Chrysler Repair: Transmission whine, dipstick tube, sebring lxi

Question
QUESTION: My transmission is leaking and I hear a high pitched noise like a turbo until the engine warms up, then sometimes I hear it when the gears shift. I wonder if the seals are leaking or do I need an overhaul. I could see a lot of fluid from under the battery tray and under the distributor.
Thanks Theo

ANSWER: Hi Theo,
What is the year, model, engine, of your vehicle?

Hi Theo,
The loss of trans fluid in an of itself doesn't mean that you need an overhaul, It may just be a leaking seal. Have you checked the fluid level by the trans dipstick? If this is a Chrysler with the electronic transmission you would only add ATF + 4 type fluid. If it is electronic and it is not operating in a satisfactory manner then I would suggest that you go to an Autozone Parts Store where they will do a free readout for and of the 4-digit fault codes. Let me knw what they are and we can see what the manual says is wrong. Noise such as a whine should be listened to closely to determine if it is coming form the torque converter (at the engine interface) or from the mid-rear which would inplicate the transmission proper.  A wining torques converter usually requires a rebuild of that part. A whining transmission may or may not require a rebuild depending upon the fault code and what it turns out to be is wrong. But begin by checking the fluid level, and bring it up to the full mark by adding it to the dipstick tube. Then see if the sound has gone away. Then figure out where the leak is coming from and get the fault code readout.
Roland
PS Thanks for the nomination.

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

QUESTION: Thank you. My car is a 99 Sebring LXI. The tranny fluid was low and I added fluid to it, but I still hear the noise. P.S. My Sebring has 210K on it.
Theo

Answer
Hi Theo,
If you haven't had any trans work done before then that is an unusual distance to go before a problem requiring a removal, etc. But in any case, try to distinguish which end of the trans is making noise. It if it is the torque converter the trans would still have to be removed to fix that part only. If the codes say there is something serious with the trans part, then of course that too would require a rebuild. But maybe the code will suggest a repair without doing any removal. Usually the diagnosis also goes on to drop the pan and look to see if there is 'debris' settled in it which if present dictates a rebuild; if not then try a repair on the specific part that the code has identified. Please let me know what you learn.
Roland