- Jan 17, 2001
- 2,528
- 10
- 81
Driving in to work this morning in my '99 Stratus, I kicked the cruise control off and began braking while steering onto the exit ramp of the highway. Instead of the usual shift-down to second gear, my automatic transmission stayed in third for a while, then suddenly jerked into second. After I stopped at an intersection and then accelerated, it stayed in second wayyyy too long, momentarily went to third, then back to second (where it stayed to rest of the trip) and illuminated the check engine light. 
After calming down and trying not to think about the cost of transmission replacement (!) I did some google searching. I learned that this condition is known as Chrysler's "limp mode" and happens when the PCM detects problems with the transmission/speed sensors.
It appears that a VERY COMMON problem with these cars is a failure of one of the two transmission speed sensors (input or output). Mine has the classic symptom - sudden spontaneous change to "limp in" mode with check engine light on. I am guessing that in my case the input is the problem since my speedometer still works. I REALLY REALLY hope this is the cause - the sensors are only $20 or so and look easy to replace (I don't want to think about transmission replacement )
Has anyone changed one of these before????????
-------Cliff Notes------
- Scoobmaster's auto transmission gets stuck in 2nd this morning.
- Scoob gets sick feeling pondering cost of tranny replacement
- Google search reveals it is most probably a bad speed sensor ($20 part)
- Scoob hopes that this will be it and asks if an ATOT members have
experience with this problem.
(crosses fingers that it really is only the $20 sensor!!!!!!!)
** EDIT -UPDATE **
Just got the call from an acquaintance of mine that owns a transmission shop (it's good to know people like this ). It was the aforementioned input speed sensor. Total cost with new sensor full electronic diagnostic of transmission control system and labor = $78. Just made my day a little brighter
After calming down and trying not to think about the cost of transmission replacement (!) I did some google searching. I learned that this condition is known as Chrysler's "limp mode" and happens when the PCM detects problems with the transmission/speed sensors.
It appears that a VERY COMMON problem with these cars is a failure of one of the two transmission speed sensors (input or output). Mine has the classic symptom - sudden spontaneous change to "limp in" mode with check engine light on. I am guessing that in my case the input is the problem since my speedometer still works. I REALLY REALLY hope this is the cause - the sensors are only $20 or so and look easy to replace (I don't want to think about transmission replacement
)Has anyone changed one of these before????????
-------Cliff Notes------
- Scoobmaster's auto transmission gets stuck in 2nd this morning.
- Scoob gets sick feeling pondering cost of tranny replacement
- Google search reveals it is most probably a bad speed sensor ($20 part)
- Scoob hopes that this will be it and asks if an ATOT members have
experience with this problem.
(crosses fingers that it really is only the $20 sensor!!!!!!!)
** EDIT -UPDATE **
Just got the call from an acquaintance of mine that owns a transmission shop (it's good to know people like this
). It was the aforementioned input speed sensor. Total cost with new sensor full electronic diagnostic of transmission control system and labor = $78. Just made my day a little brighter 
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