QuestionThank you, I'll do the steps you suggest. I recently had the transmission rebuilt.
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Followup To
Question -
My driver-side power window and speedometer will both occasionally stop working. They may start working again in a few minutes or hours. Is there an electrical module that needs to be replaced?
Answer -
Hi Gil,
The distance sensor on the power train transaxle is what sends the signal to the speedo and also that signal is sent to the engine controller, and the memory module for the mirrors, and the daytime running light module. Now it may be that the signal is also not getting to the engine controller or any of the other places as well. If that were the case then there would be a #15 fault code recorded in the engine contoller memory. Or it could be a flakey connection in the wiring from the distance sensor. Did you happen to have any work done on the right side front drive shaft (such as a cv boot or cv joint)? If so, the sensor gear could have been damaged if it wasn't removed before the half shaft was removed from the transaxle (a meechanic's form of malpractice that you might get him to pay the bill for repair of that sensor gear). If not then the issue is to check all the connections. I would start at the connector to the sensor. The sensor is located on top of the transaxle housing extension(behind the engine about midline where you will find the housing, the thing out of which the half shafts protrude). Check that connector, even open it and spray the contacts with electronic spray cleaner. Then go to the rear of the battery where you will find a 10-wire dark gray disconnect, and similarly open that and clean the contacts. I can tell you how to self read the memory of the engine controller to see if it too has lost the distance sensor signal on occasion recently. But for right not let me send you this info.
AnswerHi Gil,
Yes, rebuilding the transmission would involve removing the half shafts so that gear on the distance sensor could well have been damaged. I believe the gear itself can be uptained from Chrysler so an entire sensor may not have to be replaced. To verify that the problem you are having is not just in the wiring to the speedo and mirror system here is how to check the engine controller to see if it has also lost the signal:
Begin a readout as follows: Take your ignition key and turn the ignition switch "on-off-on-off-on" and leave it "on". Do this switching quickly so that no more than 5 seconds elapses. Then watch the 'check engine' light to begin to flash, pause, flash, pause, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause and make a note of them in the order that they come. The last two flash groups will be 5 in each. Repeat the readout until you have the numbers accurately (the same result, two times in a row). Then pair the numbers two at a time in the order they came, to form two-digit numbers, for example the last number will be 55 which is the code for "end of readout".
If you get a code 15 that is indication that the sensor signal is not getting to the junction where it splits to go to the controller and the speedo/mirror and thus if the connectors I told you about are also o.k. (those between the sensor and the junction) it corroborates that the distance sensor gear has been damaged.
Roland
Roland
