Chrysler Repair: Transmission 99 Sebring LXI, engine oil dipstick, chrysler sebring lxi

Question
Hello I just came across this site and thought maybe you could help me, because no one else has been able to. I have a 1999 Chrysler Sebring LXI with automatic transmission with a little over 100,000 miles. This car hasn’t been the greatest since I bought it; when I first got the car the fuel pump had to be changed then 3 of my tires had to be replaced AND then something went wrong with my electrical system, this all happened within about a year. Now I think something is wrong with my transmission. A couple months ago I was driving down the street and the car started slowing down and I tried to push the gas but the car wouldn’t accelerate but the RPM didn’t drop it was normal, the car just wouldn’t speed up after that when I would shift into gear (both drive and/or reverse) the car wouldn’t do anything, it would just make a clicking sound which it normally made before it messed up. We were going to buy a new transmission but some people have told me that its probably the valve body or the torque converter. The check engine light does has not turned on nor any other service light. Can you help me with this is if you can please because Im going crazy without my car. Thanks! –Crystal corralcrystal@hotmail.com (970) 518-7196  

Answer
Hi Crystal,
There are several things to check for this situation:
1. The level of fluid in the transaxle. Find the dipstick for the transmission on the side that faces the front of the car. The trans dip stick is the one on the driver's side of the vehicle, as compared to the engine oil dipstick which is on the passenger side of the powertrain (but both are located on the side of the powertrain that is close to the front of the vehicle.  See if the fluid falls within the acceptable range or not. If not then get some trans fluid from a Chrysler dealer and add it to the trans a little at a time thru the dipstick tube. Don't overfill it. Then check to see if will move. If not,
2. Leave the car in drive with the engine running but with the parking brake applied to keep it from moving. Then look underneath the front wheels to see if you can notice any moving parts at the connections between the half-axles that connect the front wheels to the transmission. There is a joint at each end of each half axle and if one of them is broken and see if one is not transmitting its rotary motion to the wheel. If that is the case then the joint will need to be repaired, which is not too expensive. If nothing is seen moving at the transmission output joints, then some problem inside the trans is the issue.
In that case, getting the car to a dealer or trans shop is necessary for further diagnosis. Usually a check engine light will appear if all the above tests are passed by the vehicle and yet it won't move. Does the check engine light come 'on' when you turn the key from off to run position? It should, and if it doesn't then the bulb is probably burned out and needs to be replaced. If it does light, but still no subsequent lighting occurs as you try to get it to move, then that is indicative of a non-standard reading of the symptoms. If you do get a check engine light, then that may mean that there is a code stored in the transmission controller that can be readout with a special reader thih will help to identify what is wrong with transmission so as to not get the wrong repair done. So you may be well served to have the car towed to a Chysler dealer for a readout of the trans mission controller. Ask what the code numbers are, what they mean, what is the corrective action needed, and how much it will cost. Let me know what they tell you and I can check that against the trans shop manual that I have.
But if the trans fluid isn't low or a drive shaft joint is not broken, you will need to have the car towed to a dealer or a well-reputed independent shop for diagnosis.
You did mention a clicking noise but unless it is located to be coming from the transmmission it is not relevent. A clicking sound might have been that of a failing cv-joint on one of the half-axles. If that is found to be the case then the half-shaft needs to be remioved and the joint replaced. Any significant noise from the trans itself generally means internal damage requiring a rebuild.
So consider those possible steps and let me know.
Roland