'92 Dodge Dynasty 3.3L A604 Trans problem.

Hello,

I have a '92 Dodge Dynasy with 190,000 miles on it. As I was driving
home from work, the car shifted suddenly into 2nd gear (limp mode?) and now
will not shift into a higher gear. It was a very sudden change at about 45
MPH. Using the ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON-OFF method, there are no codes stored (only
55). Other than not shifting out of second, everything else seems fine. The
fluid is full and pink, the fluid and filter were change 6 months ago
(ATF+4).

Any thoughts about what suddenly went amiss? Could a sensor (input or
output) have failed? Any help would be appreciated!

Bret

 

Sensor failure is the most common cause of this, particularly if you've
got fluid. But... you mentioned lots of fluid -- have you checked the
fluid level since it went into limp-home mode?

 

Yes, I checked the fluid level after it went to limp mode and it was full
and pink.

However, you are correct. It turns out that the output speed sensor had gone
defective and was causing the problem. I replaced it and all is well again.
Thank you for your prompt reply.

 

The input and output sensors are one of the things that can cause limp
mode. The other thing is the solenoid valve pack.

If it *is* a speed sensor, if the speedometer works normally when the
problem occurs, it is definitely the output speed sensor that is the
problem. If the speedometer works normally when the problem occurs,
then the output speed sensor is *not* the problem, but could be the
input speed sensor or some other cause.

 

Oops - I see you got it fixed. You should be able to confirm that in
fact the speedometer was not working when it was in limp mode.

 

The speedo was working normally before / during / after the event. It turns
out that the output speed sensor was defective. After replacing it, all
worked normally again (yeah!)

 

The speedometer on the '92 Dynasty is driven by the VSS which is turned by
the passenger half shaft. It is not driven by a converted form of the trans
output speed sensor signal.

 

My bad. I'm familiar with the later Chrysler cars (LH) in which the
speedometer and odometer information is derived from the output speed
sensor. I shouldn't have tried to relate that to an earlier platform.

 

You are correct. I should not have tried to transfer what I know about
LH cars to the Dynasty.