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Old 03-04-2004, 07:34 AM   #1
GeorgeArthur3
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Lightbulb EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

EveryOne with Transmission problems... Read This...!
A Chrysler Secret...!

well good morning everyone...

first post here... and I have been busy...

our 97 Dodge Caravan SE Sport with a 3.3 and the a604/41te transmission...

The tranni just Stopped working from a red light... "Limp Mode" 200miles away from
home, with No warning...
-1st gear, 2nd gear, reverse, neutral, and park... Only...

it shifts through 1st to 2nd fine... but when it attempts to shift into 3rd...
it Jumps to Neutral... until the engine and road speed get close together, then it Locks
2nd gear...
Then the computer pops up code #45 -EATX Controller has sent a DTC

it is the TCM (Transmission Control Module) on the passenger sidewall that controls
the Seloenoid Pack on the transmission so it will shift...
this is also called the EATX Controller...

ALL the Garages state i Need a new transmission, or a rebuilt one...
ALL the Dealers state the same thing...
"2000.00 Dollars" on average...!

ALL the manual's claim it is a direct fault that is emissions related...

So... i would not accept the mechanics or the dealers thought's...
This can't be right... Everything was Fine... and we All know transmissions will
give you some indication of internal fault... Prior to going out on you...

when Everyone is telling you it is slipping... they are Wrong...!
Neutral is not an engagement of the clutches....

When a tranni slips... you can still go forward... just have to gas it more as the
bands/clutches slip...
You still have forward motion...

NO Tranni will start to slip, and go right to being gone instantly...!
it is physically impossible, with normal daily driving...

So I replace the Solenoid pack on the side of the tranni... thinking, maybe the fluid
is Not flowing through the channels correctly... the Solenoid Pack is what physically
shifts this tranni...
Nope... that was Not the problem...

So I replace the input and output speed sensors...
Nope... that was not the problem...

hmmm...
So I replace the EATX Controller... because this controls the Solenoid Pack...
Nope... that was not the problem...
Still code #45

I noticed that a piece of folded paper was wrapped up with the EATX Controller I bought...
and what do you know... it Also states that this is an Emissions related fault...

So... I call the 1-800 hotline... 1-800-866-6727 then press 1 then press 4 to speak with Miguell...
M-F 8am-5pm eastern time... he will tell you... this guy talks...!

the guy tells me a little secret that Chrysler has...

on ALL a604 transmissions... there is a splice point... to make these transmission work properly...
that splices together a red wire from the Solenoid Pack, a red wire from the TCM/EATX, and a wire from
where the EATX Relay is plugged in...
The TSB Addendum was sent out to the production line...
Because they where having the Same problem... Right from the Get Go...
they spliced the three wires together, capping off the remaining wire... and electrical taped the
wires together and pushed them into the wire loom...

What the Hell kind of B.S. is that...

The guy tells me to clean the spliced wires, and reconnect them...
then tells me... also... check the Ground Strap to the transmission...

well... guess what everyone...

Before I called the hotline... I car dolly the van home...
and ended up taking it to a tranni place...
we have a terminally disabled child here, and need this vehicle for medical purposes...

the tranni place told me that the Clutch Packs are Fine... 89 CVI /Clutch Volume Index...
Always ask the person that is hooking a scan tool up to your computer, to check your CVI...!
the Clutch Volume Index runs from the 70's on upward as they wear...
if One gear is bad... the Volume Index will shoot right up near 100 or so...

anyway... he replaced the tranni with one that he re-built… old… JB welded trans pan...
Guess what.... I was able to get this out of him...
it Still did Not Work...!
He states "but it worked when we got all done didn’t it"
Yeah... After putting a brand New shiny ground strap I noticed on...!

I just did not know where the ground strap was with this EATX/TCM Selenoid Pack wire issue...
I paid 1700 of my son's school money, because we do not have any, for a new ground strap...! and an Old transmission...

So... Now you ALL know the Truth…!

Watch it..!
EveryOne will Rip you OFF...!
including the Dealer...

A financially Broken family...

and "ONLY USE ATF +3 FLUID IN THESE THINGS" PERIOD...!
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Old 03-05-2004, 11:05 AM   #2
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Man...That don't sound like a very good experience Can I instill some insights here? First, I got barrels of parts that fail on these with no warning what so ever. The clutch packs do not fail(unless ran low on ATF, or pre '93)These always have hard part failure(plantary gears, 2/4 hub and others. Unfortunatly its sounds like there are some people in your area that don't know electronics very well. The code #45 came from the ECM and all that code means is its stating there is a code in the TCM(Transmission control mudule). So there must of been codes stored in the TCM.

