Chrysler Repair: Transmissions overdrive went out, high gears, anomalous behavior

Question
Hi there,

I have a 1990 leBaron GT 3.0 v6, and yesterday i was driving home, and i noticed somthing wasnt right.  The gears just didnt quite feel right.  So today I find out, that i have no high gears.  First and second gear work fine, although, when i shift from 1 to 2 or vice versa, I notice no difference. I read into it a bit, and from what i can tell, the thing to do, is to take it and get it scanned on the computer.  I just wanted to hear what ur opinion is.

Thanks,

Andy

Answer
Hi Andy,
You are correct. What the trans controller has done after it found some malfunction is to enter "limp-in" mode where the trans will only stay in 2nd gear which uses fewer clutches and less other systems so that you can drive it for diagnosis without doing unnecessary damage. Other than check to make sure you have the proper level of trans fluid via reading of its dipstick, the only response is to see what the trans says is the fault it has observed and stored as a two digit code. I have a '92 shop manual on this transmission and so if you get the read code number we can compare what the shop says is wrong and what they propose to do with what the manual says. The codes report an anomalous behavior but don't usually say specifically what to fix, only what are the several possible reasons for the fault. But it is a good place to start from. You can have it read out and walk away with the information without making a commitment for the shop to do the repair. Make sure they have the proper reader and electrical plug to get the codes via the body computer plug (not the plug that is used to readout the engine).
Roland