QuestionI am trying to get my 1995 crysler cirrus in working order for my daughter to drive. It has SEVERAL problems. Please excuse if I don't explain very good because I am just a mom not a mechanic. The car first had a transmission leak, and when we took it to the shop the mechanic explained that it would be best to just replace the transmission and seals so we had that replaced. The car was not shifting out of 1st gear, the cooling fan was not working, the dash guages were not working, and there was a no bus message when this happened. The transmission has been replaced, and still it won't shift out of 1st gear and the fan is still not working as it should, so nothing has been resolved, we've been out too much money and now today the mechanic says that he is going to replace the tcp, i assumed that is the transmission control module. My question first is ,,,,,,,,,should the transmission be shifting? I got upset with the mechanic because nothing has been resolved. Does the tcp control whether it shifts or not? What is the NO BUS message? Why won't the fan kick on on it's own? Also the car has died while my daughter was driving it out ? Should I just get rid of this thing? I am in over my head in repairs and my husband and I don't know whether to put any more money into this thing or not...Please any advice or help would be much appreciated. We are wondering if we've been takin as far as the mechanics skill or is this car a nightmare to work on. WE want to be hopeful but it's hard to do at this point.
AnswerThanks for the nice feedback. I would suggest that indeed you not authorize any replacement of the TCM without a verified in person readout of the fault codes from the present controller which is more than likely not at fault. Then whoever does the readout, let me know what those codes are after you have asked the mechanic for his translation of the codes, what might be the reasons for codes, what he proposes the job to be and its cost.
You may need to go to small claims court for redress if the first mechanic is demostrably incompetent, so see if you can trap him into showing you how he tried to read the trans codes and the instrument that he used. (Remember he has to go to the plug in that is under the dash, he has to be able to plug his reader into that plug and the reader has to be programmed for the Chrysler etax for 1995). Are there alternative trans shops (better to go to an independent than a franchise) or at least a Chrysler/Dodge dealership where you should be able to get a code readout? Did the trans that he replaced yours with from a wreching yard, or from a rebuild company, or is it new? Did he even try to do any repair on your original transmission? If he just went off to get another trans without ever getting the codes read out, that is incompetent on its face.
Roland
Hi Kim,
These electronic transaxles are sophisticated and require that the person who diagnoses them and repairs them have the proper diagnostic tools and knowledge about them and also be aware of their evolution thru the 90's. I believe that the code readout plug in '95 would be the 6-pin data bus plug, rather than the 16-pin data link connector that came in with the '96 model year along with the OBD-II (OBD-II = on board diagnostic system, 2nd generation). And the code reader would also have to have the proper cartridge for that model year. One way of finding out if the mechanic is knowledgeable and equipped is to ask him to show you where he connected his readed to do the readout: if he shows you a plug that is under the hood, then he was just reading the engine codes, not the transmission codes because the data bus plug is actually under the dash. And also ask if his cartridge covers the '95 model year. So that would be one way to assess what skill he is bringing to the problem. He might not have been able to read the fault codes for that reason. This should not be an issue at a Chrysler/Dodge dealer or a highly regarded transmission shop.
The trans will default to "limp-in" (only run in 2nd gear) when the controller recognizes something is wrong with the trans. It also has a code which should say when the controller has gone bad. So you need to get a valid trans readout before doing anything else, including replacing the TCM (tansmission control module).
The fan is controlled by a relay and the engine controller energizes the relay so that is a separate problem from the trans. And an engine code readout and simple test of the relay and the coolant temp sensor (which signals that the fan needs to be turned on) will possibly resolve that.
There may also be a code stored in the engine controller that will explain why the car died on your daughter, and a repair of that could thus be accomplished. Also when the car won't start there are a couple of things she can do herself with the aid of a helper to turn the ignition key which would help to get to the bottom of the problem if it appears to self-correct, for example. Even today you can readout the engine codes:
Try using the ignition key: turn it "on-off-on-off-on" and leave it "on" (doing this quickly, no longer than 5 seconds). By "on" I mean just the normal position when the engine is running, not the cranking position. The 'check engine'light will remain on when you leave the key in the "on" position with the engine still not running. But then watch the 'check engine' light to begin flashing, then pause, flashing, pause, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause and keep track of the numbers. Repeat the readout and verify the counts are correct. Then group them in pairs in the order that they came out, thus forming two digit numbers. You may notice that the pause is shorter between the digits of a given number, and longer between the numbers themselves. Then send me a 'follow-up' question telling me the results of your readout. By the way, 55 will be the last number (two groups of 5 flashes each) and that is the code for "end of readout".
But the trans module needs a handheld reader plugged into the data bus to get what its fault codes are.
So I guess what I am saying is that there may not be the necessary skills being brought to bear on this situation. Is there any shop that knows Chrysler cars in your area? Or does anyone in the family want to get into it a bit, in which case I can give him/her a few tests to do.
The trans though will need to be repaired by someone who knows what they are doing. I would lean toward getting some or all of the money back from the present mechanic if it appears that he really can't do the code readout correctly, for example, and the fact that the trans replacement didn't solve the problem. Then ask around for a trans mechanic that really knows these units.
I wish I could give you a magic answer that would solve all the problems. If you can't be sure of the shop, then I would not throw more money because it will likely go for naught. I think the corporate engineering of the product is good, but if the person who works on it is not, then all that is lost.
Roland
