QuestionHi, I was able to get the tranny fluid changed at the local e-z lube, but they put in regular trans fluid & then added a modifier that they said would make the fluid ATF+3? Don't know if that is true or not but the transmission still won't shift in the morning when my wife 1st drives it. She says it takes about 15 minutes and then it shifts normally for the rest of the day? From what she descibes it sounds like it stays in limp mode until it warms up. Since it runs and shifts normally after that, I don't think the problem is inside the transmission. The speedometer works fine now(after the fluid change). I think your suggestion about a sensor of some type on the outside of the transmission could be the problem. I tried to locate the sensors but had no luck. Is there anywhere I can get a good manual/(I have the Haynes). I wonder if there is a firmware update for the TCM computer? Also, I looked for a drain hole for the rocker panel under the non-working left rear 1/4 window & can't find it. Is that the same drain hole for the water under the drivers seat? I appreciate your help!
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Thanks for getting back so soon. I will check out what I can this weekend. I do have another question regarding the tranny fluid. Your reply mentions Mopar 7176 trans fluid. Is this the ATF+3 fluid? I know it doesn' take DEXRON. My wife has driven the car a few times already on some cold mornings and said it seemed like it wouldn't shift(right) until it was warmed up? Does this indicate anything in particular? I wonder if this is related to the speedometer problem?.. In any event, I am thankfull for your assistance.
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Hi, my brother just 'donated' a 1992 Chrysler LeBaron convertible to my daughter and it has a couple of problems. First of all the left rear window doesn't work. The other 3 windows go up and down normally, but the back left doesn't do anything. No noise, no movement. I checked & I can't find any blown fuses. So, we can't put the top down to see if it works until we get the rear window to work. How do I test it. Also, there is water under the driver seat? And the speed indicater on the dash guage is off. (it will say your going 20 miles an hour when you aren't going more than 5 miles an hour-and it's not in kilometers setting). The transmission may have the wrong fluid in it. Must I do a a complete tranny flush, or will a drain & refill work? I purchased a Haynes repair manual but it doesn't say how to diagnose the rear window, or how to get to it. It doesn't say much about the speedometer problem either. Any advice?
Answer -
Hi Jim,
The rear window are called quarter windows and they are known to fail because of water building up on the space between the outer fender and the inner chassis/panel often called the well. There is a drain hole in front of the rear wheel on the underside of the body along a seam and when that gets blocked up with leaves/dirt the water that drains there cannot run out. The window motor gets flooded and stops working. There is a website that describes how to get to the motor for replacement:
http://as.timsoft.com/spikey/quarterwindow.html
The water on the driver side floor may be due to that side's drain hole being blocked also. Find it, under a rubber flap, and clean it out with a rod that fits in the hole.
The speedo is electronic and is based on the pulsing from the output sensor of the electronic trans. It might be a bad sensor or its wiring. A readout of the trans controller memory for fault codes might tell you what is wrong with the output sensor if anything. The dealer is best set up to do a readout of that unit's memory. One would usually expect it to be reading low, so it may be a bad speedo head unit. The sensor is the rearmost one on the side of the trans that faces the front of the car, about mid-line on the side. You will see a similar one on the front of the trans at about the same level which is the input sensor for the torque converter turbine. So maybe just buy a new output sensor after checking the wiring to it would be a better way to invest you repair dollars.
If you don't have Chrysler brand Mopar 7176 trans fluid then it would be good to get rid of all the fluid by doing a power flush. Otherwise you only can replace about 2/3 of the fluid by draining it only.
You might want to join a Yahoo Autos group called The Chrysler LeBaron Club to get info from co-owners of cars like your daughter's.
Roland
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P.S. There is uncertainty in my reading of the '92 wiring diagrams as to whether there might be a second distance (speed) sensor located on the top of the transaxle extension housing (which is how the speedo was driven before '92). It is possible that your powertrain has two independent sensors, one for speedo one for trans shifting control. So mention that to a dealer or good trans shop if/when you have it tested for codes. The one on the extension housing will produce its own code if it is bad when they separately readout the engine controller. I'd be interested to know what you learned.
Hi Jim,
Chrysler says ATF+3 is an ok substitute for Mopar 7176 but others have told me that they have had better luck using the Mopar brand. the output speed sensor that I described is also used to control the shifting of the trans so if it is marginal it would likely affect both the speedo and the shifting. Another good reason for code readout or simply replacing that sensor to see what happens.
Roland
AnswerHi Jim,
I am suspicious about the brew that made the fluid equivalent to ATF+3. Because these trans's are so expensive to repair, I would be inclined to have the entire trans power flushed to get rid of it all and have Mopar 7176 put in. With a car of that age you are on borrowed time and if the trans goes out it may be too much of an investment to justify.
There is an output speed sensor right on the very rear of the front side of the trans, just to the right of the shift rod. My only question was whether or not there is also a distance sensor on the transaxle extension top surface (that is the part of the trans from which the half-shafts protrude). If the speedo is o.k. then the point is moot; it is getting a good signal from one or the other if there is an "other".
The Chrysler Shop Manual for front wheel drive vehicles for '92 is the one you would want. It actually is 3 volumes sold originally as a set. You can look for the set on eBay so wait for a used set to be offered at auction. You might be able to get it for $10-15 plus shipping, or in pieces (body-chassis/fuel-electrical-emissions/wiring diagrams).
On the drain hole, it is covered by a rubber flap and it is immediately in front of the rear wheel on the body seam, from what I have heard (my LeBaron is a coupe body so I don't have a drain hole on either side). So get under the body and look along the seam from the wheel well forward to the door opening to see if you can find a rubber flap.
I don't think there is another drain hole than those two, one on either side, though there could be some rubber plugs in floor under the seats. I just haven't had the occasion to look over a convertible body that closely.
It sounds like you are making progress so I hope that you and your wife enjoy the car.
Roland
