Chrysler Repair: 98 Chrysler Sebring LXi transmission, chrysler sebring lxi, chrysler sebring

Question
Roland,
  Can you help me with a transmission problem that seems to haunts me.  I've spent enough rebuilding the transmission but seems to work poorly.  The tranny changes shift during accelleration?  Do you what is causing that?

Dino

Answer
Hi Dino,
I assume that you have the electronic controlled transaxle. While I don't have personal experience with it, I have read the diagnostic manual for it. There are two approaches to getting a resolution of the problem. One is to have a shop with the appropriate diagnostic tool to read out any stored fault codes do so. These codes tell you what part(s) of the transmission do not appear to the controller to be operating properly, then the mechanic should look into those specific parts. Another is to look at a symptom chart and I have done so. If what you described could be called 'erratic shifting', then the main reasons would be either too high of too low hydraulic fluid pressures. The mechanic could measure the pressures of the various circuits by means of a pressure gauge fitted to several test ports. Once that situation is understood, a fix of the pump, or filter, of valve body or ? would be in order. There are some other causes for erratic shifting that suggest damage to internal parts, but if you have had the transmission rebuilt then those would not seem to be likely (worn or faulty clutches). The last possibility is that the engine is faultering in its power output during acceleration. I am not sure how to separate that possibility from that of the transmission being the issue.
So I guess I can only suggest that you consider having the fault codes readout, and my manual gives an explanation for what these mean and suggest for remediation (though the shop that reads out the codes should also have this information, I would be glad to share it with you). Or you could have the shop check the internal pressures of the hydraulic fluids.
So that is the best help I can give you. Let me know if I can help when you get more information. Have you been working with a shop that if competent with the Chrysler transmission? It also needs to use the Chrysler brand fluid.
Roland
Roland