SEL and P0700

[Alphabravo]

OK, I'm driving down the road and I notice the SEL, must have JUST come on. My guess is that it's the EGR code I got a few weeks ago. I continue driving no more than 1 minute and tranny acts like it's in neutral. I coast to a stop, shut the engine off then restart and it goes into gear like normal. I think, "OK, I'll 'Limp home'." But to my surprise the tranny shifts fine to all gears all the way home, up and down hills, but the SEL is still on. Once I get home I do the "Key Dance" and get 12, 45, 55. I don't know why I get 12, because the battery has not been disconnected, just drained a few weeks ago, but that should have been more than 50 cycles, as often as I drive this thing. 45 Translates to P0700, EATX Controller DTC Present. I know that 55 is end of codes.

Does anyone have any idea where I could begin? Tomorrow I'll borrow an OBDII reader to see if this can narrow things down a bit.

The van is a 97 GV, 3.3L

Thanks in advance.

[RIP]

A P0700 means the Transmission Control Module (TCM) has stored an error code. A normal OBD scanner can't read transmission codes. It only reads codes stored in the PCM. You'll have to use a transmission code capable scanner.

[Alphabravo]

Thanks, RIP. I'll see if I can get that tomorow and I'll post the results.

[Alphabravo]

Update:
I wasn't able to get it scanned by a tranny code reader, but using the OBDII reader it found p0700 "trans control sys malfunction" and p1776 "Maunfacturer control transmission"

It has been running and shifting fine since the initial incident so I just cleared the codes to see if it occurs again.

Also, a few weeks ago I got an EGR code that never came back, so I'm wondering is this a issue of an infamous bad splice somewhere or do I have a PCM or TCM going bad?

Has anyone had any similar experience?

Thanks in advance.

[RIP]

P1776 = Solenoid switch valve latched in the LR position. I've scanned the net a bit and fixes range from reprogramming the TCM to changing the EATX relay to changing the solenoid pack. Lots of info out there. "LR" stands for low reverse. This appears to be a common Chrysler problem and can happen once in a great while to every time you drive.

Ok. I'll eat my words - a bit. Yes, you will get "some" transmission codes using an OBD scanner. You will however get more detailed codes using a scanner designed to read transmission codes. It's like the MIL code (key dance) code to scanner or "P" code comparison. The key dance gives you the "first level" of codes then the scanner gives you the next higher level. I have no idea if the P1776 code has any further transmission codes related to it but I'd bet it does.

[Alphabravo]

Thanks again, RIP. When it says "Latched in LR position" does it mean stuck? Hopefully in my case it'll be the "once in a great while" scenario. I drove it over 100 miles today in city and highway and the light hasn't come back on. If it does come back on the first thing I'll do is have it scanned by a reader that handles trannies and take it from there. I'll re-post any new developments.