Strange Problem with 1999 Town & Country

Replace the output speed sensor, there are 2 sensors on the front of the
transmission, the one furthest to the drivers side, at the corner is the one
that is bad, The part is about 30 bucks
Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech
"IPavlov" > wrote in message
news
>
> I have what seems to be serious problem with 1999 Town
> and Country: all of a sudden it seems to have stuck
> on a middle shift and automatic transmission doesn't
> seem to shift as you accelerate - seems as if
> something wrong with transmission. And together with
> that "Service Engine Soon" lighted up and what is
> particularly strange speedometer and mileage counter
> stopped working.
> I'm at a loss what could it be. If it is transmission
> breakdown, then why is speedometer is at zero no matter
> what speed you drive.. Or could it be that some
> electronic component controlling all of those parts
> broke down?
>
> Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
>
> IP.
>

IPavlov wrote:
> I have what seems to be serious problem with 1999 Town
> and Country: all of a sudden it seems to have stuck
> on a middle shift and automatic transmission doesn't
> seem to shift as you accelerate - seems as if
> something wrong with transmission. And together with
> that "Service Engine Soon" lighted up and what is
> particularly strange speedometer and mileage counter
> stopped working.
> I'm at a loss what could it be. If it is transmission
> breakdown, then why is speedometer is at zero no matter
> what speed you drive.. Or could it be that some
> electronic component controlling all of those parts
> broke down?
>

The output speed sensor is dead or disconnected. That sensor drives the
speedometer and odometer, but it also is used by the transmission
controller. Without that signal, the tranny controller sets a fault and
goes into "limp" mode.

IPavlov wrote:
> I have what seems to be serious problem with 1999 Town
> and Country: all of a sudden it seems to have stuck
> on a middle shift and automatic transmission doesn't
> seem to shift as you accelerate - seems as if
> something wrong with transmission. And together with
> that "Service Engine Soon" lighted up and what is
> particularly strange speedometer and mileage counter
> stopped working.
> I'm at a loss what could it be. If it is transmission
> breakdown, then why is speedometer is at zero no matter
> what speed you drive.. Or could it be that some
> electronic component controlling all of those parts
> broke down?
>

The output speed sensor is dead or disconnected. That sensor drives the
speedometer and odometer, but it also is used by the transmission
controller. Without that signal, the tranny controller sets a fault and
goes into "limp" mode.

IPavlov wrote:

> Thanks for the info. It really starts to make sense.
> I drove home in "limp mode" about eight miles at about 30 miles/hr.
> I'm wondering how to take it for diagnostics and repairs - would
> driving another 5 to 15 miles at slow speed be a bad idea?


As long as you don't over-rev the engine, no harm will be done by
driving in "limp" mode. What kills these transmissions is when there is
a genuine fault and the driver keeps shutting off the car to force it
back into "normal" mode every time it goes to "limp" mode to protect itself.

IPavlov wrote:

> Thanks for the info. It really starts to make sense.
> I drove home in "limp mode" about eight miles at about 30 miles/hr.
> I'm wondering how to take it for diagnostics and repairs - would
> driving another 5 to 15 miles at slow speed be a bad idea?


As long as you don't over-rev the engine, no harm will be done by
driving in "limp" mode. What kills these transmissions is when there is
a genuine fault and the driver keeps shutting off the car to force it
back into "normal" mode every time it goes to "limp" mode to protect itself.

output speed sensor

IPavlov wrote:

> I have what seems to be serious problem with 1999 Town
> and Country: all of a sudden it seems to have stuck
> on a middle shift and automatic transmission doesn't
> seem to shift as you accelerate - seems as if
> something wrong with transmission. And together with
> that "Service Engine Soon" lighted up and what is
> particularly strange speedometer and mileage counter
> stopped working.
> I'm at a loss what could it be. If it is transmission
> breakdown, then why is speedometer is at zero no matter
> what speed you drive.. Or could it be that some
> electronic component controlling all of those parts
> broke down?
>
> Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
>
> IP.

output speed sensor

IPavlov wrote:

> I have what seems to be serious problem with 1999 Town
> and Country: all of a sudden it seems to have stuck
> on a middle shift and automatic transmission doesn't
> seem to shift as you accelerate - seems as if
> something wrong with transmission. And together with
> that "Service Engine Soon" lighted up and what is
> particularly strange speedometer and mileage counter
> stopped working.
> I'm at a loss what could it be. If it is transmission
> breakdown, then why is speedometer is at zero no matter
> what speed you drive.. Or could it be that some
> electronic component controlling all of those parts
> broke down?
>
> Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
>
> IP.

Thanks for your help. It really looks clear now and explains this
strange behavior of the wan. Other respondents also agree that this is
output speed sensor. One additional question: is this part easy
for a lay person to replace?
And also: a friend of mine mentioned that some of this auto parts have
manufacturer warranty, which sometimes covers quite a number of
years. Is it worthwhile checking that this one has such a warranty?
The car is 1999 T&C.

Thanks again,


On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 12:52:20 -0500, maxpower wrote:

> Replace the output speed sensor, there are 2 sensors on the front of the
> transmission, the one furthest to the drivers side, at the corner is the
> one that is bad, The part is about 30 bucks Glenn Beasley
> Chrysler Tech
> "IPavlov" > wrote in message
> news
>>
>> I have what seems to be serious problem with 1999 Town and Country: all
>> of a sudden it seems to have stuck on a middle shift and automatic
>> transmission doesn't seem to shift as you accelerate - seems as if
>> something wrong with transmission. And together with that "Service
>> Engine Soon" lighted up and what is particularly strange speedometer and
>> mileage counter stopped working.
>> I'm at a loss what could it be. If it is transmission breakdown, then
>> why is speedometer is at zero no matter what speed you drive.. Or could
>> it be that some electronic component controlling all of those parts
>> broke down?
>>
>> Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> IP.
>>
>>

--
Remove dogs from address to reply by email.

Thanks for your help. It really looks clear now and explains this
strange behavior of the wan. Other respondents also agree that this is
output speed sensor. One additional question: is this part easy
for a lay person to replace?
And also: a friend of mine mentioned that some of this auto parts have
manufacturer warranty, which sometimes covers quite a number of
years. Is it worthwhile checking that this one has such a warranty?
The car is 1999 T&C.

Thanks again,


On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 12:52:20 -0500, maxpower wrote:

> Replace the output speed sensor, there are 2 sensors on the front of the
> transmission, the one furthest to the drivers side, at the corner is the
> one that is bad, The part is about 30 bucks Glenn Beasley
> Chrysler Tech
> "IPavlov" > wrote in message
> news
>>
>> I have what seems to be serious problem with 1999 Town and Country: all
>> of a sudden it seems to have stuck on a middle shift and automatic
>> transmission doesn't seem to shift as you accelerate - seems as if
>> something wrong with transmission. And together with that "Service
>> Engine Soon" lighted up and what is particularly strange speedometer and
>> mileage counter stopped working.
>> I'm at a loss what could it be. If it is transmission breakdown, then
>> why is speedometer is at zero no matter what speed you drive.. Or could
>> it be that some electronic component controlling all of those parts
>> broke down?
>>
>> Any advice will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> IP.
>>
>>

--
Remove dogs from address to reply by email.

What is the best place to buy this part?
Thanks,
IP.

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 12:52:20 -0500, maxpower wrote:

> Replace the output speed sensor, there are 2 sensors on the front of the
> transmission, the one furthest to the drivers side, at the corner is the
> one that is bad, The part is about 30 bucks Glenn Beasley
> Chrysler Tech
> "IPavlov" > wrote in message
> news