F01.justanswer.com



1997 Chrysler Town & Country

Transmission Problem Log

General Information

We got the car from the wife’s fathers’ estate in 2009. It had been his car when he owned the dealership. As far as I can tell, it has every option except four wheel drive. It always got the best of care. However, in the last years before we got it, it had several drivers who worked for the father-in-law.

It needed some attention, mostly in terms of soft parts, like belts, hoses, wipers and motor mounts.

In later 2012, it developed three erratic problems.

(1) Sometimes it would cut out – no engine, no power steering, etc. – but could cut back on or be restarted quickly. This never set any trouble codes in the computer.

(2) Sometimes in trying to unlock the van, it would go into its antitheft alarm mode. Relocking the door, closing it and again unlocking it with the key would stop the alarm. In all cases, it would then start and run fine. The problem seemed to occur less often if I paused after unlocking the van, open the door and using the driver’s door unlock switch. [I only have a key, not the remote key fob.]

(3) Sometimes all the dash instruments would “die’ and go to their “zero” setting. This included the tach, speedometer, and all gauges. A quick open-handed “slap” on the top of the dash would usually restore the gauges. Only rarely did it take more than one “slap”.

These problems were resolved by Benson Chrysler. They replace the Body Control Module, the instrument cluster and some key lock switches in a few doors.

Transmission Information

The only other aggravation was a consistent minor transmission leak. More aggravation than a real problem. Just a small spot on the driveway. Because of the AAMCO transmission work in Naples in 2002, I focused on the transmission pan gasket as a likely leak source. I did a transmission service with new gasket and filter but that did not fix the leak. There were no transmission problems observed until …

August 2012 Had been working on finding and fixing the transmission fluid leak. Replaced pan gasket. Found bad repairs by AAMCO. Tried to fix with longer studs and nuts to replace short factory bolts and stripped threads. The longer studs reached into “fresh” threads.

January 2013 Tried again to find/fix transmission leak

April 2013 Occasional problem with ignition cut-out and instrument panel problems diagnosed as body control module and instrument cluster. Replaced by Benson Chrysler.

April – May 2013 Drove to Tucson to work on mom’s house. Only problem was balky oil pressure sender/switch which was replaced by Texas Dodge dealer.

May 2013 Transmission leak problem – replaced bad AAMCO repair (stripped threads) with helicoil inserts into transmission pan rail and new bolts. Still did not fix the leak.

September 2013 Cleaned everything well with degreaser and hosed clean. Transmission leak was traced to gasket area between transmission case and transmission control solenoid pack. No operating problems, just the pesky leak.

October 24, 2013 Transmission Control Solenoid replaced with new NAPA part by Sims Tire in Duncan.

November 2013 Leak stopped. Occasional “hot electrical” odor noted, not strong. Could not find source inside or outside passenger compartment (note changed AC blower resistor once).

November 2013 Transmission started occasionally acting up. Jerking and clunking. Finally went into limp mode where it was locked into second gear.

Codes: P0700 TCC Circuit Malfunction

P0750 Shift Solenoid A Malfunction (low-reverse)

P0755

P0765 Shift Solenoid D Malfunction (under drive)

All codes cleared, operated fine – for a while. Acted up several more times. Same codes. Would run fine for a while after clearing codes. Sometimes days and 20-30 miles, sometimes 1-2 miles. No differences noted if hot or cold. Carried code reader and would clear each time.

November 2013 Hauled vehicle to Advanced Transmission in Mauldin. Leon checked it out. Suggested that I take it back to Sims for warranty replacement of Transmission Control Solenoid.

December 11, 2013 Transmission Control Solenoid replaced under warranty by Sims.

December 2013 Ran fine with replacement TCS – for two days. Started jerking and clunking. Went back to limp mode in second gear. Similar codes. Would run fine for a little while after codes cleared. Then jerking and back to limp mode.

January 15, 2014 Internet suggested problem with Transmission Control Module (thought problem might be similar to Body Control Module problem). Ordered LKQ TCM – was MoPar Reman December 11, 2001.

January 18, 2014 Same three codes. Cleared codes. Replace TCM. Ran fine for 1- 2 miles, then jerky and “check engine” light. Cleared codes, run OK for a few miles, then go to limp mode.

January 20, 2014 Reinstalled original TCM. Cleared codes. [Still have the reman TCM.]

January 21, 2014 Ran fine 1-2 miles, then jerky, then limp mode

Codes: P0700

P0750

P0755

Cleared codes, then run OK for 1-2 miles, then jerk, then limp mode with codes.

Discussion with Leon suggested an electrical problem, not a transmission problem. Because these are hard to find, he suggested that I start checking out the wiring between the TCM and the transmission control solenoid.

Internet Details on Wires in Cable between TCM and TCS

Function Color 60 pin at TCM 8 pin at TCS

2-4 Pressure Switch Yellow/blk stripe pin 47 pin 1

Low/Rev Press Sw Dark Green pin 50 pin 2

OD Press Sw Orange/blk stripe pin 9 pin 3

Power In Red pin 16 pin 4

UD Solenoid Pink pin 59 pin 5

OD Solenoid Brown pin 60 pin 6

Low/Rev Solenoid Light Blue (greenish?) pin 20 pin 7

2-4 Shift Solenoid White (yellowed) pin 19 pin 8

All wires had no resistance. All terminals were clear and dry. No corrosion.

February 18, 2014 Read about the OEM change in TCS gasket and fluid routing. Removed TCS and compared the gasket there with the new gasket from Big O Dodge. Both gaskets were the same. Do not know about the original gasket and TCS fluid routing (before Sims on October 24, 2014). Used new gasket. Same problems after running briefly.

Parked vehicle for several months. Would occasionally clear all codes and go for a brief drive. The jerking would usually start again in 2 to 10 miles the go to “limp” mode.

After sitting for several months, needed to recharge battery. Test drove the vehicle again. No problems for about 20 miles, then the same old things all over again.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download