Chrysler Repair: 97 Sebring transmission in limp-in mode., trans fluid, output speed

Question
I read your article Expert: Roland Finston
Date: 5/23/2005
Subject: 96 Sebring Transmission Problem

This sounds like my daughters problem. Facts, I had car from new,has 175,500 miles,trans replaced at 90,000 miles,always serviced car at recomnded times. Gave to daughter 1 yr ago & was serviced regularly.
Sunday car would not go over 35/40 mph, she pulled off road, check engine light came on, had towed to reputable garage.
Garage said, droped pan no parts or metal, problem is internal,fault codes 54,36,53 wont shift to 3 or 4 th gear.
Said , repair ( $18/2700) recondition, ( $2200 ) or known good one  ( $1500)
Is there a fix or time to got rid of this car.

Thank you: Pat

Answer
Hi Pat,
That symptom of course is "limp-in mode" and certainly appears to suggest an internal mechanical issue is present. I would wonder though in the absence of metal or parts in the pans whether changing the output speed sensor and also completely flushing the old trans fluid out by power machine and replacing it with Mobil synthetic trans fluid might be worth a try, rather than giving up at this point? It would be an investment of maybe $250 to see if those two steps would remediate the problem. There are no guarantees that this will be effective, but it is probably the only alternative that might work at a much more modest cost. Discuss that with the garage and see what they think. The mileage since the previous replacement is somewhat lower than one would expect such a failure, depending upon what sort or repair was done at 90,000. But it is not outside the realm of possible that it has failed again mechanically. If you choose to try the sensor/fluid change please let me know what happens.
Roland