Question Would this problem cause my transmission to go into limp-home mode? Also, my wipers are messed up, so i took the relay out. i think it is turn signal switch that has a short b/c the wipers will come on for no reason and then it wont shut off and it goes really slow. Because of this i took out the relay..i think it is the intermittent relay. Would this cause the voltage problem that would make my car stay in 2nd gear.
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Followup To
Question -
Hey Mr. Roland, I own a 1997 chrysler LHS, and i have a weird problem. This transmission problem only happens at night. When I turn my lights on, my transmission goes into limp-home mode where it stays into 2nd gear. During the day it is fine, not a problem, but once the lights are on it will slip out. I can shift it in to neutral, and crank it back up and it will go back into gear. Once I stop it will slip out again. I'm thinking it could be an input sensor or something, but i have no clue why it happens when the lights are on. Maybe the TCM is hooked up somehow...it is soo weird. Not switchng gear just recently made my car over heat, and my radiator busted or a line busted, so i need to get this fixed. My brother before I got it took it to a transmission man, and it still isnt fixed, maybe you can tell me what to do and i can fix it myself. Please please please please give me some information. Just somemore information, when the lights are on the turn signal is defected, it is just wierd. If I have any other problems I will tell you. Thank You so much.
Chad
Answer -
Hi Chad,
The only electrical matters that affect the transmission, the headlamps, and the turn signals is the level of voltage that is supplied to them for their correct function. What you describe would lead me to check out the voltage that the battery is showing when the lights are off and when the lights are on. If the alternator is going bad, or the voltage control circuit from the Powertrain controller to the alternator were not correctly setting the desired voltage (should be in the range of 13-15V) then the trans controller would be compromised as would the turn signal flasher and the headlamps would also be dimmer than they should be. So I would put an accurate voltmeter on the battery and see what it reads while the engine is running and either the headlamps are on or are off. You might also want to check the battery cables and posts to be sure they are shiney and tight. And finally I would follow the wires on the - post battery clamp to verify that all the places where they are attached (body, engine, headlamp panel, strut tower) are clean and tight.
That is my first priority for solving this problem. Also check the alternator drive belt to make sure that it isn't slipping.
Then let me know what the voltage readings are at the battery.
Roland
AnswerHi Chad,
For the solenoids to work properly they have to have a minimum level of voltage, so if the headlamps (or maybe another external lighting lamp circuit, so try driving with the parking lamps 'on' and see if the trans still goes "limp") were dragging down the voltage then I can see how the trans might malfunction; it is afterall an Electronically controller transaxle so if it misbehaves only when the headlamps are 'on' that certainly makes me wonder if the voltage is too low on the system when you have the lamps on.
On the wipers/multifunction/turn signal switch, the Haynes manual I have has tables that show what the reading should be on the various terminal so the switch. I could more easily xerox this material and snail mail it to you if you will give me a U.S. postal mailing address, no charge. Then you can see if the switch is bad with the use of an ohmmeter.
Roland
