QuestionQUESTION: Hello
we have a 1999 Chrysler Voyger 2,4l minivan, it got 75.000 miles.
Some days ago the transmission it vent into limp-in mode, at the same time the map light and the driving computer/info center in the roof went dead.
I have checked all the fuses and relay and them seems okey so if you have som tips to how to solve this problem we will be very very grateful.
Best regards K-Famely in Norway
ANSWER: Hi Eobert,
It is good to get your question from Norway.
The symptoms are consistent with a problem in the digital communication system that ties together the engine, transmission, body computer, overhead console (the info center/driving computer),instrument cluster, hvac system, etc. The overhead console needs only one fuse: number 6 in the box under the dash. So check that one with a meter or examine it closely for a possible break.
If that turns out unremarkable, then you are needing to have a diagnostic readout for any 'fault codes' via the under-dash 16-pin plug to see if there are any recognized problems recorded in the memories of the engine/transmission/body controller. These numbers are P followed by four digits. If you find out any of these let me know what they are and we can see what they suggest. If a shop does the readout, ask the number, what the code means, what they say needs to done and how much it will cost? Then let me know and we can compare that to the shop manual. If no codes come up, then you will need to try a readout at a Chrysler dealer with their diagnostic readout box (DRB III) to see if it picks up which of the controllers that are on the digital data bus is not communicating or whether the problem is with voltage supply of the bus itself. Then for each of those potential problems there is a series of tests that are spelled out in a manual called the "body diagnostic procedures" which we can consult/share with the shop if it doesn't have the manual. I wish it were something that could be handled with conventional meters, but I am afraid that even taking advantage of self-diagnostic tests requires a special digital instrument (readout box). You might try turning the ignition key:"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing that in an elapsed time of 5 seconds or less. Then watch to see if any four digit number appear in the odometer window in place of the mileage reading. That will sometimes work, depending upon the year and model.
So just in case, check fuse 6 and then see if you can get a valid readout at a competent shop or dealership.
Roland
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QUESTION: Hello
I found out what made the driving computer disappear,the big cable connections under the passenger seat had bad connection, after fixing that, the driving computer and the roof light came back.
But the automatic transmission is still not acting well
I don't think that the automatic drive is in limp mode because at 60 km/h it changes to 3. gear and at 85 km/h it changes to 4. gear.
The transmission always starts in 2. gear, and the kick down do not replay.
The strange thing is that after some driving the 3. gear will not activate, and i have to restart the engine to make the transmission change to 3. gear at 60km/h.
When the transmission changes to a lower gear, it feels kind of hard change
Does this sound's like a reprogramming of the transmission computer? or can it be any trouble with the speed sensor?
Best Regards
K-Famely in Norway
Robert K
ANSWER: Hi Robert,
I'm pleased that you found the communication problem and solved that. On the transmission problems, I doubt it is the speed sensor unless you are also having problems with the speedometer, as the two are dependent upon the sensor working properly. I doubt reprogramming will solve it, rather I would suggest you get a readout of the transmission controller memory for any fault codes that may have been stored. Let me know the number of the code and what the shop says they mean and what they propose to do about it. We can compare notes then. Try the ignition key approach first just is case your van is set up to give you the codes that way.
The only other "fix" might be to remove all the trans fluid, which requires a pump out machine to get every bit of it out (close to 10 quarts) and then refill with a synthetic trans fluid such as that made by Mobil. I have had anecdotal reports that the shifting is improved by that technique, but of course it won't correct a mechanical or electronic problem or even some hydraulic problems. But keep that in mind as an alternative.
Roland
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QUESTION: Hello Roland
The car has been on a workshop, they changed Transmission fluid and filter, they put on Kendell syntetic oil.
Problem still there
They tryed to read fault codes, but got non, they use snap on tools to read out codes.
I'v got the car back, on my trip home i tryed to read out faultcode right after the transmission vent in to limp mode, the readout vas don by pushing inn the trip and the reset button on the mile counter an ther came follinving information:
CODE
1
2
4
8
24
55
i Guess 55 means end of codes.
Does this say you anything?, i also report the codes back to the genie at the workshop, but i guess i have to find it out with some help from you :-)
Best regards
Robert
AnswerHi Robert,
Thanks for telling me about that technique for getting out some fault codes. I had heard about that in the past but am not clear as to what models/years it applies to.
I am not sure why the shop can't get any transmission codes. I believe that the codes you were able to get were in the OBD-I (pre-1996) system of numbers but even that is not consistent. The 55 in that system is "end of codes". The 48 is not a code that was assigned to anything. The 24 code if about engine function has to do with throttle position sensor not being in the correct voltage range, so you might test the 3 pins of that connector (one on each end of the resistor, one sweeps over the resistor) with an ohmmeter to see if the value changes continuously when one of the leads is on the center pin and the other is on either outside pin of the plug. If the 24 were instead a transmission fault code reading (again in the OBD-I system) it would be about a pressure switch in the transmission BUT the transmission codes were never available by means of a user self-diagnosis technique so I very much doubt that it applies to your transmission problem.
The 12 code is just saying the battery supply to the engine controller was disconnected sometime in the recent past.
If you read it as code 1248 in the OBD-II system, that is a non-assigned code number also.
So, I don't see anything useful coming to light from the readout via the odometer window.
Is there any opportunity for a Chrysler DRB-II reader to be present anywhere near you? I would hope that if a Chrysler dealer were available they would have one.
Please keep trying, and do let me know what happens.
Roland
