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Jim Grant's Tech Tips
91 Plymouth
Voyager, Mind of its Own Transmission
Q: I have a 91 Plymouth Voyager 80,000 mi, with a four speed computer
controlled transmission. Recently, while decelerating from highway speed,
it will suddenly shift down into 2nd gear and stay there until the ignition
is shutoff after which it performs normally, until the next situation.
I have been told that there is a rather simple solution for this problem.
Do you have any information you could share?
A: Is
seems as if your transmission (with a mind of its own) is going into fail/safe
or limp in mode; I call them the survival modes. In the event that the
computer or sensors for a computerized transmission fail, the transmission
will go into a survival mode. The survival mode allows the vehicle to
be driven, but with limited abilities. This permits the driver and passengers
to continue safely to a repair facility. The survival mode in your vehicle
just happens to be second gear.
A commonly
seen cause is due to loose electrical connectors at the transmission.
Your vehicles computer will likely have stored information, trouble
codes, related to your problem. A qualified technician would have no problem
accessing the computer for this information and identifying the cause
of your shifting problem.
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