QuestionQUESTION: I have a 96 Sebring Convert JX, 2.4L with 141,000 miles on it. I was taking my daughter shopping and went to stop at a crosswalk in front of the store. I was almost stopped when it felt like I hit a wall or something and my pretty little car just stopped and died. I put it in park and it restarted just fine. I parked the car and went into the store. When I came out and went to leave, it went to shift it did this hard, double-shift kind of thing and won't go over 30. It was running and driving perfectly fine a few hours before. I took it to AutoZone and they weren't getting any codes on their reader. My check engine light is not on, all the gears aren't highlighted on my dash and the speedometer works fine. It now shifts hard into reverse. We tried switching out the EATx relay and resetting the computer. When we did this it shifted smoothly into reverse again but as soon as it needed to shift it did the little double-shift thing and right back into limp mode. Any suggestions?
ANSWER: Hi Heather,
'96 is a transition year for the fault code system so getting a self-diagnosis from the transmission control module may take an earlier version code reader. There is a fault code stored that will help to figure out what to do. I would try an independent repair shop to see if you can get a transmission-specific code (either 2- or 4- digit) from the ETAX controller. It shouldn't cost more than $40. Ask for the number(s), what they mean, what they recommend, and how much. Then let me know and we'll go from there.
Have you checked the fluid level in the trans? Only use ATF +4 and don't overfill it.
Roland
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QUESTION: Thank you so much for your fast answer!! The fluid level is good, it's a nice pink color, doesn't smell burnt or anything. I've owned the car for 6 months and I haven't had to add transmission fluid. I'm planning on calling a couple of shops today and seeing if they can get it in. I'll let you know what they have to say. On my way home yesterday I flipped the hazards on and didn't go over 25. I'm not risking more damage to it by driving it in limp mode am I?
ANSWER: Hi Heather,
No, that is the purpose of limp mode. It cuts the power to the transmission circuits and puts it in reverse or 2nd gear only so that no further damage will be done by driving it at speeds limited by only having 2nd gear. No other parts are being damaged by so-doing.
Roland
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QUESTION: I just got off the phone with the shop, they kept getting a 2-4 solenoid code off it. He was going to pull the pan and check for excess metal in the pan. He said a new solenoid would be about $200 + labor. Does this sound about right?
AnswerHi Heather,
That code points toward the solenoid 'pack' which typically is replaced as a whole rather trying to repair it. The pack is in that price range, along with gaskets for dropping the pan, etc. It is a judgement call as to how much debris in the pan warrants a major rebuild of the trans. So given that it is a '96 you would want to weigh the question of how much to invest in a rebuild if that is recommended. You don't have a code that demands a rebuild, so you don't have to buy in if that is pushed. It is approaching the mileage where these transmissions do begin to wear to the point of having to remove and rebuild, but it may not be worth it. You could have him just assess the situation, but the pan back on, change the solenoid pack and see how it goes. The solenoid pack fortunately is mounted in the box that is on the side of the transmission so there is little labor involved in changing that part. So the pan drop, debris assessement, partial fluid refill (and if there is debris you would want them to do a power flush and put in all new fluid (10 quarts rather than 4 quarts for a partial drain out) so as to remove as much debris as possible to give yourself the best chance for more miles before rebuild. The fluid if all changed out may add a bit to the $200 for parts already proposed).
I think you are going in the right direction.
Roland
