4 speed Tranny stays in 2nd

[Hellcatbyte]

4 SPEED AUTO-TRANNY VOYAGER 1997 3.3 (47,000 miles original)

Good Morning everybody:

Can someone tell me If they have had Tranny weird performance with their 4 speed?

My Voyager does behave weird when I step on the accelerator, that is if I'm in a hurry, and step to the floor the accelerator and let go and stop (in city traffic) the tranny satys in 2nd gear! and it stays in that gear, until (I recently discover) I stop, switch it off and restart the engine, that seems to "fix" the problem and if I step hard, but not too hard it works fine, until I force it to change from low to hig abruptly.

I know it is not a linkage problem, I wonder what it is?

Has anybody have had this kind of problem, and how they fixed it?
Any input will be greatly appreciated

regards

From Monterrey Mexico

[GTP Dad]

You have an internal transmission problem and need to take it to a tranny shop to have it diagnosed. Probably a bad shift solenoid. When you step hard on the pedal it is not shifting properly and going into limp mode, staying in second. When you restart the car it resets and works properly again.

[Hellcatbyte]

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

You have an internal transmission problem and need to take it to a tranny shop to have it diagnosed. Probably a bad shift solenoid. When you step hard on the pedal it is not shifting properly and going into limp mode, staying in second. When you restart the car it resets and works properly again.

Thanks GTP dad I was trying to avoid the shop, as in mexico, they just say "you need a new transmission", without going trough the trouble to analize the tranny, is there a book regarding this speed tranny? I'm kind handy with tools, and used to rebuild old cars back in the 70's but age 63 and the law of gravity has put me out of intensive action, but I thought it could be related to "tune up"?
Regards

[GTP Dad]

I am not certain whether there is a book on the market for this particular transmission or not. Since the transmission is electronically controlled I believe you have a bad solenoid that can be easily replaced it just takes the right scanner to find out which one. I have only, at least as of today, had three experiences with tranny shops. One was for what I thought was a bad tranny and he told me it was an engine miss which it proved to be. The other two were for transmission replacements due to major problems. I went to AAMCO and they were very straight with me and I felt treated me very well. In fact one was a 97 T&C Van. The tranny was totally toast which I new before I sent it. The last was a Pontiac Grand Prix and the tranny was trashed too. On the latter they gave me a three year warranty at no extra charge since I was a repeat customer.

I understand your reluctance to go to a tranny shop but you can always tell them just to diagnose it and not to do any repairs without your permission. With these new transmissions I think that may be the better course of action.

[Hellcatbyte]

Thanks I'll do that, problem is, there are no AAMCO Tranny shops in Mexico, but I think I know of one reliable source and I'll try it.
I'll keep you posted

[caravandrvr]

I wouldn't rule out an electronic issue at this point though. The thing is why does the problem "correct" itself after the car is turned off and then restarted. Sounds like a classic electronic issue - think windows locks up and you reboot. I've seen similar issues corrected by changing the ECM, but it could also be possibly a sensor.

[Hellcatbyte]

Originally Posted by caravandrvr

I wouldn't rule out an electronic issue at this point though. The thing is why does the problem "correct" itself after the car is turned off and then restarted. Sounds like a classic electronic issue - think windows locks up and you reboot. I've seen similar issues corrected by changing the ECM, but it could also be possibly a sensor.

Thanks again I will consider all your thoughts about this isue with the tranny.

On the other hand I have to find out why the exaust pipe has a soot ring about 1/4 wide around the very exit pipe, it stains the finger, this must mean that raw gas is bypassing something, but to be honest I fill the tank, I think it is 15 gallons and it drives me from Monterrey MX to San Antonio TX 325 miles and I still have a 1/4 tank at arrival so why the soot?
Anyway I'm all confused, this is my very first experience with a Voyager 97 engine 3.3 all my previous cars were 4 cyl. Neon, and Spirit
Regards

[jamalnemah]

Hi, How are you today.

I had the same problem. Tranny goes into 2nd when i pass 30 MPH. I took it to the tranny shop and told i need a new tranny. i did not accept that.

i read the answers you posted and changed the shift solenoid and cleared the codes it run good for 3 miles then check engine came back. the mechanic said change tranny. i already paid him $200.

i took it to a new tranny shop. the mechanic put it in the computer but could not read any thing. he said i have an electric problem. he drove it and the RPM start to fluctuate. while driving the car he put it in Nuteral turned the engine of then turn it back on and drove the car for 25 miles and had no problems the voyager was changing gear perfectly.

we stoped and turn the van off. we started driving it back the problem started all over again. the mechanic said it is an electrical problem for sure.

at the shop he hooked the van to the computer and this time it gave him some codes.

the first code was 41: shift Solenoid mulfunction.
I told him i put a new one. he said it must be Electrical.


my transmission had no metal deposits in it. it was clean.


what do you think. please help

[KManiac]

The Chrysler 4-speed automatic, known as the Ultradrive, is an electronic, computer controlled transmission. These transmissions are designed to self-program your shift points to match your driving habits, that is how smart they are. The logic circuits are constantly monitoring transmission performance. When ever it electronically detects instantaneous anomolies in performance, the controller will electronically default to "limp mode", which is continuous second gear. Turning off the car and restarting will clear the "limp mode" until another anomoly is detected. Error codes are kept on the dianostic computer. An occasional drop to limp mode is nothing to worry about. Repeated drops into limp mode means that you have a problem of some type inside the transmission, either electrical, mechanical or both.

