Trippin Transmission

1300 Views 19 Replies 11 Participants Last post by nikr316, Oct 15, 2001

nikr316

Discussion Starter · Oct 10, 2001

Hey Everybody. My transmission, well the tranny I think, is trippin. Here it goes:

Recently shortly after my first acceleration from start up the transmission will stay in 2nd gear and not transfer any of the power to the wheels, but if I full throttle the car it will kick out of its groggyness and perform normally. Today while flying the the freeway the car started doing this in every gear, making normal driving difficult, border line impossible. My car has 190k miles and the trans was overhauled back at 80K. I dont know what to do now. If I cant fix the problem I will have to buy a new car, maybe an import. Who knows....help

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Lafrad

· #2 · Oct 10, 2001

sounds like another worn Chrysler tranny. See if you can replace the solonoid block. I have never done that, but I hear that is the main problem in the trannies. Also, do a complete Tranny fluid change. Goto the Chrysler Dealer and get Genuine MOPAR ATF+3 tranny fluid. do the fluid change.

How many miles are on the current Fluid change?

nikr316

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 10, 2001

it has been about 3 weeks or 300 miles since the trans service

Si

· #4 · Oct 10, 2001

Sounds to me like the wrong fluid type..

Wutang15m

· #5 · Oct 11, 2001

Sorry to upset you But it sounds like what every intrepid person has into their transmission. Their peice of craps and i think youre looking into a new one from personal experince. If you said you had 180k on youre car and youre experinceing Transmission problems im suprised the transmission lasted that long even

Mopar4U

· #6 · Oct 11, 2001

Originally posted by Wutang15m:
Sorry to upset you But it sounds like what every intrepid person has into their transmission. Their peice of craps and i think youre looking into a new one from personal experince. If you said you had 180k on youre car and youre experinceing Transmission problems im suprised the transmission lasted that long even

If they are crap why do I have the original tranny after 130,000 miles? Only been serviced (fluid) once since I got the car with 70,000 miles. These may not have been chyrslers best tranny ever, but a lot of the problems with these trannys stem from wrong fluid being put into them. I think the reason my tranny is still going, and the best preventative to LH tranny failures is a tranny cooler. If I bought a new trep today, the first thing I would do is put a cooler on it. Heat Kills!

Dooley_96 Intrepid ES

· #7 · Oct 12, 2001

Ohh, I see now why my trep is just now starting to act funny in the tranny. Comming up on 70,000 miles, better get the goods. Thanks Mopar , you da man, say what? Cooler? Ok, where do I get one and how do I put one in

.?

silver ghost

· #8 · Oct 12, 2001

I'm gettin ready for tranny #3 now.

I've learned from experience that when a trans has high mileage on it, changin the fluid is the worst thing to do. Unless it's been serviced every 15,000 miles (yeah right). It sounds like the fluid change may have drained out all the "goo" that holds them together when they get up there in age. However, before you condemn the trans, check the fluid level. These units are very sensitive to being over or under filled.

Mopar4U

· #9 · Oct 12, 2001

Originally posted by silver ghost:
I'm gettin ready for tranny #3 now. I've learned from experience that when a trans has high mileage on it, changin the fluid is the worst thing to do. Unless it's been serviced every 15,000 miles (yeah right). It sounds like the fluid change may have drained out all the "goo" that holds them together when they get up there in age. However, before you condemn the trans, check the fluid level. These units are very sensitive to being over or under filled.

My tranny is living proof. Although i'm not sure about the goo theory. All tranny's are very sensitive, 1 spec of sand can claim a tranny. Why expose the insides unless there is a need to. I don't plan on changing the fluid until I find reason to. Don't get me wrong, this is not the same concept I use for changing oil. Just remember, these are my opinions, I don't have any facts, only personal experience.

Tranny cooler-It is a small radiator that sits in front of the regular radiator. You run in and out lines to the tranny. It helps keep the tranny fluid cooler. This will extend the life of the fluid and in my opinion the tranny itself. Just my opinion.

mgkuhn20

· #10 · Oct 12, 2001

Was there ever a recall or service bulletin for adding the tranny cooler. Mine has a cooler, and has some service stickers on the rail in front of the radiator. Just wondering if is was a orginal option or after the fact addon.

Lafrad

· #11 · Oct 12, 2001

My trep (see sig) has a tranny cooler installed from the factory.

Lafrad

· #12 · Oct 12, 2001

I'm actually looking around for a tranny Pan that has a Drain plug, so I can just drain and fill the tranny often, and get around to the filter every once in awhile.... that would keep the amount of stuff out, but the fluid fresh.

