Need help with PT Cruiser problem

Would another PT Cruiser owner please try the following and let me know
what happens..

Simply engage 'D' and drive along a level road until the Torque
Converter locks up (about 50mph) then take your foot off the gas pedal
and allow the car to slow down without braking. Please watch the
tachometer and see what happens when the revs drop to about 1200rpm.

My Cruiser (new in 2003, basic, auto and now with 28000miles) under the
above conditions will slow normally to about 1200rpm then the revs will
increase quickly to about 1600 with a noticeable slight acceleration.
The revs now stay at 1500/1600 and the car will cruise along at a
steady speed for several seconds before the revs begin to fall again.
Doesn't sound too serious but as well as requiring extra braking it
also gives the feeling of 'being out of control'..

The problem appeared about 9 months ago following a service but the
dealer is saying this is normal operation for the 41TE transmission as,
after driving the car, the Chrysler dealer's transmission guy said the
increase of 500 or so revs was due the torque converter unlocking, but
could not explain why the revs did not then quickly fall from 1600. No
error codes were found and the dealer flashed the PCM for what I did
not find out, but the problem remains.

I have driven new Chrysler vans with what I believe is the same 41TE
trans, and under the above conditions they decelerate normally (for an
auto) with just a small twitch of the tacho at around 1000rpm.
Certainly they do not continue to cruise along at constant speed that
corresponds to 1600rpm for several seconds.

So, if anyone can try the above and let me know what happens then I
will know either that all is normal or that I need to hassle the
dealer some more.

Thanks in advance, Jack

 

Might not be the transmission causing this. Perhaps the air/fuel system
needs to be cleaned. Take off the rubber intake from the air intake and
spray the throtle area to make sure it is not sticking and can close all the
way.

Richard.

 

Richard, Thanks for your reply.

I don't think the transmission is at fault. I checked the throttle
closing function when the problem first appeared and all appeared to be
OK. Idle is normal as is everything else except during the overrun
condition described above. When the revs increase to 1600 I cannot feel
any movement from the throttle (such as when the cruise control is
re-activated) but because the car accelerates slightly as the revs
increase to 1600, then something is telling the IAC to open the
throttle, and that something is probably the PCM . The dealer is really
saying that what I am seeing is normal operation for a PT Cruiser and
that is why I would appreciate another Cruiser owner telling me how
their car behaves..

Thanks again, Jack

 

I have an 01 and I don't see that idle issue with my automatic equipped
vehicle.

Richard.

 

Richard, my apologies. I didn't realise that you had added another
message.

This is exactly what I needed to know and I have booked another
appointment with my dealer.

Did anything happen on your cruiser when the revs dropped to 1200 on
the overrun? Such as a small jump in revs that did not speed-up the
car?

Thanks, Jack