My experience with these are limited to my wife's former van, a 1989 Dodge Caravan SE (3.0 L) and our current 1998 Chrysler Town & Country LX AWD (3.8 L). One day, in a heavy rainstorm, the 1989 dropped into "limp mode" once. I reset the transmission the usual way and it returned to normal. This occurred about 40,000 miles after the last rebuild. We drove the van another 40,000 miles before selling it and it never dropped into "limp mode" again. We have owned the 1998 for almost six years, buying it used with only 9,000 miles on the clock. It now has 81,000 miles and we have never experienced "limp mode" with this transmission.

Oh, I almost forgot another Dodge van I drove. This one was a 1992 Caravan with 3.0 L and automatic. This one was for sale by owner and had 159,000 on the odometer. Two miles into the test drive, while driving down a city street at a constant 30 mph, I got a sense of a strange feeling from the van and noticed the tach was at 2500 rpm. After stopping at the next traffic light and taking off, I realized the van had dropped into limp mode. I pulled the van over, reset it and continued my drive. I took the van on the freeway and it ran just fine. Ten miles later, while returning to the start of the test drive, cruising at a steady 35 mph, it dropped into limp mode again. I returned the van to the starting point, thanked the owner and walked away.

Another interesting feature of the transmission in my 1998 I noticed soon after buying the van. There is a local freeway here that has a 4-5% downgrade for over a mile. One two separate occasions, while driving this stretch of freeway, I had the cruise control set at 65 mph. When I reached this downgrade, the van began to gain speed going downhill. When the speedometer reached 75 mph (just coasting in gear) the transmission downshifted to third gear! It automatically upshifted when the speedometer reached 65 mph. It only did this when the cruise control was set! Now that's what I call a smart transmission! Has anyone else experience this with their modern Ultradrive?

[Hellcatbyte]

Well to be honest I just got back from a 1,200 miles trip and the Tranny behave really good except once, it went on "limp mode" only once while downshifting to pass a car on the high way at about 80 miles an hour, ite really reved up so I had to pull over, stop and switch off the van, waited one minute, restared and kept driving without any further alarums.

SO, there must be something electric! hum....

When using the Cruise control and go down hill, it just decelerates and accelerate when going up hill, it does not shift unless there is a rather steep up hill, but going down hill, it just decelerates and accelerate to preserve the previously set speed.

[B33p3r]

I'm by no means an automotive authority but from all the reading I've done I think you should check all your ground points to the tranny. Check the grounding straps, unscrew them, clean them so you have bare metal to bare metal and try again. It may save you some bucks. Check for loose wires on the solenoid connectors also.

[ZPI28]

Originally Posted by Hellcatbyte

4 SPEED AUTO-TRANNY VOYAGER 1997 3.3 (47,000 miles original)

Good Morning everybody:

Can someone tell me If they have had Tranny weird performance with their 4 speed?

My Voyager does behave weird when I step on the accelerator, that is if I'm in a hurry, and step to the floor the accelerator and let go and stop (in city traffic) the tranny satys in 2nd gear! and it stays in that gear, until (I recently discover) I stop, switch it off and restart the engine, that seems to "fix" the problem and if I step hard, but not too hard it works fine, until I force it to change from low to hig abruptly.

I know it is not a linkage problem, I wonder what it is?

Has anybody have had this kind of problem, and how they fixed it?
Any input will be greatly appreciated

regards

From Monterrey Mexico

My 96 GC is doing the same thing, but mine is giving the P0715 speed sensor error. I purchase a new one today for $21 and will install it tomorrow then reset the computer. I am also doing a new filter and fluid while im under there. Ill let ya know how it works out for me.

Steven

Oh yeah, Ive worked in Monterrey some, over at Montoi Mattel.

[Hellcatbyte]

Originally Posted by ZPI28

My 96 GC is doing the same thing, but mine is giving the P0715 speed sensor error. I purchase a new one today for $21 and will install it tomorrow then reset the computer. I am also doing a new filter and fluid while im under there. Ill let ya know how it works out for me.

Steven

Oh yeah, Ive worked in Monterrey some, over at Montoi Mattel.

Please do and yes, Mattel, the Toy factory that is in Santa Catarina Ive been there too.

Rene

[jamalnemah]

I unplugged the battery today and plugged it back. The service engine soon was cleared. but it reappeared after I drove the van for 2 mile. I had no problem while the service engine soon was gone. but now i am back to square one.

[reconbyfire82]

Sounds like an issue you find on the lh cars also. Try changing the output sensor on the transmission its only like 25 bucks. good luck