# RPM jumping at 50+ mph

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/rpm-jumping-at-50-mph/100992>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** dakota, dodge\
**Created:** [March 9, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rpm-jumping-at-50-mph/100992 "2017-03-09T13:27:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![bobthefishboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@bobthefishboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bobthefishboy)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rpm-jumping-at-50-mph/100992/1 "2017-03-09T13:27:51Z")

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Engine runs wells and RPMs are steady until I get on the highway and get above 50 mph then it will jump from 1500 rpm to 2600 rpm immediately. Even with slight pressure to the accelerator it won’t move until I have to push until it jumps to 2600 but it tops out there. Even when I set the cruise control it can’t find a steady cruising rpm and I will fluctuate at the 1500 and 2600 rpms. Any ideas on the issue?

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**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rpm-jumping-at-50-mph/100992/2 "2017-03-09T14:27:04Z")

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Sounds like a slipping clutch. Manual or Auto transmission?

Car year, mileage?

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rpm-jumping-at-50-mph/100992/3 "2017-03-09T15:20:45Z")

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And engine option.

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**Author:** ![bobthefishboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@bobthefishboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bobthefishboy)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rpm-jumping-at-50-mph/100992/4 "2017-03-09T15:42:55Z")

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It’s a 2001 with automatic trans, with 128000 miles and a V6 engine

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**Author:** ![MY\_2\_CENTS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/22d042/32.png) [@MY\_2\_CENTS](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MY_2_CENTS)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rpm-jumping-at-50-mph/100992/5 "2017-03-09T16:57:23Z")

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Sounds like your lock-up torque converter clutch may be slipping.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rpm-jumping-at-50-mph/100992/6 "2017-03-09T21:48:40Z")

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Can also be a misfire under load. If an engine isn’t producing enough power, your transmission will downshift to maintain speed. I had a van that I thought had 100,000 mile pugs and I had about 79,000 on it. I thought had a transmission problem because it was downshifting for hill it used to take in high gear. It turns out the plugs were supposed to be changed at 60,000 miles. New plugs and no downshifting.

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**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\
**Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rpm-jumping-at-50-mph/100992/7 "2017-03-09T23:24:17Z")

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Can you turn overdrive off and test?