully someone can help me here - My local ram dealership has mechanics that are far from the best, so I want to try and be educated before I take it to a dealership further away.

I'm at ~24,000 miles on my 2019 ram 3.6L and it runs and drives great, except when I first fire it up.
When the engine is cold (even after leaving it running for 1-2 minutes before going anywhere) it seems to shift extremely hard. Talking about noticeable "slamming" into gear. It also sometimes refuses to accelerate for a brief second before down-shifting.

Once the engine temp is normal these issues seem to go away and the shifts are buttery-smooth, but the early shifts are so uncomfortable that I think something is possibly up with the transmission and I want to find out sooner than later. Never had this happen with any other trucks.

Anyone have any insight on this? Has it happened to you? Thanks in advance.

Mine has had the same issue. Took it to the dealership and of course they say "we couldn't replicate it" to which I stated "I'm telling you exactly what it's doing "