Throwing parts at it because some code reader gave a code is such a waste of money.

There are so many different ways a transmission can fail. Every trasnmssion has its own type of problem. Also, if you were in the area of 100,000 miles on your transmission, you better hope that $1700 got you new planet kit, 2/4 hub and rev hub. And, hopefully they aren't using "white box" parts.

If you have to guess, better make it an educated guess.
Have a good day
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Old 03-07-2004, 11:26 PM   #3
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Re: EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

well... No other codes found...

even in the tranni menu... nothing...
Just 45 at the main PCM...

two seperate parts here folks...

One computer talking to the next...

PCM Drivers side wall

TCM Passenger side wall

Even the dealer stated per quote, "hugh... that's funny"
and proceeded with a smile, stating we needed a new transmission...

it's the damn 3 wire splice, and the ground strap...!

it seems as though the error was an open circuit... shutting the TCM
off...
and the main system picks that as code 45... EATX Controller fault...

if the TCM does not have any power going to it, how the Beeep can the
thing control the Selenoid pack to shift...

at least this is what I am gathering...

although, as a test... I removed the EATX relay for a test run...
and it was Instantly in 2nd gear, from 0mph..

put the relay back in, and I got 1st and 2nd.. then a dump to neutral
and then 2nd gear lock...

I am going to test the whole thing out tomarrow, by removing the
ground strap... see if this old rebuild will dump to Limp Mode...

I'll let ya's know...
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Old 08-06-2004, 05:51 PM   #4
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fixing the problem

hi...im having the same problem with my caravan. It only happens on highways with me. It switches into neutral then when i slow down it switches to second and stays there...I wuz wondering if it is simple for anyone to find the 3 wires and the ground themselves..I'm a bit tight on money right now. Can u please tell me how? Thanks
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Old 11-22-2004, 09:19 AM   #5
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This is EXACTLY what my van is doing!! Can you tell me where this splice would be?? and where is the ground strap on the tranny? Haven't had a physical look yet but would like to know ehat I'm looking for..

Thanks again! This is SOME hope that this repaire won't cost me 3000!

Tim.
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Old 12-06-2004, 03:24 AM   #6
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Re: EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

I am having the same problems as all of you and I will try what you have said. One other thing I found out here on the web is to take off the battery for 10 minutes and the tranny will come out of limp mode. I will be trying this tomorrow. My 96 3.3 will barely move and only if you rev the engine. Then as it is coming down it suddenly will engage for a short time, but disengages when you come to a stop. I also do not have reverse. I do have one question. Does anyone here a high pitched whine with all of this? Tx Will be on again soon
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Old 12-25-2004, 11:17 AM   #7
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Angry 97 voyager trans mystery?

my tranny on my 97 voyager slipped into neutral going 60 on the freeway.my fluid was a little low but,it still will not shift passed 2nd gear about 40 mph.I agree that it must be problem with the sensors.
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Old 07-07-2005, 06:59 AM   #8
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Re: EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

Did you ever get the problem fixed? I have a 96 Plymth Grnd Vyr with a 3.3 and it will disengage at a stop or will not engage going from rev to fwd unless you rev up the engine and it will then slam into gear.
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Old 07-07-2005, 11:32 AM   #9
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Re: EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

You know i wrote chrysler a letter telling them about the problems on our 97 voyager the transmission was slipping and asked them if there was any thing they can do to help beeing that so many people where having problems with trannys and they said there was nothing they could do. You know i will never buy another chrysler vehicle. We should all write to chrysler cause one person cant do it alone so if you all get together and pass the word i would appreciate it lets all do something here maybe some of you with newer vehicles might get something back even half of what you spend on a tranny would be nice. good luck FrankC
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Old 07-07-2005, 12:06 PM   #10
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Re: EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

I was thinking a list of names would be suficient since we all are complaining about the same tranny issues. But Chrysler is not listening... check this guy out http://www.aei.ca/~gregoire/claude.html
And this one is the best... I would be ashamed to be a Chrysler worker with all this allegations http://www.daimlerchryslervehicleproblems.com/

