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Followup To
Question -
94 concord 3.5L No reverse goes forward but then disengages. drove fine then got in to go and this started, simple fix or major?
Answer -
Hi Leo,
I assume you have the 4 speed electronic transaxle. First did you check the fluid level of the transmission dipstick? Low fluid level will cause a lack of hydaulic pressure to cause the shifts to occur. If you need fluid, go to a Chrysler dealer and get a quart of their brand for your transmission and add at it to the trans dip stick tube with a funnel until it shows the proper level is present.
If the level is o.k. but it still won't go into reverse it might be a problem with the hydraulic valve body, or the need of a filter change. One the other hand, it could be something like a bad clutch that requires rebuilding the transmission which is very major.
Fortunately, the trans unit has a controller that can identify faults and give an indication of what might be wrong and thereby determine either more tests or what repairs will be needed. It stores this fault information as coded numbers in its memory. The dealer has a readout tool to find out what the code numbers are. So I would recommend getting a readout (ask for the code numbers) and a prognosis of what the repair is and its cost. You don't have to give the go ahead for the repair, just ask for the readout and suggested repair work. Then write back to me with the code numbers and we'll compare notes on what they recommended to you.
Roland
Thanks, just found out my wife shifted to revers doing 70 on the hiway probabley needs a rebuild? I could (in The past) rebuild trasmisions, have done a few 350's an alike, and done sevral diferent Manuals but have never been in an automatic Transaxel Is it some thing I can handel?
I am a deisel generator mechanic for the past 20 years so i have not lost all of my mecanical ability. Special tools I dont have, just common pullers and hand tools What do you think? are Kits available?
Thanks for your Help.
Leo
AnswerHi Leo,
Ouch! I did that once about 40 years ago on a Buick, but at a very low speed, so the engine just stalled. I don't think it caused any immediate damage but I will always remember that boo-boo. At 70 mph who knows what would happen and with these electronic axles with the solenoids and sensors and a zillion parts, I don't have the experience to know for sure what is the cause of no reverse. My first thought is the reverse clutch probably took a very heavy beating.
I haven't opened an automatic transmission so I don't know what to advise you except that the manuals I have for the 41TE (similar to your 42LE) look very numerous in their steps and possible pitfalls. I guess I would talk to a dealer shop and an independent shop and see if you can find out what might have been destroyed and whether there is any chance that there was some built in hydraulic self-protection that might have disabled the ability of the trans to actually shift into reverse (after all it is electronic and has input and output shaft rotational sensors and a miriad of solenoids, etc, to protect it) and that it just need to have something "reset" (like a "blown fuse" would be my analogy). If not, you could always drop the pans and see if there is some debris of broken parts lying in the pans which would confirm the need for a rebuild.
The cost of the rebuild is generally spoken of as in the $2000 range. Might something be so damaged as to make it non-rebuildable is another consideration. So about the only thing I would suggest to save money might be to do the removal and installation yourself (my Haynes manual for 94-97 Concorde gives the steps for that which I could send to you by snail mail). The alternative is to try and find a running used one, but the rep on these is so questionable I would wonder how to know that what you are really buying.
I know nothing of parts kits, etc. though a parts counter at a dealer can probably tell you about that.
Let me know what you decide to do and how it works out.
Roland
