T/C van trans stuck in low gear

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Jay, Nov 15, 2004.

  1. Jay

    Jay Guest

    Does anyone know what control module would cause above problem? Dealer
    told my mom it would cost $500 for part $40 to install. Also any other
    possible causes or less expensive fixes, rebuilt part, for example.
     
    Jay, Nov 15, 2004
    #1
  2. Could be the Transmission Control Module, could be something other than
    the TCM...a bad input speed sensor, a bad output speed sensor, or other
    problems. You don't mention what year the van is, but if it's out of
    warranty, the dealer's the wrong place to go for service.

    DS
     
    Daniel J. Stern, Nov 15, 2004
    #2
  3. Jay

    Dave Gower Guest

    I agree with Daniel. These trannies default to second gear if the computer
    that controls them gets sufficiently unhappy. It might be something as
    simple as a loose electrical connection. If this happened to my Voyager I'd
    take it to a good tranny shop rather than a dealer.
     
    Dave Gower, Nov 15, 2004
    #3
  4. Jay

    Jay Guest

    Thanx for the posts. The T/C is a 2001. It was first taken to a Her
    regular mechanic who checked the speed sensors and stated it was a
    code he was unfamiliar with and recommended the dealer. I was looking
    for a heads up before calling the dealer for her.

    Jay
     
    Jay, Nov 16, 2004
    #4
  5. Jay

    BACKNCARDR Guest

    Thanx for the posts. The T/C is a 2001. It was first taken to a Her
    Post up that code.. a few of us on this newsgroup work on those 604 transaxles.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Loren Knighton
    Woodland, CA.

    Under the hood since 1964
    Member TRNI IATN
    http://www.lubegard.com/automotive/trans_atf.html
    http://www.longmfg.com/web/longwebframework.nsf/home/web.trucool
     
    BACKNCARDR, Nov 16, 2004
    #5
  6. Mine did that a couple of years back. I'll look in the service pouch
    and see what part they replaced tonight and report back tommorrow. I
    believe it was the speed sensor. As I recall about $180 total job.

    However, since they did that repair my cruise control has not
    functioned properly. Slams back from coast with a significant drive
    train clunk. Used to be nice and smooth. They ( dealer) swear no
    relevance to what they did. But they would be more than happy to look
    at it for me. Very coincidental.....maybe someone knows what the
    cause is.
     
    Frank Boettcher, Nov 16, 2004
    #6
  7. Jay

    deadbeat Guest

    That me be a problem, as a 2001 does not have a 604!
     
    deadbeat, Nov 16, 2004
    #7
  8. Does. The nomenclature changed in the mid '90s to comply with the SAE
    transmission naming convention, but it's common and acceptably correct to
    refer to all of the Chrysler-built 4-speed FWD/AWD automatics made after
    1989 as "604-family transmissions", "604-derivatives" or simply "604s".
     
    Daniel J. Stern, Nov 16, 2004
    #8
  9. Jay

    BACKNCARDR Guest

    BACKNCARDR, Nov 16, 2004
    #9
  10. Jay

    Jay Guest


    Loren,

    I don't know what the code was, but she picked up the van today at a
    cost of $576 ($500 part/$76 labor)The module replaced was the Trans.
    Control Module. That's a hefty price, is that fair?
    Thanks
    Jay
     
    Jay, Nov 18, 2004
    #10

  11. Not really, no. Those modules seldom fail, and even if yours did,

    http://www.car-part.com -- searchable used auto parts nationwide.
     
    Daniel J. Stern, Nov 19, 2004
    #11
  12. Jay

    Treeline Guest

    Alas, where I live, I am not sure there is a good tranny shop.
    There is Cottman Transmission but when I (not original poster)
    tried to discuss flashing or updating the TCM [tranmission
    control module or EATX or EATXII or transaxle this or that] - he,
    the fellow answering the phone, did not know what I was talking
    about.

    I did call the nearest independent tranny shop, but he said to
    come on over and it is usually the torque converter. Gee thanks,
    pal.

    So I called a dealer that has a good rep. And to his and my
    surprise, I found a discount coupon on his web site so I can, I
    hope, get the filter changed, the fluid swapped out - how do they
    do this if changing the filter, put in a change and a half or put
    back the old fluid when they hook it up to the exchange or flush
    machine? - and flash the TCM so to avoid the infamous, notorious,
    and disastrous 37 mph shudder of the electronically controlled
    clutch by the TCM. And maybe for less than $200, I'm hoping.

    My car is old so there are only remanufactured units, now running
    around $190 at the dealer. I have seen them used for as low as
    $25 to $40 [from D. Stern and www.car-parts.com]. Dealers can
    charge a little or a lot to flash them if they are flashable. The
    ones with fins on the sides are flashable. One dealer said
    $37.50. Another dealer said $70 to read the thing, then another
    whatever to flash it. My mistake, I showed up in person and the
    lady service manager probably did not like my stubble. But what
    the hell, my car was having trouble starting so they gave me an
    appointment the next week. Gee thanks, Mr. Dealer. Sometimes you
    luck out. Another time at this dealer, they actually went out to
    give me advice for free. Women. Very unpredictable, especially as
    service managers. The men are usually the same, always nasty or
    always nice.

    I got all this info from this newsgroup. Great stuff. The dealer
    said I had to bring the discount coupon I found on the internet,
    hard to print out, but since I did programming once, I got it
    under control.

    Strange, strange world.

    D. Stern said that Cottman probably used Dexran or Dexron +
    Lifeguard. I guess there's no way to test that? I found a place
    to test my engine oil for $20 on this newsgroup. Used it.
    Interesting, to see about 20 tests for $20. The mechanics get a
    little edgy about this. I guess they never had chemistry. Too
    bad. A little bit of boron can say a lot about a motor. Well
    worth the money and fun too. Blackstone Labs?

    In any case, they said my oil was 5W-30 whereas it was ostensibly
    10W-30. I put in Walmart's Super-Tech?, that's about all I buy
    there, makes me so sad to see people working without health care,
    someday I might have to work there too for minimum and unliveable
    wages, but in any case, their brand is probably a recycled oil
    from Canada or whoever else they put their screws to. Well, Sears
    did the same thing to their suppliers too. You would think after
    30 or 40 billion, you might loosen up a little, eh, Sam Walmart?

    Damn, it's 5 am, sorry to ramble on, my cat took over the bed.
     
    Treeline, Nov 23, 2004
    #12
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