Chrysler Repair: valve body r&r: electronic transaxle, 4 digit numbers, limp home


Question
QUESTION: Have a 1997 town n country 3.9 lxi limp home mode.turn off and then on again runs fine. Becoming more frequent. Replaced selonoid pack, input output sensors and relay. ran good for a while now repeating problem again. Purchased valve body for trans hoping it may be the problem. How difficult to get out and replace and do you have the specs on torque for different bolts?Help!!

ANSWER: Hi Karen,
Did you try to get the fault codes? You may be able to get them using the ignition key" on-off-on-off-on and leave on, doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the odometer window to see the mileage change to 4-digit numbers preceded by a P. Let me know the numbers and we'll see if changing the valve body makes any sense to do. It would require dropping a pan and colecting the fluid, then some dismantling to reach the valve body. So let us see if we can get a clue about what is the real problem by getting the fault codes. I can give you the details of how to change out the valve body if it is necessary.
Roland
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QUESTION: the fault codes 700 and 1776  thats with the obd reader. I thought the valve body may be getting old and sticking. when the car runs its great but i am running out of things to change so this is the last attempt.It has 248000 miles on it and love the car. the trans shifts great for a while and then just decides limp home. the fluid is nice and red and level and no burn smell and of course has been changed with only chrysler ATF 4. Can anything else tease the transmision like the throttle control sensor for speed or anything? I changed selonoid pack and it did run good for about 15000 miles. now that code. possibly be selonoid again? Expensive to just replace again. determined to change valve body just in case.

Answer
Hi Karen,
The 0700 alerts you that there is a second, specific code stored in the memory, in this case the 1776. That code does suggest that the solenoid switch valve, in the valve body, is not in the correct position under certain conditions (stuck in the L-R position). So either changing the body or reconditioning it (or the ssv) would be in order. As you already have the new valve body, just r&r seems appropriate. There are about 6 pages in the '98 manual I have that shows steps in doing the job. There is info both in the sections about changing the range sensor and the valve body that are relevant. The torque specs are: valve body bolts = 45 inch-pounds, valve body to case bolts =105 inch-pounds, oil pan to trans case bolts= 165 inch-pounds, range sensor 45 inch-pounds. I will copy and mail you the pages. Just give me a postal mailing address. If you would be so kind as to send me back three 44-cent stamps to cover my costs that would be appreciated. My address will be on the envelope.
Roland
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