94 tranny

[earn8fan]

hi all
i bought a 94 as is of course and when i left the guys house the car took off like a charm drove about fifteen miles and stoped to get gas and when i got ready to leave i took off and it would not change out of first so i pulled over and took off again real fast and it did jump into second but that was it so i left it in a shoping center and went back the next morning and changed the filter. the fluid looked goog no metal in the pan. so i took off it shifted good drove it about fifty miles on the interstate when i got off stoped at a stoplight same thing want shift out of first so still havent got the car home it shifts fine untell it gets hot
i have read alot but can seem to find any info. read about the limp mode but this seems tobe different.
help please.

[theFREAKnasty82]

hey, did you post something similar like this on dodgeintrepid.net? Anyway, if your car is stuck in one gear, that usually means the transmission is in limp mode, where it won't shift out of second gear. Here are a few things that could cause your problem(s). #1-improper transmission fluid. All Chrysler vehicles are supposed to use Mopar ATF+4 transmission fluid per TSB #21-006-01 of June 29, 2001 and nothing else. If you have any other fluid in there, and there's a good 75% chance the last owner didn't use the right fluid, you'll have transmissions issues. #2- your solenoid pack is on the verge of quitting. The solenoid pack can fail because of using the wrong fluid in the transmission, these transmissions are VERY sensitive to the type of fluid you use in them. #3- the programming in the TCM is getting out dated for the mileage of the vehicle. You can either get the PCM flashed or replace it all together. There was a similar issue mentioned on the sister forum for a '94 Chrysler Concorde, you can read it HEREand find out how this member was able to fix his car. Hope this helps.

[earn8fan]

yes i did post at the other site as well.and i did put atf+3 in when i changed the filter that is what i was told to put in at advance auto
it shifts fine when it is cold then when it gets hot it want come out of first does this mean it is in limp mode? i read about limp mode in several post and they talk about it staying in second gear.
thanks for your help.

[theFREAKnasty82]

when you say it stays in low, is it just hanging in low gear and not shifting/ or shifts late? Usually, when these transmission don't shift, it's in limp mode where it's stuck in second gear and reverse, beyond that, it won't go unless you turn the car off and restart it, then you'll get normal shifting functions until it happens again. From what you describe sounds like a problem with the TCM, might want to get that checked out.

[earn8fan]

well i am still having problems i have changed the input sensor, flushed the tranny and put new filter and atf +4 fluid, changed the tcm with another 94 model. i didnt change the output sesor as the speedomerter works fine.

as soon as it gets to operating temp it goes into limp mode and it will not go back to nomal by cutting car off either i have to wait tell it cools off.

any susgestions on what else it could be? thanks

[jacuzzo]

I had a similar problem. It was resolved by changing the radiator and the tranny lines as they were leaking and the radiator was shot. Code 51: default speed ratio in 1st has faulty cooling system listed as its second possible cause. Check cooler.