The web has lots of shift issues with this tranny....
Here is the shift patterns:
870/845RE Ratios:
4.71:1
3.14:1
2.10:1
1.67:1
1.29:1
1.00:1
0.84:1
0.67:1
Available rearend ratios are:
3.21 for both V6 and Hemi
3.55 for both V6 and Hemi
3.92 for Hemi only
The newer units should NOT be made in Germany, but rather made in Indiana and from what I can gleen, somewhat refined per my "insider" engineer at Chrysler who works in Auburn Hills. Though not working on transmissions, he does hear the "inside scoup" on some of this stuff and so far no earth shaking news good or bad has come out. (My last Chrysler was a Pacifica and he said it was a good machine if you didn't mind hitting your head on the door jam each time you get in it, which I have affirmed on at least a thousand entries...perhaps more.)
However, I notice that the 8 speed is NOT rated for heavy service trucks making me believe that this unit was built more for good gas mileage than service work.
Still, it is too new to tell how this unit will fair, and the jury is still out even with 2 programing changes for it.
Like anything else, industry looks for those who ford ahead and become test pilots for those who prefer to sit back and live with a more tried and tested unit.
This doesn't mean that after the bugs get out, and production issues are solved it won't be a good one, but that time will do the testing on the life of the unit...and there is no substitue for putting the unit out in vehicles and letting the public "work" on them and find out any isues they may develope or get corrected over the working life of a tranny.
In a nut shell if the tranny that goes bad is the one you bought, no matter who the maker was, it becomes THE issue and YOUR problem.
Ah, where is a good horse and buggy when you need one! Good luck and keep us posted on how YOUR machine works out.
