Chrysler Repair: Transmission doesnt downshift: codes 0731/0732, solenoid pack, speed sensors

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1999 Mitsubishi Eclipse 2.0 non turbo but the transmission was swapped out with a 98 Sebring A604. The transmission does not consistently downshift into 1st when slowing down, sometimes it does. When sitting at a stop sometimes it is as if it comes out of gear until you speed up the engine. Then it lurches into gear. It will sometimes end up in limp mode. Sometimes when you first start it up and put in reverse or drive it will not engage in gear.  If you place it back in park an run the rpms up to about 2000 for 5 seconds, let it go to idle and put in gear it will engage.  I have pulled several codes P0732, p1784, p1775, p1787.  I changed the solenoid pack and both speed sensors.  Still behaving the same way. Pulled codes and I am still getting p0731 and p0732.  I have also changed filter and fluid. Any suggestions on what to check next. Thanks for your help.

ANSWER: Hi Kenneth,
The possibilities when you have both those codes are:
speed sensors or associated wiring
failed or slipping Low/Reverse clutch
L/R seal leakage (intermittent no drive or reverse)
Valve body malfunction
One or the other code only can be caused by many other things.
You could try removing the valve body and cleaning that out. Otherwise I believe that the clutch or seal will require removal and opening it up more extensively than just dropping the pan to remove the valve body.
I believe the correct model for the trans would be a 41TE if this came out of a '98 Sebring. There are about 14 pages about removing and servicing the valve body if you want to try this yourself. Let me know your email address and I can copy and send those pages as attachments to an email. If you do that, don't use the @ symbol, instead use "at", otherwise the address is erased automatically.
Please rate/nominate me for this answer (see the PS below).
Roland


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the input.  I would like the instructions for the valve body removal and service.  I have a feeling that it may be the L/R seal leakage. Is there anyway to access it without dropping the entire transmission? Do you have a diagram of  where it is located and do you have an electrical diagram so I can double check the wiring?  Thanks again for your help and knowledge and you are right it is a 41TE. My email is kennethbrown777atgmail.com  Is there any additives that can help with the L/R seal leak?

Answer
Hi Kenneth,
I will copy the pages today and forward them to you as an attachment. On the wiring diagram, I don't have them for the Mitsubishi but can send them for an '04 41TE as used in a Chrysler Avenger vehicle taken off the same CD. If the TCM is the same in the two vehicles then the wiring should apply.
The L/R seals mentioned in the '00 Sebring/Avenger manual may well be the two o-rings that are  shown on the 'L/B accumulator piston' and are called 'seals' and that piston is accessible once the valve body is removed. The manual shows the removal of that piston using some 'petrolatum' and a round rod, coating both the rod and the piston and then pulling on the rod to remove the piston. You could verify that those seals are available at the parts counter of a Chrysler dealer. So if you drop the pan and remove the valve body you can service that and also change the L/B seals in the same operation, from underneath the vehicle.
But there are alot of removeable parts involved so you would have to work very slowly when removing the valve body because so many things are simply held in position by the valve body and those may well fall out along with the body! Based upon the drawings showing this valve body removal job being done on an already removed transmission, turned upside down, I now suspect it will not be successfully accomplished from underneath.
There is a seal expander compound called 'SealLube' which might be worth a try. It is sold on eBay for $20/8 oz bottle direct from the manufacturer which will treat 8 quarts of fluid which is a bit less than the volume of transfluid in the transmission. We don't know if the seals are the cause of this, but it might be worth a try. You can reach the manufacturer of this at www.seallube.com and describe to him the possibility of the seals I described and see what he thinks are the chances that if those were the problem that seallube would help.
Thanks for the rating and nomination for my first answer. Please rate this answer and consider a second 'nomination' of me which is 'counted' in full by Allexperts.
Roland