Chrysler Repair: 1991 LaBaron Tranny Troubles, manual roland, tranny troubles

Question
Hi
I have a 1991 LaBaron Convertible in Tomato Red!! The transmission is going.  Hard to put into gear, especially reverse.  I am struggling with putting in a new one which could be expensive.  But I love the car and just wanted to know what you think about investing in its future.

Tranny Girl
Kathym

Answer
Hi Kathym,
If you love the car and intend to keep driving it, and you are not also looking at the possibility of engine work in the near future, then it would probably work out over several years that an investment in a transmission replacement would be worthwhile. It would not raise the market value of the car as much as it costs, but if you aren't going to sell it then that is irrelevant.
Before giving up on the present trans, I suggest that you have an independent trans shop do a readout of the trans controller for any fault codes that it may have stored that would be useful in deciding what needs to be done. A Chrysler DRB II code reader or equivalent is plugged into a socket under the left hand end of the dash by the fuse box and a 6 pin blue plug is used (called a data link connector). This is a different plug than the one in the engine compartment that is used to read out the engine controller memory.
They should get 2-digit code numbers, tell you the numbers, what they mean, what the cost to repair will be. Then write me back with the info and we can compare that to the shop manual.
Roland