2000 Dodge Dakota gears

Will it shift into 4th with the engine off?

When this type of problem occurrs, the first thing I always assume it bad is the pressure plate. If you can shift the trans with the engine off, chances are it is ok. However, when a pressure plate gets weak, it tends to not disengage the trans from the engine. Thus, you start with a grinding from the trans at first then eventually it gets bad enough that it won't shift. Do any of the other gears give you trouble?

Being honest, the standard trans in your truck (if properly maintained) will outlast the truck. Have you tried servicing it?

Yes be they can be serviced. Basically you drain the old gear lube out and replace it. ALso, (please check your owner's manual for this) in some cases (colder conditions) the manufacturer will recommend a lighter fluid be used if it is hard to shift. I don't know where you live, but if that is the case, I would suggest it.

Here is a actual example. I purchased a 98 dakota (love them and have had them since 1990) with a standard trans. The trans would hardly shift for the first 10 miles. Actally, I had to bypass 3rd gear when this happened. It wouldn't shift into it. Got the truck dirt cheap because of a "trans problem", took it home, drained out what looked like mud, flushed it, replaced the gear lube with synthetic type, and the trans never gave me trouble again. Used it as a plow truck and my primary vehicle for 5 years and sold it for 3X the original cost. It ran great!

Let me know if it helps. It is the cheapest thing I can recommend at this time for help. If it doesn't help and all of the other gears shift perfect (without grinding) we may need to take the trans out and take a look at things because I would think a bad pressure plate (the hotter it gets) would cause problems in any gear.

Let me know.