1989 Dodge Dakota 89 Dodge Dakota Transmission Problems

Transmission problem
1989 Dodge Dakota 6 cyl Four Wheel Drive Automatic

Hello,

I have an ’89 Dodge Dakota Sport that I have been having some problems with and I hope someone can help. Here is what has been going on:

Last year I was experiencing problems going from park to drive. I could put it into drive but it would not move. Even in 4WD it would not move. This would only happen on cold days. I took it to Midas and they said the transmission fluid needed flushed so I did it. It still happened so I took it back and they said the transmission needed replaced. Knowing that transmissions cost money I took it for a second opinion. I dropped the truck off and within 15 min I got a call saying I needed a rebuilt transmission for around $4000 and to not drive the truck until it got replaced. That’s a lot of money for me so my dodge became my lawn ornament through the winter.

This spring a co-workers husband took a look at it and didn’t think it was the transmission but some other cable that needed replaced. We drove it about 10 miles and it worked fine. He checked the transmission fluid and it was the color it needed to be and there were no visual signs of any metal in the fluid. He told me to drive it around a bit more then check the fluid again. The next day I drove it around and it was running fine. I drove about 5 miles and stopped at a stoplight. When I go ready to go again the RPMs shot up to 3000 and stayed and I couldn’t get passed 10MPH. I was about 5 blocks away from home and it stayed at 3000 and 10MPH the entire way until about a block away then it wouldn’t go faster than 5MPH.

My co-workers husband is stumped but he is sure it isn’t the transmission. I haven’t tried driving it since, I have started it and it sounds find in idle. Can anyone offer any suggestions? Could it be the transmission or something else? Someone mentioned that it might be electrical. I would take it back to Midas but they are sure it’s the transmission.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Aaron