QuestionHi,
Would you mind responding to the second email I listed? I have a 2001 Chrysler Town and Country Minivan- 3.8L, V6, FWD. The engine light keeps coming on, deactivated by mechanic 2x, on again. Codes P0700, P0741. I have been told the transmission needs to be rebuilt. There are not any symptoms. The only one that I can remotely identify is an occasional delay in acceleration- probably for the last 6-9 months. This past winter, I had power steering problems. Several trips in, eventually replaced the whole power steering parts that attached to the wheel (control arm? I forget the terms) .
About 5 weeks ago, the power steering hoses (blew?), with transmission fluid gushing out. the hoses were replaced, then about a week later, the engine light came on. (also, the light came on within hours of filling up a full tank of gas) Could this be related to pressure or variance in a system that is triggering the engine light? Or could any of the work have disrupted something else to trigger the light? what happens if I do nothing for right now, as there do not seem to be any symptoms? Do you have any affordable suggestions, besides a transmission rebuild? (I am a single mom on a budget). thanks so much!!
AnswerHi Shayne,
What is the "second email I listed"?
Could you cross-check that 0741 with the mechanic? I don't find that code to be a 'good' one in 2001. If you can either get the name of the code, or a proper number for it I can them see what are the possibilities. Lets deal with this further when you have an answer to that question. I would doubt that the only choice is a rebuild but let us see.
I did find a reference to another manufacturer's 0741 and it relates to the lock-up provision of the torque converter not functioning. If that is the problem, then I don't believe it requires a rebuild. What is going on there is that normally when you reach about 45 mph the two halves of the torque converter are mechanically locked together to reduce the slippage by about 5%, which improves the gas mileage a bit and also give a bit better engine braking when slowing down. It is not so important as to be worth fixing it. Many vehicles don't even have this feature. So if the mechanic says that is what he understands to be the 0741 with your van, I would drive on without regard to it. It is understandable that you don't notice it, because it is a very subtle change in rpm that happens when the lock-up occurs. If the lock up occurs normally, then it does also have to release as you come down to slow speeds or the engine will stall. So that is something to be aware of if this clutch system fails in the other direction.
So let me know what you learn.
Roland
