Chrysler Repair: 1995 Chrysler Cirrus transmission limp mode, chrysler cirrus, 1995 chrysler cirrus

Question
Our local Chrysler garage has had my son's 1995 Chrysler Cirrus, 6 cylind., automatic trans. since July 12 & can't figure out why the new trans. they installed in June only worked for 16 days when it began to act exactly like the old trans. did before they replaced it. You drive along & suddenly it goes into "limp mode" - can't even catch it on their computer, it happens so fast...they have notified Chrysler who says it's electrical & need to replace the wiring harness. They are reluctant to do so because they've already rigged up a partial harness to byass the existing wiring between the engine & the trans. to no avail - does the same thing but Chrysler is insisting that a complete new wiring harness will do the trick...@ an additional $800.! They want me to think it over & let them know on Mon. if I really want to spend more money on this car! They have already replaced the solenoid pack 3 times & tried a new computer in the car with no results- car still shifts down or into limp mode at random with no warning. I'm so upset and don't know what to do. My son & I work at min. wage jobs & don't have the money to go out & buy another used car either. I feel like they have us over a barrel! Any ideas? Thanks for listening! Paula

Answer
Hi Paula,
I believe that the local dealer has been incompetent in repairing your son's car. Clearly, their diagnosis that the transmission needed to be replaced was wrong and so you should be given credit for that huge cost and they should reinstall the old transmission (or better yet, because the old tranny was probably traded-in, leave the new transmission in and give you a credit for the money they charged you unnecessarily). Then tell them that you would like to apply the credit to replacing the harness (probably less than they charged you for the transmisssion, so you should get back the difference between that cost and the money you have already paid).
This transmission has a very complete set of built-in trouble codes including codes that alert it to problems resulting from communication between the various units in the powertrain, these codes are stored in the memory and so the argument that it happened too fast to be recorded is false. Basically, they misdiagnosed what the real problem was, installed the wrong part, and now want you to pay again for the right part (assuming of course the corporate suggestion of a new harness is correct). That is the position I would recommend that you take on Monday when you give them your answer. If they say no deal, then I would suggest you politely leave, explaing to them what you intend to do: file a complaint with your state's consumer affairs department (auto repair section) asking for their help (located at the state capital), and also get the information on filing a claim against the dealer from your local small claims court (I believe you can get $1,000 or maybe more if you win your case).
I have a manual for the transmission in question which documents all the capabilities of this transmission for self-diagnosis of its problems which you can use in your arguments to the agency or the court for restitution of all the money you spent so far. I believe that your case is very persuasive: you took the car to the dealer and trusted in their expertise to repair it properly the first time and it wasn't accomplished, so they are responsible for an improper diagnosis and unnecessary repair and should make restitution for that error. Then if the new harness accomplishes the repair, you should pay for that only. You paid them labor charges for their expertise and they failed you and as the result you have misspent many precious dollars. They are at fault and need to make restitution.
Sorry for sputing off, but I encourage you to be firm and seek justice. Let me know if you need the documentation that shows your problem could have been diagnosed properly and thus avoided the unnecessary expense and loss of use of the car for such a long period of time. It is an insult to ask you to pay any more money for repairing the car.
Hang tough.
Roland