QuestionHello,
Recently my 1988 Plymouth Voyager 3.0L 6cyl, Automatic. Has begun to have this odd problem. It seems unable or unwilling to shift out of second gear. Upon looking through previous answers I found that this is often attributed to being stuck in "limp-in" mode. I do regular maintenance on this vehicle. I recently gave it a complete tune up. (i.e. Replaced PCV Valve, Rotor, Distributor, Plugs, Wires.) as well as a basic over-haul of the fuel system. (i.e. Replaced Fuel filter and all hoses.) After performing this maintenance. The van was running as good as new. I didn't change the oil, but its not "due" for another 1200miles or so. I know I'm probably giving TMI but I want to be very concise about its history. That aside while doing the tune-up I did check and level off all the fluids. This is the ONLY thing that I have touched on the transmission. There is 184,013miles on the Van. I have NEVER in my five years of owning it, had even the slightest problem with the Transmission. I was told when I purchased the van that the transmission had been rebuilt in 1998. It has never slipped gears, it doesn't ever stick or shift hard, its been a great little reliable van. (Though it is dog-ugly with the wood-paneling.) When I have the Van in park or neutral it revs and acts perfectly. However, the moment I shift into drive or reverse and accelerate, it moves normally from first to second and then will not shift up from second. It WILL shift back to 1st with no troubles. As I said, this sounds to me like the difficulty with the "limp-in" mode. My question at this point is: What are my options? I don't have the money for a new transmission nor do I have the money for a rebuild. I've had the Van awhile and its served me well. Is there any cheap fixes that this could be? And if its not a cheap fix, is there a way to disable the controller or sensor that engages the "limp-in" mode, so as to be able to drive it until the transmission just dies out on me? Thank you for your time and any advice you can give.
AnswerThat exact lock up is what happens when the transmission computer notices something is wrong and so it protects the transmission by driving in 2nd gear until it can be serviced so as to protect against any further damage. It is called "limp-in mode".
The chances are there is some internal mechanical wear/damage to the internal clutches of the transmission, but because the cost of rebuilding is so high it is worth spending a little on analyzing whether that is true or not. It may also be the case that the problem is with electrical connections/computer or with the transmission fluid system (hydraulic) and those can be repaired without removing or rebuilding the transmission at much less cost.
The transmission has an electronic controller that has the ability to recognize malfunctions and store them in its memory as two-digit fault codes. You need a readout of the transmission computer which is an electronic test for the presence of coded numbers representing different faults that the transmission is experiencing at the time when it locks up into 2nd gear. An electronic readout device is plugged into a port under the dash to access the memory and tell you the fault code numbers. It would be worth spending about $50 to have this done just in case the problem had to do with the hydraulic or electronic parts rather than the internal mechanical parts because those could be repaired without taking the trans out of the car and dismantling it. So a dealer or a competent independent transmission shop (but NOT a franchise type like Aamco where the usual answer will be to do a "rebuild") with a reader for Chrysler transmissions should be able to do that. Ask for the code number(s), what they mean, what repair is needed and how much it will cost. Be sure that they have the 6-pin ("bus diagnostic connector") reader plug adapter that will give them access to the memory via the port under the dash. This is NOT the same plug as is in the engine compartment (which is also a 6-pin plug but arranged differently) for accessing the engine controller memory. Their reader also has to be equipped with a program (cartridge) that accesses the transmission computer. A Chrysler dealer will have this device called a DRB II, but will charge more for the readout. You might get an agreement to credit the cost of the readout to a repair, if you agree to let them do it.
Then write back with the two-digit code numbers and we'll evaluate what you were told, particularly based upon the fault code numbers.
Roland
PS Thanks for the very complete history.