If you want more horror stories just do a www.google.com search for "Chrysler problems" and grab a confy chair, you'll be in for a long ride!
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Old 07-08-2005, 06:08 PM   #11
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Re: EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

thanks ed i will be bugging them till somethings done and getting as many people that i can to join me and just letting people know these vehicles are not just lemons but also unsafe. Like i said i will never buy another chrysler, Plymouth or Dodge vehicle as long as i live. Thanks FrankC
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Old 07-09-2005, 06:45 AM   #12
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I posted this here a couple months back. I just reposted it again with the word transmission in the title so it is easy to search out.
Before you do anything else...Disconnect your battery! Clean the + and the - posts and the cables that attach to them. Check the chassis ground that goes from your batteies - post to the frame(chassis) and clean that too. Shiny metal to shiny metal is good. Rust and corrosion is not your friend.
I've followed alot of posts here that have transmissions in limp mode problems. Crawl under the vehicle with a haynes book in hand if need be, and check the solenoid connections to the trans. Clean the grounds for the solenoid! Check the wires for the solenoid! Too many trannys are rebuilt or replaced for big bucks because of a loose wire that was inadvertantly repaired during reinstall or a ground wire that was rusted.
get yourself an electrical diagram for your vehicle(www.alldata.com) and learn how to read it and save yourself alot of money. These diagrams tell you where the grounds are for all the components. Clean them. If you can't decipher the diagrams, copy and paste them into word and email it to me and I'll be happy to help. I hate to see people spend big bucks for parts swapping when the real problem is a loose or bad connection. "Never under estimate the value of a good visual inspection".
Remember all the battery voltage travels out the -(neg) post of your battery, through the frame(chassis), into the load(motor, light, coil of a relay, or switch, through a fuse, and back to you battery +. (pos) post.
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Old 07-18-2005, 03:06 PM   #13
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Re: EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

I am newcome to this forum, but old timer regarding 89 dodge B250 with 4speed tranny. The hulk has 275000 on it, orig untouched engine and tranny. But recently am getting buck and jump occasionally when in 4th gear. If I lock out overdrive it stops. It is worst when accelerating.

I am suspicious that the solenoid which engages the overdrive is going bad, but after reading all these posts, think maybe now it is bad or corroded connection. Just got through putting vacuum modulator in wife's 93 Regal which cured similar problem (got suggestion from Buick forum expert) and thus managed to translate the Haynes manual.

Have being running synthetic oil since got this vehicle at 71000 miles several years ago and it has been one of the most dependable faithful hardworking vehicles I have owned in the past 60 years. I admit it's only the third chrysler product I have had (the others: a 39 Dodge business coupe; a 62 Fury wagon). Before I crawl under the SOB (which is increasingly difficult for me) I will appreciate any ideas, thoughts, suggestions.
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Old 08-26-2005, 12:26 PM   #14
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Re: Re: EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

Quote:
Originally Posted by GeorgeArthur3
well... No other codes found...

even in the tranni menu... nothing...
Just 45 at the main PCM...

two seperate parts here folks...

One computer talking to the next...

PCM Drivers side wall

TCM Passenger side wall

Even the dealer stated per quote, "hugh... that's funny"
and proceeded with a smile, stating we needed a new transmission...

it's the damn 3 wire splice, and the ground strap...!

it seems as though the error was an open circuit... shutting the TCM
off...
and the main system picks that as code 45... EATX Controller fault...

if the TCM does not have any power going to it, how the Beeep can the
thing control the Selenoid pack to shift...

at least this is what I am gathering...

although, as a test... I removed the EATX relay for a test run...
and it was Instantly in 2nd gear, from 0mph..

put the relay back in, and I got 1st and 2nd.. then a dump to neutral
and then 2nd gear lock...

I am going to test the whole thing out tomarrow, by removing the
ground strap... see if this old rebuild will dump to Limp Mode...

I'll let ya's know...
my tranni went into a limp mode. my computer gave me code41 (selenoid and or TCM problems). i changed the Selenoid pack with a new one. still have the same problem.
after reading your input. i would like to try this to locate and change them my self.

i hope you can help.
thanks
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Old 08-31-2005, 07:08 PM   #15
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Re: EveryOne with Transmission problems... A Chrysler Secret...! Read This...!

Ttt
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