Chrysler Repair: Chrysler Concorde 2003 Cruise Control Surge/Overshoot, chrysler concorde, output shaft

Question
Hello Roland,

My 2003 Chrysler Concorde has a problem when engaging or resuming a speed set point.  It will overshoot 3 to 4 MPH when using resume or setting the speed initially.  For example, if the cruise is set to 65 MPH and disengaged it will overshoot to 68/69 MPH when engaged and then drift back to 65.  

I don't know if this issue is related to above but, if I engage the cruise at 10 MPH or more
below setpoint the car does a two speed shift down and races to the overshoot of 3 to 4 MPH over set point and then drifts back to set point.

Hopefully you have seen this problem - it very annoying and can lead to getting speed tickes and the sudden downshift can be very dangerous depending on the road conditions.

Please help
Thanks

Ray Costello

Answer
Correction: The sensor is on the left (driver's side of the transmission, assuming that the engine and trans are longitudinal in that model). I was thinking of it as viewed from the front of the car, but the convention is to consider left and right from the driver's seat. The wires for the output shaft sensor (speed) are light green/violet and dark blue/black in many Chrysler vehicles so I assume the same in your late model.


Hi Ray,
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) I have not had experience with that sort of a problem. Because the control is functioning to some extent, but not accurately, I would wonder if the output speed sensor on your transmission might be getting flakey, and underestimating the actual speed of the vehicle. Have you noticed any irratic speedometer readings as well or trans shifting difficulties when not using the speed control?
That sensor is located on the right side of the transmission, about midline, at the very far end of the unit and it has a two wire plug. It is easy to replace if you believe it is faulty. The other routine thing to check would be the vacuum supply line, and then look over the cable from the unit to the throttle for any mechanical binding.
I have checked all my manuals and none mention this sort of behavior. So consider those possibilities and let me know how this gets worked out.
Roland