Transmission no shifty- Dodge 2500 V10

Ok, I know almost nothing about auto transmissions except it is the boring cone shaped thing hooked to the engine where a manual tranny would normally be.

The issue: 1998 Dodge 2500 V10 auto 2wd truck, 119k miles. Used during the summer pulling 5k lb camper, 4k lb boat occasionally. Our 3rd vehicle, so sits most of the winter, driven maybe once every week or two. Drove it to work this am. about 10 minutes into the drive, getting on to freeway, stays in 3rd gear as I get up to about 60mph. Normally runs around 1500rpm in 4th, but staying at around 2500rpm in 3rd. Won't up shift. After about 5 minutes of freeway driving finally shifts up. Never any trans issues until now.

Keep in mind it is anti-warm her in Iowa right now, about minus 5F this am. Truck was not fully up to temp but had been running about 10-15 minutes.

So my question, could the cold have anything to do with this, or is there something more sinister at work here?

Please say cold, Please say cold!

Yes it's the cold. Most modern trans have temp sensors in them. As with all oils the lubricity factory goes up with temp (to a point) so they hold in lower gear untill the temp is okay to put higher loads onthe parts. It wouldn't hurt to check the level when you get home. Make sure to check the manual to find out what fluild it takes they all have there own packages of additives now....

44

Could always be the governor pressure solenoid and/or transducer. Those are notorious for giving people fits in the 42/44/46/47/48 RE series transmissions. Those don't always give MIL's.

Also in park, NOTHING is moving to warm the fluid up. But if you put it in neutral, the geartrain is moving and warming the fluid up. This is why in park, the fluid level is high, but in neutral the fluid level is normal.

Fluid is ATF+4. All previous Chrysler fluids like Type 7176, ATF+, ATF+2, and ATF+3 supercede to +4.

They are designed to do that. Its completely normal. If you RTFM, its explained in there. On my 96 Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel it will take 5-10 minutes of driving before it will engage overdrive and lock the converter if its below 0. I spend a few minutes driving in town before I hit the freeway so I rarely notice it, but if I am at my parents' house I will notice it because I can do freeway speeds right away.

Its generally good practice to baby the vehicle until it warms up when its really cold anyway.

Also in park, NOTHING is moving to warm the fluid up.

The pump is still churning and warming fluid up. Im not convinced having it in neutral would warm it up any faster.

When is the last time the fluid and Filter was changed ? My KJ service manual mentioned the temperture thing but I always had to drive far enough to warm it up before I got to where I could use overdrive.

If its a big deal than just put it in drive and give it some throttle while on the brakes for about 20-30 seconds. Shouldnt overheat the fluid if its coming from such a low temp, but it would probably heat it up enough to get into 4th gear if its just going off fluid temp.

As long as no clutch elements are slipping, most of the heat in the trans comes from the pump and converter.