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OK, Chrysler gurus, here's a chance to prove your mettle...
The car: 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser turbo convertible.
The problem: CEL light comes on, then transmission locks in first gear. The tranny has been flushed. The REMCO LP-1 lube pump has been removed. the input and output speed sensors have been replaced.
Yesterday it did it again. I disconnected the battery, let it sit for 45 minutes or so, then took a drive. It worked perfectly.
So, what is the most likely: Dirty contacts on the shift solenoid, bad solenoid, bad TCM, dirty grounds somewhere in the system?
I'm about ready to sell the thing and buy something that was built before 1975!
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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While I'm not familiar with that particular car, but locking in 1st gear is indicative of limp mode, it's to prevent you from going fast but to safely get to the side of the road for a tow. I have seen that happen on an older Jeep Liberty (2002) and the transmission was toast, at 90,000 miles. it was $3,400 to have it rebuilt. I hope it's a bug in the alert/ system and not a failure of the transmission. Did you pull the code? On those I think you could get it to show up in the odometer display by turning the key from Run to Off to Run to Off to Run within five seconds.
While I'm not familiar with that particular car, but locking in 1st gear is indicative of limp mode, it's to prevent you from going fast but to safely get to the side of the road for a tow. I have seen that happen on an older Jeep Liberty (2002) and the transmission was toast, at 90,000 miles. it was $3,400 to have it rebuilt. I hope it's a bug in the alert/ system and not a failure of the transmission. Did you pull the code? On those I think you could get it to show up in the odometer display by turning the key from Run to Off to Run to Off to Run within five seconds.
The transmission works fine, until the electronics go fruity. therefore, I suspect either the TCM or the shift solenoid.
The "expert technician" that I took it to did a tranny flush, said the problem was fixed.
It wasn't.
so, then he replaced the input speed sensor and output speed sensor, and declared the problem fixed, after test driving it for many miles.
It isn't.
Tomorrow, it goes to a different shop. One where I have had good work from the MECHANIC in the past. Yes, I know, I should have gone to him in the first place, but this fancy new place opened, much closer to home, with lots of certificates on the wall. I thought I would give them a try. Live and learn.
I spent much of my life making a living with a wrench in my hand, WITHOUT computer guidance for troubleshooting. Now that I am well beyond 75, I don't even change my own oil (except in the lawn tractor). Perhaps that is why it is tempting to find a good, pre-1975 daily driver!
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