QuestionQUESTION: 1998 Chrysler Sebring LXi Coupe 2.5 L, Auto Trans
When accerating from a stop light I noted the car would not shift. Appears to be stuck in second gear regarless of shift position.(No 1st, or Drive gear). No prior indication of tranny related issues.
ANSWER: HI Art,
Let me get back in a few minutes with my answer...finishing dinner here
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Roland, More detail..
After reading the many questions, and your answers related to my problem, I went outside and read my codes using my diagnostic reader..Sorry, I failed note that my Engine light was already on for a P00420 that I was aware of..so I didnt think about the engine light/codes with this particuar tranny failure. Nonetheless, I checked and observed two trans cntrl sensor failures P1776 and P0700. I reset the codes, and the tranny is again shifting fine. I realize that may not be the end of my problems. Having said that I have a follow-up question..could this problem have been aggravated by the effect of my driving over a road today that had serious pot holes? I was driving down I-95 this morning and drove over a 1 mile section of road that seriously rattled my vehicle..I road was so poor I was concerned for blow-outs on my tires..but with traffic moving at 65+mph and I could not change lanes to avoid the potholes. I was wondering if all the serious rattling may have caused havoc with my transaxle sensor in turn causing this type of 'false' failure? Having drove the car 3 miles after resetting the codes I hear and feel no unusal or tell tale signs of issues. Your thoughts? Thank you
Art
AnswerHi Art,
The 1776 means that the low-reverse solenoid switch was found to be latched when it shouldn't have been. I am uncertain whether that could have been caused by the rough road conditions, but it might have caused an electrical intermittent that gave the same result as an actual sensing of the problem, which is the result of an electical sense error. If it doesn't recur, then that is the probable explanation.
If it does, then the two measures you could try are, flushing out the trans fluid via a power flush and replacing all 10 quarts with fresh ATF+4 fluid, and if that doesn't stop a recurrence than replacing the solenoid/pressure switch assembly (or if you do it yourself try removing that assembly and cleaning out that specific solenoid). The 0700 merely alerts you to the presence of a trans fault code that is specific.
Of course, begin by checking the fluid level in the trans as it being low, or perhaps all that jarring, could have induced some bubbles in the trans which provoked the hang-up of the solenoid.
So, "watchful waiting" is probably the best strategy for now.
Best of luck on the situation. Thanks for doing the codes before I recommended that.
The 0420 says there is either an issue with the catalytic converter going out, or an exhaust leak upstream from the converter, or a mechanical problem with the engine that impacts exhaust gases, or contaminated fuel, of a weak sensor along with a failing converter.
Roland
PS: Please 'rate' my answer. Thanks.
