I did spot the gush from the sump so I've drained most by extractor pump via dipstick tube and only had a small amount left in the pan, although I did use a large drip tray just in case! All that remains is to reassemble and keep my fingers crossed! Thanks for all the help and encouragement - much appreciated!

Well filter and oil replaced but no difference! Reverse is okay, but it's hard work going everywhere backwards :-) but still reluctant to engage any forward gears. If, as before, I put in into gear and keep blipping the throttle I can get drive. Once in drive it will drive normally. If I turn off the ignition or engage reverse then I'm back to no forward gears! Looks like the next option is a transmission specialist.

Like Richie says reverse & 2nd are mechanical, you really should get those even if the brain under the NSF wheel arch is goosed. Given the same circumstances as you listed I too would have gone the extra money and changed to proper ATF-4. As stated earlier there are hundreds of anecdotal counts of coming back from the dead with the proper oil. Can I assume you have disconnected the NEG for 16 minutes to force all the BUS[s] to reset to defaults including the gearbox reverting to 're-learn' mode ? Have you tried disconnecting both POS & NEG and clamping them together overnight to try to dump any spurious 'sticky' codes ? Have you eyeballed the brain under the NSF wheel arch plastic over to see if it and the thick loom that goes to the IPM are not damaged ?

Will only go into reverse, not any forward gears! I have now out ATF+4 in and new filter. I had assumed the last oil was correct as Eurocarparts supplied from registration and said it was correct oil. Have he'd battery disconnected - no difference. I'll check the loom. I suppose it could be an ecu issue. I'll also try clamping leads to see if it makes any difference. Cheers.

dont bother checking the loom. 2nd is not controlled by the gearbox ecu, but by the mechanical linkage. If it goes into reverse and sometimes into forward when you blip the the throttle then it's a mechanical problem with the box.

I wouldn't trust a recon box as a lot places have the idea that cleaning off the outer grime and multiplying the price by 4 is what a recon consists of. A new box would be ridiculously expensive, best bet is a 2nd hand box from a scrapyard.

Regards
Richard

Thanks Richard. I was expecting to arrive at thus point. I was thinking perhaps the torque converter could be a problem too but the fact that I can drive fine in reverse and asking gurnard once engaged would suggest that this is working okay.

Regards

Trevor

Diagnostic done by automatic gearbox specialist - internal seals duff and low gear clutch faulty. Rebuild plus new torque converter whilst at it. They've never seen this in a Chrysler before let alone one with only 52,000!

glad you got it diagnosed, hope the bill it not too high

Regards
Richard

All fixed - £1350 plus VAT! Not cheap but great service and 12 months warranty. I thoroughly recommend 3D Transmission in Reading. They know their stuff. I have the brand new, fitted but removed when fault not cured, automatic gearbox solenoid for sale. It's on EBay for £120 but happy to sell to any member here for £100.

Regards

Trevor

always worth sharing when you find a garage you can trust.

Regards
Richard