1997 Plymouth Van with Engine Check for Xmission

My mechanic says I have to check engine codes regarding my xmission.
One has something to do with a clutch, and I misplaced the other.
Maybe I'll find the note in the morning. Anyway, Wouldn't such
messages be specific to some part of the xmission? That is, one would
expect to be able to repair the "clutch" without replacing the entire
xmission?

 

Your mechanic is an idiot. There are engine codes and there are
transmission codes. There are no engine codes regarding the
transmission.

That is so helpful.

When you're sober?

Haven't seen one yet that wasn't.

Without context, it is impossible to say what one is able to do.

 

The display seen when you begin to turn on the ignition is labeled the
Check Engine Now. If a mechanic reads out codes from the computer, it
can show engine and transmission codes, right? If a code relates to
the xmission clutch, wouldn't that indicate that some part of the
assembly, the clutch, and not the entire assembly needs work, or
worse, replacement? I ask this because general mechanics seem to think
this spells the demise of the xmission, when it seems like a
specialist might say that it just needs a new clutch. Got it?

....

 

Oh I got it.

What you're not understanding is that the clutch is internal to the
transmission assembly and very likely getting to it involves
disassembling the entire transmission.

If the mechanic only does a partial repair is you're inferring, how
close are you going to hold his feet to the fire should another problem
crop up in the weeks/months following him delivering it back to you?

There's a saying in the auto repair business; "no good deed goes
unpunished."

As far as work versus replacement, you've got a 13 year old vehicle, it
may make more sense to replace the entire transmission with a used unit
rather than disassemble what you have. Odds are, that transmission has
had numerous updates and TSBs in the last 13 years, the mechanics
quandary then is whether to implement all of those updates which can no
doubt put the cost of the transmission repair well above what might be
practical for a vehicle of that age.

 

TSB? Technical Service Bulletin. I have no intention of holding his
feet to the fire if something else goes wrong. The other code was
simply transmission problem, which probably goes part and parcel with
the other msg, and has little further meaning.

I talked with a xmission shop this morning, and the difference between
the Plymouth shop or my shop is they are 2/3 the cost of either of
them. If I got this right, he said the clutch problem work is separate
from a tranny replacement. It seems mostly (cost) about solenoids.

I'm going to sell the van but with full disclosure of the problem. If
it doesn't sell, I'll drive it to tell it drops. That may save my
other cars lots of miles.

 

You should get the specific code numbers and post them here. Could be
something easy. Sometimes when one thing goes out it can cause a
couple of codes because other things don't respond the way the
computer expects.

You will be hard pressed to find anyone that will fix one particular
internal transmission problem. All the cost is in the labor to remove
and disassemble then reassemble and reinstall. They don't want to
risk taking it apart and having another wear part go out ten miles
later.

If you decide to fix it I wouldn't have a general mechanic doing the
work. Find a dang god transmission shop that is knowledgeable of
Chrysler products.

Steve B.

 

I thought I responded to this. I'll be brief.
OP 740 converter clutch system problem
OP700 transmission fault
Is 700 really different from 740? That is, is 740 transmission.
I'll skip this time what I wrote about the engine cutting off. Maybe
it did make the phantom post.

 

P0700 indicates an internal transmission controller fault. The repair
procedure is short and sweet... Replace the TCM.

The P0700 should be dealt with first before the P0740 code is addressed.
If the P0740 returns after the TCM is replaced, your mechanic should
follow the trouble shooting steps in diagnostic chart 38. This requires
a suitable pressure gauge and a capable scan tool.

 

Huh! You sure about that? I thought the meanings of the codes were
common across the platforms. 0700 means "Check Transmission DTC’s", and
I know with LH cars means simply that in fact you do need to check for
codes within the TCM for more specific transmission-related codes. It
is not necessarily an indication of a problem with the TCM itself. For
example: If a speed sensor goes out, you get the 0700 code, so you get
the codes from the TCM, and those codes will be specific to speed ratio
errors.

0740: "Torque Converter Clutch Control Circuit; Slippage > 100 RPM for
10 seconds in FEMCC or RPM/input speed difference > 60 RPM in EMCC."

 

What is a TCM? Transmission Control Module, computer? We haven't had a
whole lot of good luck with other module replacements. They are
costly, and the only ones available seem to be used. This is a 1997
Plymouth Minivan. Once the dealer replaced the wrong module. As
mentioned above, I'm trying to sell this, and I don't want to turn
this into a disaster for the buyer or me. My estimate above for a
replacement of the tranny was $2400. If that's the solution, I'll sell
the van for around at a much lowered price as is with the caveat the
buyer accepts that potential problem. The tranny makes no noises or
acts weirdly presently. It just show those two codes.

In the missing message that I thought I posted back 3 or so msgs, I
noted the engine stopped twice Friday while I was driving it. When I
safely pulled off the road, I got it started immediately. I don't
think that has anything to do with the tranny. I'm not driving it
until I can take it to a mechanic tomorrow. This could be dangerous.

That's something of a bigger problem. If I can't sell it, I planned to
drive it until it gave out. If I can get 3K or so miles, that means my
regular car is spared the same amount of miles.

 

No, but that is what MOD states it to be.
Wouldn't be the first time they were wrong...

 

MOD? If that's me, then I'm looking at what the mechanic wrote.

 

MOD = Mitchell On Demand (repair manual software)

 

As it turns out, late today I found the our local library has access
to Chiltons on-line.
My neighbor and I got the air filter out. Mostly we got dirty, but the
filter was in pretty decent shape. My neighbor and I cleaned up the
corrosion on the battery, and did some other tidying. We then took it
for a test run over the same terrain as the stalls had occurred. He
carefully watched the tac, and I tried some manuvers, sudden stops and
others. Nothing. I called my mechanic about this and he said sometimes
these things are caused by the air injection controller. They often
get stuck and then suddenly the problem disappears. He also said what
I'm experiencing is life with an older car.

No thanks on the TCM swap out. Cleaning the plug is worth a shot.

Forget vouchers here in Calif. The state has suspended the program.
The check light has gone out.

I think the van is worth well above $300. In the next two weeks, I
plan to put 1000 miles on it. The van is in really good shape
otherwise. If I can't sell it, I'll drive it instead of my car and
save some miles and wear on that.

 

I'm not talking about the CA program I'm talking about the federal
government program:

http://www.cars.gov

which will commence in 3 days.

You said you intended to disclose to potential buyers that it had
tranny problems - that is what makes it only worth about $300

if the CEL light is not on, and you don't disclose that there's problems
then that's a little different - BUT keep in mind the TCM stores the
trouble codes for some time even if the CEL is not on. Anyone who
takes the van to a garage and gets it scanned will be told that there's
stored trouble codes, and will know theres a problem with the trans.

Bottom line is that if a buyer thinks there's transmission trouble then
it's not going to go for more than $300.

I know you think your van is probably close to blue book but right
now the used market is flooded with large gas hog vehicles. minivans
are in this category and if you list your vehicle at blue book your
going to be competing against all those other guys out there with
vans and right now there's more of them than there are of buyers.
And in another month when the 2010 model year is out, there will be
even more used vans.

That would be the smart thing IMHO.

Ted