I am a firm believer in the 'fresh fluid is best' theory. I had an '87 Olds Cutlass Calais before the trep, and it got a trans oil/filter change every spring by the previous owner, (my aunt) and I continued the service. I got rid of the car with 200K+ miles on it and the tranny shifted good as new. Car never had a trans cooler on and regularly pulled a medium sized UHaul Trailer. body went to crap tho, and I wore out the engine (literally. at 170K I stripped the timing gears somehow. and at the end 207K, 2 of the Cam lobes were worn beyond belief. (wouldn't even open in the intake valves on 1 and 4)

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Bart

· #13 · Oct 12, 2001

My tranny cooler punctured (which led to my fluid leaking out completely within a mile and a half, which led to my tranny overheating, which led to a rebuilt tranny 3k miles later) and I replaced it with an aftermarket cooler meant for class c motorhomes (about $50 at local autoparts store). Took me a whole day to replace it since I did not have a manual (haynes, chiltons, or dealer manual). It did require some use of a dremel tool and a few cuts and bruises, but it's not as hard as replacing the alternator looks. (btw, has anyone replaced their own alternator on a 2.7l? I don't need to (yet), but I'm just curious).

Nick, as far as your problems go, I think the cheapest way to attempt to fix it right now is to check (and clean or replace if necessary.) the input and output speed sensors(About $25ea at dealer). They are magnetic and there is always metal sediment inside your transmission and the sediment clings to the sensors and after a while can cause the RPM readings to be faulty, which can cause shifting problems. Think of it this way, if the input sensor is reading lower than it should, it's telling the TCM a slower engine speed than what it should. Compared to the output speed (if that's even correct either), it will think that the cluctches or gears need not be engaged until you rev your engine up higher, which is when finally the sensor is sending a signal fast enough to tell the TCM to perform whichever specific function. Hope this makes sense. My car did something similar... wouldn't engage until my engine speed was fast enough and then it would slam into gear. Replacing the input speed sensor fixed it. If that doesn't work, it costs about $70 or $80 for a transmission diagnostics test at a dealer.

The sensors are located on the driver's side of the transmission. The input is closer to the engine, the output is about a foot away from it. You will know where they are because they are the only two things sticking out of that side of the tranny with two wires coming out of each. It will take some time to get at the sensors with a socket (1" deep socket). Very little, if any fluid will leak out when you take these out. They aren't on very tight... just tight enough to keep a seal. When putting them back in, remember the input has a hexagonal tip, the output has a smaller, round cylinder tip. There should not be any dents, holes, or chips on the tips of these. If there are, they should be replaced, and furthermore, if there are dents, holes, or chips, it means something must have hit them inside the transmission and that something is obviously broken inside your transmission. If that's the case, then your shifting problems can be caused by the broken pieces clogging up the screen for the valves which would keep the hydraulics from working well, if at all. Hopefully you don't see damaged sensors... that would be bad.

[ October 12, 2001: Message edited by: Bart ]

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Valhalla 21340

· #14 · Oct 12, 2001

92k miles, no problems, has erratic shifting at certain speeds (around 50 mph, that shift), but if you keep on the gas...no problemo, i just have to watch out at certain points. i believe theres a trans cooler on this car....look at the radiator mounts, is it one of the smaller housings in front of the primary radiator? right behind the front bumper.

Lafrad

· #15 · Oct 12, 2001

yea, the little one on the front is the tranny cooler

moparman

· #16 · Oct 12, 2001

93 Eagle Vision - 141,000 miles - tranny performs as new. fluid/filter every 30k. Done by my mechanic - not the dealer. The 3 Intrepids I've owned - no tranny problems - fluid/filter changes by the book. No problems. Again, my mechanic does it, not the dealer.

I might as well say it, being an Intrepid site and all, but the wife's 93 Vision's tranny is so much more responsive than my 95 & 98 Intrepids. All had the 3.3/2.7 sixes.

I swear it was quicker than my 98 even though the 98 had 200 hp vs. 153 for the Vision.

The 2001 R/T - still breaking it in - I'll let you know. Will say though that her Vision from day one had alot of jump, quick sharp shifts, they had to be setup differently than the Dodges.

Lafrad

· #17 · Oct 12, 2001

you realize, mr mopar.... that you just doomed yerself to have every car you own drop a tranny in the next 2 weeks.

silver ghost

· #18 · Oct 13, 2001

Damn, for his sake I hope not!

Like I was saying, if the trans service schedule is followed from the start, they'll last a VERY long time. However, most tranny's don't get their fluid changed once a year which leads to what we're discussing here. Dealer always try to drill into your heads how important scheduled maintainance is, and this is a perfect point! I wish some of my customers would read this! I'd make alot more money from it!

Mopar4U

· #19 · Oct 13, 2001

Originally posted by silver ghost:
Damn, for his sake I hope not!

Like I was saying, if the trans service schedule is followed from the start, they'll last a VERY long time. However, most tranny's don't get their fluid changed once a year which leads to what we're discussing here. Dealer always try to drill into your heads how important scheduled maintainance is, and this is a perfect point! I wish some of my customers would read this! I'd make alot more money from it!

I'm sorry silver gost but I (my opinion) disagree. It depends on who you talk to but I insist on keeping the tranny shut until it needs attention. You say that most tranny's don't get the once a year attention they diserve, mine is going on 3.5 years without attention: no problems to speak of. I think every 100,000 miles and a tranny cooler is fine, once again this is my opinion. Keep the heat and dirt out and you'll be fine.

nikr316

Discussion Starter · #20 · Oct 15, 2001

Thanks guys for all your help. I will probably have to replace the trans. Do any of you know any salvage yards in souther cali that have old dodge intrepids for engine components and parts? thanks

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