[arcooke]

EDIT: Excuse the redundant title..


I have a '10 r/t. I've noticed this ever since I first bought my Challenger... when my transmission first switches over to the next gear, if I press the pedal down any more than it was before it changed gears, it feels like it's really struggling to move. I can hear and feel the engine "pulse" (kind of like that feeling when you run out of gas) .. like it's having a hard time trying to maintain steady torque and there's a seriously noticeable loss of power. When it's doing this, I can put the pedal down 3/4th to the floor and the car won't accelerate at all, nor will the volume increase. Once I reach a certain point (beyond 3/4ths to the floor), it seems to force the car to switch gears, at which point it will start burning rubber like nothing ever happened.

It seems to be most noticeable going uphill.

Has anyone else noticed anything like this before? It's really tough to explain, since you kind of have to feel it in person.. so hopefully I did an OK job describing. :notallthere:

 

[DBDLIVES]

All the auto trans Challenger and Chargers I have driven do this. Especially if they are really heat soaked. My 07 SRT Charger did this really bad. You can see if there is a new flash out for the PCM and TCM but even then with the new flash it most likely will still do the same thing.

 

[randycat99]

I've noticed it as well (if we are indeed talking of the same thing), and I feel it may be coming from one or more of the following:

-it is the natural oscillation of a big v8 unburdened with a heavy flywheel

-it is a natural system oscillation that occurs between the corrections of the electronic throttle and the engine response

-it is the lock-up clutch in a transitional phase between engaged and disengaged

 

[STONEWHITE R/T]

Mine felt just like that until it hit about 5000 miles. Now she woke up and responds like a normal car should.

 

[moparman53]

Compared to my old '07 Jeep Rubicon, my '10 R/T is very responsive. I don't notice any sluggishness.

 

[arcooke]

Glad to know I'm not alone.. I just wish there was something to correct it. So far my #1 complaint about my challenger is the auto transmission. Everything about it I hate. I don't like when I'm accelerating, and it's about to change gears, the RPMs start winding down for a more graceful gear change.. like so:

I'm guessing that this is for fuel economy reasons.. who knows. Is this something an electronic tuner could fix? Despite the fact that 99% of my driving is in heavy highway traffic... I regret not getting a manual.

That loss of power I'm having is starting to really grind on my nerves. :fight:

Mine felt just like that until it hit about 5000 miles. Now she woke up and responds like a normal car should.

I'm at ~6500

 

[randycat99]

As soon as they make it shift like the 2nd example, people will just be saying that shifts are too hard and the 5-speed is crude. So Dodge can't really win on this one. I, too, would have preferred more firm shifts from the factory, but for all I know, it probably makes no difference in the big picture (other than feeling odd).

I am actually surprised to find that there is an expectation that all automatics should shift imperceptibly smoothly as an indication of their refinement. I still think that is a crazy idea. It makes sense for particular applications (i.e., luxury cars), but I never thought it should be universal to all applications. While it shouldn't be rough, I do think it should be distinct and firm in cars like a hemi Challenger. Of course, that would never fly with the marketing-bred general populace, so Dodge has to put the same pants on as everybody else, and make the shifts buttery smooth as if to "keep up with the Lexuses".

Fwiw, I've read on these forums that there are shift solenoid units in the transmission that you can replace to possibly get the firm shifts you are seeking...

 

[750-h2]

I have been driving automatic Mopars all my adult life and the transmission in my Challenger is the best I ever owned. I have no issues with mine. It is super smooth and shifts perfectly. Love it!!!