Promaster 9-speed transmission

[madmartigan]

I've got a 2023 Winnebago Travato 59GL (Ram Promaster chassis) with the 9 speed 62TE automatic transmission. I've never noticed it shift any higher than 7th gear even when I've attempted to manually select 8th or 9th gear on an interstate downhill with no real load on the engine.

7th gear seems to be plenty tall enough for any interstate driving I've done, so I'm wondering why they put a 9 speed transmission in the van to begin with. I'm curious if they've just locked out 8th and 9th gear in the software.

Does anyone have any knowledge on this?

 

[Roadfossil]

I've got a 2023 Winnebago Travato 59GL (Ram Promaster chassis) with the 9 speed 62TE automatic transmission. I've never noticed it shift any higher than 7th gear even when I've attempted to manually select 8th or 9th gear on an interstate downhill with no real load on the engine.

7th gear seems to be plenty tall enough for any interstate driving I've done, so I'm wondering why they put a 9 speed transmission in the van to begin with. I'm curious if they've just locked out 8th and 9th gear in the software.

Does anyone have any knowledge on this?

Quick search shows "62TE" to be a 6 speed. You most likely have a tranny with the "ZF" suffix; a 9 speed that apparantly only uses 7 speeds in the Promaster...who woudda thought?

 

[madmartigan]

"Ram ProMaster® 280-hp, 3.6L V6 gas engine, 9-speed automatic 62TE transmission"

That's straight from the Winnebago Travato brochure!
Maybe they are running a different final drive and disabled the top two gears.

https://www.winnebago.com/Files/Images/Winnebago/brochures/2023/Travato-Bro-Dec-2023.pdf

 

[youngnretired]

Try calling the Ram dealer on Monday and inquire? I would think that Winnebago wouldn't change software/programming for drive trains in the conversions they do. To me, that would open a can of worms between Ram, customer and themselves if they did and have them on the hook for more problems for a system they didn't originally design. But I would think the Ram dealer would know.

 

[booster]

https://store.mopar.com/oem-parts/mopar-with-torque-converter-transmission-kit-68506474aa?c=Zz10cmFuc21pc3Npb24mcz10cmFuc21pc3Npb24tYXNzZW1ibHkmbD0yJm49QXNzZW1ibGllcyBQYWdlJmE9cmFtJm89cHJvbWFzdGVyLTM1MDAmeT0yMDIzJnQ9YmFzZSZlPTMtNmwtdjYtZmxleA%3D%3D

With Torque Converter Transmission Kit - Mopar (68506474AA)​

2022-2025 Ram - 68506474aa

This part fits your 2023 Ram ProMaster 3500 Change vehicle

• Brand:
  

  

• SKU:
  

  68506474AA​

• Other Names:
  

  Transmission Kit​

• Description:
  Must Use This Part.
• Notes: Engines: 3.6L V6 24V VVT Engine. Transmissions: 9-SPD 948TE AUTO TRANSMISSION.

 

[Deano-ClassB]

Interesting, we had a 2016 and now a 2021 Jeep Cherokee with the 9 speed. Like you, no matter the speed, even down steep mountains, it never goes above 7th.
I asked the dealer service manager, he said several owners have asked him and he asked the MOPAR reps, he never received any answer.

 

[booster]

Chrysler may lock out the top gears based on the GVWR of the vehicle the trans is in. Very possible a 1500 would have all the gears available. If they determine the engine can't pull hard enough for that much weight in the very low ratio gears all it would do it hunt gears every time you let off and stepped on it so they kill off the gears to prevent wear and heat. Just like not using high gear/overdrive when you are towing.

 

[Deano-ClassB]

Makes sense for a heavy vehicle, but for a light weight like a Cherokee.

 

[youngnretired]

I read an article, or watched a video, about some jeeps that had a 5 speed trans in them, but only 4 gears were programmed to operate. It was an easy swap, or fix, to have all the gears function. This was for 2000 era vehicles, I think, but I don't remember all the specifics. So yea, you may have a 7 speed transmission, but all the guts and gears for a full 9 speeds.

 

[booster]

Makes sense for a heavy vehicle, but for a light weight like a Cherokee.

I think it would not totally be dependent on weight in itself. Less weight with a smaller engine would have the same issues.

With the Promaster they get decent hp and OK torque but they get the power at higher rpm than the traditional van V8 or big inline 6 cylinder engines. If you need rpm to get the power to move the van, the last thing you need is low ratio, low rpm input, gearing. It would be interesting to see what the actual ratios of the 9 speeds are and what rear axle the 3500 Promaster comes with.

Many of the old school V8s with 4 speed automatics (called overdrive in many and at .7 ratio) would go faster in 3rd gear than 4th gear.

 

[Winston-ClassB]

It would be interesting to see what the actual ratios of the 9 speeds are and what rear axle the 3500 Promaster comes with.

Our Promaster is front wheel drive. Is there something in the rear axel that relates to the transmission?

 

[booster]

Our Promaster is front wheel drive. Is there something in the rear axel that relates to the transmission?

Brain fart here, I should have slated that as "differential" ratio is as you have front drive and differential is built in to the front drive system. Too many years of having the differential in the back on trucks so tend to miss that.