My car has been with our local Chrysler Dealer now for over 5 weeks to fix the "stuck in Limp mode" problem.
It started with £90 plus vat one hour diagnosis, then 3.5 hour wiring check £400 and then new solenoid switch pack £830. Car still the same. Chrysler then took the car to a gearbox specialist as they didn't have the ability to check the gearbox pressures. They say it needs a new gearbox at £1,350 plus vat.
The problem I'm told is an internal pressure failure within the gearbox.
Do any of you guys know if this sounds like a legitimate problem? It sounds like a load of rubbish to me as the car did work perfectly during the limp mode problem and drove fine for a 50 mile trip and other short journeys. If the autobox is bust how can it work fine one minute and then not the next.

Really appreciate any advice as just want the car back working.

Thanks

Mark

 

Really sorry to learn about all that Mark, and it does seem you are the victim of someone else's incompetence. If they don't know how to fix it they should say so, and let you go somewhere else where they can. They should not take the job on for money! That is not professional, that's amateur. When you pay money, you have a right to expect a professional.
Frankly, with the amount of money you're paying out, I'd be inclined to get legally aggressive in regard of recouping the amount of unnecessary money you've paid out already. Certainly, don't continue along the path you've been following. Only use a lawyer as a last resort as they are expensive. Citizens advice bureaux can be very helpful. Complaining to the BOT (Board of Trade) and similar bodies may produce results. The 'net is very useful for this.

You also need to get the vehicle physically out of their premises apart from getting a refund for the wasted money. BTW, I've never heard about a gearbox causing limp-mode, but I suppose it's possible. Check this on the net for Chrysler vehicles using the same box. Usually the dodgy box just throws codes, and sometimes bad/old/burnt ATF fluid can cause many problems.Then you'll have to start again at repairing your motor. It'll be important in the meantime to find someone capable of these repairs. Also look at Jeep dealers or indies for this.

Once again, many sympathies.

Leedsman.

 

Gearbox limp mode locks it into 2nd, I would suggest getting an independent auto gearbox specialist to look at it. If it is a mechanical failure inside the box then there's not much I can do to fix it.

Auto gearbox's are a specialist item and dealers do not understand them or work on them. I've never heard of a main dealer actually delving inside one to repair it.

As for £1600 for a new gearbox, it's not worth it. Get one from a scrappy -probably £100 to £400 depending upon how desperate they think you are.

Regards
Richard

 

Thanks Leedsman. Fortunately I haven't paid them anything at all and don't intend to apart from maybe the initial hours diagnosis if push comes to shove.

 

Thanks Richard. I find it hard to believe there is anything wrong with the gearbox, just the controls to it. I will certainly shop around first.

 

That's the idea Mark! Keep your wallet welded shut... You may need the money in case you have to buy another vehicle. Unf. yours may be an economic write-off, but don't really know at this juncture.

Leedsman.

 

"Stuck in Limp Mode"...I take it this is what you have been told or you found this out. Can you give us any sort of description of what happened before failure so we can log this into the site for future reference.
Thanks.

 

Goggs,


Car went in for 100k service - oil, plus oil, air, fuel, pollen filters. Picked car up afterwards, drove 30yards and engine light came on car wouldn't change gear. Ie 1st to 2nd plus reverse only available. Very clunky when selecting drive or reverse. And that's it.
Thanks
Mark

 

Did they change the ATF fluid? If they did was it Mopar ATF4+? (This is backwards compatible). I would have thought at 100,000mile service the ATF fluid should be changed. The normal for most boxes is 30,000mile for mineral, 60,000mile for synthetic, variable of course with conditions of use.
We're getting to the end here of what advice can be given from a website. You need to speak to a local who can perform tests. Usually the microprocessor autobox has solenoids controlled by the micro. to actuate the valve body, thusly shifting the gear-trains by hydraulic pressure and brake-bands in old boxes to clutch packs in modern ones. So the control shifts from internal control to external control by the micro. It's just possible there is a fault external to the gearbox that is causing the control micro to hold the box in 2nd. You could scour the 'net for information on this. Look at the Jeep site too.
My experience with autoboxes is limited to ZF however.

Leedsman.

 

There was a similar thread on here relating to some ones car getting serviced and afterwards a gearbox fault came up. Fault traced to damaged wires inside a plug...
I take it plugs have been checked...