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Transmission advise needed

1K views 19 replies 4 participants last post by  peanuts 
#1 ·
Hello.
I bought an used transmission with decent low mileage thru ebay. Last night with the help of a friend we finally got the transmission removed from the 1999 Trep ES 3.2L.
Upon inspection of both trannies we discovered that one of the connectors -I believe it's called TRS connector- it's not the same. The old trans has flat pins and the new one has round pins. Could someone please tell me what can be done to solve this setback? I'd appreciate any ideas....I'm heck of upset.
Thank you.
 
#2 ·
You don't indicate what year model your car is. It sounds like your car is newer than the transmission you bought. Forget when the connector change was exactly but think it was 2001 or later. Either swap TRS from your current transmission to the replacement or get a section of wiring from the donor car and cut/splice into your current car.

Obviously swapping the TRS or buying a new TRS to install in the replacement transmission is the best way to go. Spend some extra money on a new filter and ATF+4 transmission fluid and you'll be good to go. Do NOT use anything other than ATF+4 fluid.
 
#4 ·
The car is an 1999 ES 3.2L Trep. The transmission I bought on ebay came from an 1999 ES 3.2L according to the seller and it has 55k miles. I contacted the seller -LKQ- and they asked for the VIN # of our car. We'll see what happens.
Thank you Ronbo. So you said that it's possible to buy a TRS that matches the connector of the old trans and install it in the replacement trans? It would be the easiest way to go for me cause dealing with the wires -cutting/splicing- seems really challenging.
 
#5 ·
1998 to at least 2000 had the TRS connector with round pins. 2002-2004 definately have the flat pins. Not sure about 2001 off the top of my head. The transmission they sold you didn't come from a 1999 originally.

The other thing is if it's from a 2002-2004 car the only engine choices were the 2.7L and the 3.5L. A transmission from a 2.7L car will have lower final drive gearing than your 3.2L transmission. If it came from a 3.5L car the gearing will be the same as your 3.2L. You'd also have to swap out the gearing along with the TRS if the transmission came from a 2.7L car.
 
#6 ·
I did the same exact thing.

Rons ideas work, but I ended up just swapping the TRS from the old trans and put it in the new trans. I ended up getting a 1998 Intrepid Trans...Just a little extra effort, but nothing to be too upset about.

also, food for thought, but I heard 98's and early 99's had the round connectors.
 
#8 ·
Thank you guys. This is the quote of the reply seller LKQ sent today: "The model that was ordered is for production date thru 9/28/98 with Pin style connector on transmission range selector switch. You need production date from 9/29/98, (ID 4799940) with Blade style connector on transmission range selector switch."
Well this ain't gonna help me with the mess that I'm in it right now.
KxWarrior, you said you swapped the TRS from one trans to another one. Is it something difficult to do? Any issues with the trans afterwards? Thank you for all the help !
 
#9 ·
You need to explain to them that you don't have the "Blade Style" connector and they sent you the wrong transmission.
 
#10 ·
Don't forget my warning about the lower gearing if that donor transmission came from a car with a 2.7L engine. You need to verify that also.
 
#11 ·
I explained everything to the seller. I even sent pictures of both transmissions and their connectors. My trans is the one with the blade pins. The one they sent has the round pins and it is from a 1999 ES 3.2 Intrepid. They are exactly the same, only difference the TRS connector.
 
#12 ·
Sorry...I misread your original post. I had it the other way around. They sent you a 1998 early 1999 transmission. You needed the later 1999+ transmission.

Swapping the TRS is the way to go as a first step.

My warning about the gearing for a 2.7L transmission still applies. They had the 2.7L from 1998-2001. However they claim it's from a 3.2L 1999 car so you should be good there. Swap the TRS, change the Fluid and Filter and you should be good to go.

Good Luck!
 
#13 ·
And a new TRS retails for around $37 at the dealer.

For your car it's: Part Number: 04659677AB

TRS=Transmission Range Sensor by the way. Also known as the gear indicator sensor and other names.
 
#14 ·
Thank you Ronbo. I really appreciate your input.
Do you know how this swapping of TRS goes? If I buy a new TRS from the dealer how do I go about removing the old one and then installing the new one? Is it complicated? Is there any work with the wiring/harness involved? Sorry about my ignorance on this matter.
 
#15 ·
You'll need to remove the pan. Remove the valve body and then access the TRS from above the valve body and change it.

I recommend you download the free FSM and read it carefully if you expect to attempt it yourself. It's not Rocket Science but if you're not mechanically inclined then it's best left to the Professionals.

I suggest you check out the link at the top of the 2nd Generation Forums/General Discussion for the links.
 
#17 ·
Hey guys please give me a hand. I bought the TRS part number 04659677AC which according to the dealer is the part that replaces the one mentioned by Ronbo that ended in AB. According to the guy at the desk they are exactly the same.
Well this new TRS with the flat pins looks very similar to the old TRS with the round pins that I'm replacing. The new one has a big spring surrounding the base of the connector while I believe the old TRS has the spring inside.
Everything went pretty smooth until I tried to put the valve body back in the trans. The new TRS just doesn't want to go all the way through the hole in the trans case. I did not bolt down anything, just tried to push it down with my hands. The rest of the valve body mates perfectly. It is just the area around the TRS there's a very small gap because of the inability of the TRS to go completely through the hole where its supposed to go.
Do I have to bolt the valve body in order to force the TRS to pass through the hole completely? I'm in a jam and I don't know what to do.
 
#19 ·
Have you checked to see if the TRS fits thru the case hole by itself? Not attached to the valve body.
 
#20 ·
Ronbo, the TRS doesn't fit thru the case hole by itself. I tried that. Now, I checked the link that Firem gave me and that explains everything. The two sensors have slightly different diameters. I'm gonna think wham I'm going to do next. Thank you for all the help.
 
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