2002 Sebring transmission craziness...

I'm sure this has been posted a million times by people but here
goes... We have a 2002 Sebring LXi Sedan, 2.7l with the 4 speed auto
with autostick. We've been to the dealer 3 times now, and everytime
they tell us the computer has the latest firmware, the fuild
levels/pressures are good, all the voltages are good.... but I still
do not believe them. This is what the car does:

1. Doesn't downshift when its supposed to. You will be getting on
the freeway at about 40 mph, you floor the car to get moving because
the rest of traffic is going 65-70. The RPMs go up slowly, the car
does not downshift. Very dangerous! It doesn't do this all the time,
but enough to be noticable.

2. At a red light... the light turns green, you step on the gas, the
RPMs go up, you don't move. Then, CLUNK, off you go.... does this
about 60% of the time. Seems to do it mostly when the car is cold.

3. In traffic... rolling at about 15-20 mph... tap the brakes, step
on the gas... RPMs go up, CLUNK, then you accelerate a little bit.
Always does this, no difference if cold or warm.

4. Most annoying: when coming to a stop from any speed, as soon as
the hits 10 mph (while slowing down) and the car shifts from 2nd to
1st, the car lurches forward like you stomped on the brakes. You can
grab the autostick while stopped and cycle through the grears, all
shifts are barely noticable except for when you shift from 2nd into
1st... the car clunks and lurches a little bit. I was told by the
service guys that all of the cars with this transmission model do
this. I find this hard to believe. I am guessing that the trans is
just not shifting at the right spot. Does this 99% of the time, warm,
cold, whatever. Its sad because we seem to notice when the car
DOESN'T do it...

Anyone else have these problems with this car or transmission? Is
there an easy fix, or at least something I can tell my dealer to check
that their supposed "specialist" has missed?

I'm just about ready to push it over a cliff and be done with it... I
didn't realize these cars depreciate in value so much too!! This is
the first and last Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Mercedes product I will ever
own.

thanks!

-bryan

 

| I'm sure this has been posted a million times by people but here
| goes... We have a 2002 Sebring LXi Sedan, 2.7l with the 4 speed auto
| with autostick. We've been to the dealer 3 times now, and everytime
| they tell us the computer has the latest firmware, the fuild
| levels/pressures are good, all the voltages are good.... but I still
| do not believe them. This is what the car does:
|
| 1. Doesn't downshift when its supposed to. You will be getting on
| the freeway at about 40 mph, you floor the car to get moving because
| the rest of traffic is going 65-70. The RPMs go up slowly, the car
| does not downshift. Very dangerous! It doesn't do this all the time,
| but enough to be noticable.
|
| 2. At a red light... the light turns green, you step on the gas, the
| RPMs go up, you don't move. Then, CLUNK, off you go.... does this
| about 60% of the time. Seems to do it mostly when the car is cold.
|
| 3. In traffic... rolling at about 15-20 mph... tap the brakes, step
| on the gas... RPMs go up, CLUNK, then you accelerate a little bit.
| Always does this, no difference if cold or warm.
|
| 4. Most annoying: when coming to a stop from any speed, as soon as
| the hits 10 mph (while slowing down) and the car shifts from 2nd to
| 1st, the car lurches forward like you stomped on the brakes. You can
| grab the autostick while stopped and cycle through the grears, all
| shifts are barely noticable except for when you shift from 2nd into
| 1st... the car clunks and lurches a little bit. I was told by the
| service guys that all of the cars with this transmission model do
| this. I find this hard to believe. I am guessing that the trans is
| just not shifting at the right spot. Does this 99% of the time, warm,
| cold, whatever. Its sad because we seem to notice when the car
| DOESN'T do it...
|
| Anyone else have these problems with this car or transmission? Is
| there an easy fix, or at least something I can tell my dealer to check
| that their supposed "specialist" has missed?
|
| I'm just about ready to push it over a cliff and be done with it... I
| didn't realize these cars depreciate in value so much too!! This is
| the first and last Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Mercedes product I will ever
| own.
|
| thanks!
|
| -bryan

Yes #4 seems to be correct...although it shouldn't be as bad as you
describe...just should be a slight "holdback" feeling. My 2004 Sebring and
my wife's 2003 Stratus both do something similar, albeit not as violently to
your #4 description. Both have the 2.7 engine. Sebring has the
Autostick...Stratus is regular automatic (no autostick). The other items
are not normal... If the dealer you're using can't fix it, try a different
dealer service (if under warranty)

Don't give up on Chrysler, good cars overall..been buying them for over 15
years with excellent service from every one (I always buy the extended
warranty and have not yet gotten my $$$ worth out of any of them says
something) ;-)