I have a 95 Concorde 3.3L which I'm having transmission problems with. From reading other posts on the forum, it sounds like the limp mode essentially causes the tranny to stick in 2nd gear.
This problem sprung up recently and has been intermittent. When it's cold, it usually shifts fine through the gears (although sometimes shifts hard), but when it warms up, it seems to stay in 1st or 2nd gear. Does this sound like "limp mode" or something more serious?
I noticed in one of the posts that someone was going to post a procedure and diagram to replace the sensors, but I wasn't able to find it on the site. Does this exist?
make sure your using the proper tranny fluid and are using the correct amount. it dosent sound like the input output ensor because it works when you drive it... untill it's warmed up. heck you may even have a loose wire on your sensor. mine does once in a great while when it's cold but it's usually due to my tranny fluid leak....it's a small one. i would take it and have the codes read if there are any...and BTW... welcome to the boards.
It really isn't that serious at all. The same thing happend to me about a year ago, the tranny was stuck in second gear. It was just a $40 output sensor on the tranny. It was under warrenty. Hopefully it is just as simple for you too.
Its deffinatly not in "limp mode", this is for the PCM to opperate in a default mode. Usually this happends when a PCM is fried, or MAP sensor, crank pos, or cam pos sensor is needing replacement. There are also some other causes for this opperation...but none of them include tranny problems.
If you can get your dealer to scan your car, or even try to use the key on-off-on-off-on trick to do a self diagnostic and read the codes yourself. Im willing to bet its just a tranny input or output speed sensor.
I just did the key switch code generator and get a 55 code. I'm trying to do a search to find out what that code is.
As far as fluid, I just had it serviced a few months ago, but I'm not certain what the garage used. I know I topped off with +3 fluid about 2 weeks ago.
i'm not sure what th codes mean... but joekd hs the books for it. he should reply sometime in the day. if you have an autozone nearby call them when they are open and they will tell you what the codes mean.
55 is end of code list so you have no readable codes stored. To get tranny codes you need to have the tranny scanned at the dealer or tranny shop with a DRBII scan tool. Limp in mode is second gear only and can be caused by many electrical faults. It could be just a minor problem with a sensor, a scan check will tell. Even a crank sensor problem can cause a limp mode condition.
On 1st gens, the TCM software will not allow the tranny to shift until tranny temp is determined to be above –16 deg F (it’s running the “extreme cold” schedule). So, if it’s REALLY cold outside, the only forward gear you’ll have is 2nd, until it has a chance to warm up.
edit: Also of note, pre-‘96 model TCMs estimate tranny temp based on engine coolant temp and battery temp determined by the PCM. So, technically, if your TCM thinks your tranny is really cold based on data from the PCM, then it’ll stay in the “extreme cold” shift schedule. Actual tranny temp wasn’t measured until ‘96-up models.
Its deffinatly not in "limp mode", this is for the PCM to opperate in a default mode. Usually this happends when a PCM is fried, or MAP sensor, crank pos, or cam pos sensor is needing replacement. There are also some other causes for this opperation...but none of them include tranny problems.
1st gens have a limp mode for the tranny only, as far as I can tell. When certain TCM codes are registered, the TCM will shut down the solenoid and allow only 2nd gear for forward movement in order to prevent potential damage done by shifting.
Well, I went through and replaced the Input Sensor and replaced the fluid with ATF+3 to no avail. Still stuck in 2nd gear. I don't know whether to replace the Output Sensor or just take it in. Since the speedo works fine, I guess I'll take it to the dealer. I found out that the cost of the sensor was essentially the same at the dealer as it was at Autozone ($27+/-).
Thanks Joe for the diagram and procedure for changing the sensor. It took about 20 minutes including getting the vehicle onto jackstands and crawling out several times for tools. The longest part of the process was getting the connector off.
I sincerely appreciate all the input from everyone. Hopefully the dealer scan will uncover a minor problem, otherwise it's to the boneyard.
Well, took it to the dealer and $80 later, all I get is "Recommends to Replace or Rebuild transmission". No indication about what process they used to get to this decision and what error codes they got to arrive at this point. When I talked to the tech on the phone, he just said that the trouble codes indicated that it was an internal problem, whatever that means. Of course, I pick it up after 5 PM and all the techs are gone so there's no one to discuss it with and it'll be forgotten by Monday.
So, I may be the shortest lived member on this site since I can't justify spending $2k on a rebuild on a vehicle with 200k miles. I only regret that I had stuck about $1k into the front end, tires and a fuel pump in the last 2 months.
Again, I appreciate all the help. I may need to call in some favors from my junkyard friends on this one to see if they can help with a cheap fix.
About 2 years ago I replaced the transmission fluid and filter in my '93 ES. Upon starting the car up after doing this, it was stuck in 2nd gear. I later realized that I had failed to disconnect the battery cable as Haynes suggested. The car was in that lazy gear mode you've mentioned. Supposedly the computer was confused by what I had done, but turning the car off and back on was enough to reset the computer and give me all my gears back.
Your problem, unfortunately, sounds different. If you are getting 1st and 2nd gears sometimes, it isn't that the computer is slipping in and out of lazy mode...it's just a messed up tranny.
I cannot stress enough get the sensors replaced and install a tranny cooler ... worked for me ... it'll save you at least a thousand dollars in tranny work
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