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I have a 1994 Chrysler New Yorker that has 85,000 miles on it and it runs great with one exception, occasionaly the transmission will not shift out of first gear. This happens very seldom, but it did happen on my way back to Tucson, Az from Nashville, TN after getting gas. I was very concerned, (scared)!!! This happens very seldom and there doesn't seem to be any connection with anything. It happened in Okla., but after turning the engine off and starting again it shifted properly, but one time I had to drive about six miles in first gear. It seems to be a selonoid that gets stuck or something, but there is no way to test it because it doesn't stay that way, only once in a while, but I'm scared that it will one day decide to stay that way forever and I'll be 500 miles from home or something!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you have any ideas?????

Thank you,

David Erdman
Tucson, AZ

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1994 Chrysler New Yorker 3.4

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Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $30

Is the transmission full of fluid? Have you had to add any, and if so, what kind of fluid did you add? Chrysler transmissions take a special fluid, and any other type will destroy it in short order..

Has the engine light been set? There may even be hidden codes, that are not meant to illuminate the light. Go to Autozone and get a diagnostic scan done for free. Then come back and post the codes.

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Reply to ase_master327's Post: I have actually changed the fluid and the filter before my trip to Nashville, and with the proper Chrysler fluid. I haven't checked the computer reading as you suggest, but remember I drove from Tucson to San Angelo, Tx and no problem, but it did do it one time in San Angelo, but not again until I had driven about 1,700 more miles. Then it did it on the way back to Tucson in Okla. then it corrected itself and I drove to Albuquerque and then to Lordsburg New Mexico, it did it in NM but quit after turning it off and restarting, then I drove almost all the way home to Tucson and it did it just as I left the interstate I-10 and wouldn't come out of first so I drove about 6 miles to my house. I've driven it about 300 miles around town since then and it hasn't done it since. So there ya go??????

Sounds like the fluid may be overheating. You did a good thing changing the filter, but, a trans flush is much better. A filter change only changes about 1/3 of the fluid in the transmission hydraulic system. As soon as you put it in gear, it mixes with the remaining 2/3 that wasn't changed and is soon rendered useless.

When you go to get the scan done, if there is anything saying something about trans temperature, you need a flush done.

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Reply to ase_master327's Post: If heat was the problem it would have done it again right after I turned it off and restarted it, and was able to take off with no problem. I didn't allow it to cool off and again I drove 450 miles at least with no problem and got gas and took off again with no problem, then all of a sudden it would do it after the next time of starting it. Matter of fact in the San Angelo, TX situation I had just left a friends house and the car had been sitting about 5 hrs., not even warm. Something definetly seems to be sticking, but what and why.

Do you recall if the old fluid was dark? What does it look like now? The fluid is the only way you can tell the condition of the trans without tearing into it.

There are ALOT of possibilities, though. We need to get the codes before deciding what is wrong with it. There could be a speed sensor malfunction, bad bands, TCC problem, trash in the valve body, etc...

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Reply to ase_master327's Post: That was the strange thing, at least I thought so at the time, I had hoped for something abnormal when I changed the filter, but it smelled good and was the normal color. No indication that it had overheated. Are you saying there's a speed sensor somewhat like the sensor that reads the harmonic balancer and the cam sensor? The strange part is that it's so intermitent. No bad weather, rain, snow, or anything that would get a sensor surface dirty or contribute to a bad reading from a sensor. Why would it do it so seldom if something like that was wrong? Also remember what I said about it simply doing it when I stop for gas turn it off and gas-up then start to take off then it doesn't shift then I turn it off and start it up and then it works fine for maybe 1,000 miles or more. It's crazy!!!

These type of sensors are magnets. Was there a magnet in the bottom of the trans pan? I know it was 'muddy' The sensors get the same thing. This stuff coats everything and it doesn't take much to clog the tiny ports in the valve body either. If your trans has a governor, you might try cleaning it. That would cause the same problem, intermittent at times.

If there is one, it will be in a round cover on the side of the trans. You can get it out and clean it with wd-40. When the flaps open, there is a valve in the middle of it that moves. If it doesn't move, there is the problem. This problem will not always set a code either, so if the light has not come on, that you recall, I would try to look for a governor. If there is not one, it is computer controlled.

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Reply to ase_master327's Post: What you are telling me is that there is something similar to what used to be the modulator which was vacuum controlled on the old transmissions that did control shifting out of first to the rest of the shift pattern. Yes, there was the muddy substance on the magnet which is normal, actualy I have usually found metal shavings on other transmission magnet collectors in the pan, but not this one. I have never seen a service engine light with this car, I was told by a person at auto zone that they couldn't read anything on this car. So I apparently would have to rely on the friggin thing totally shutting down on me sometime. I'm still lost. I worked in the engine plant of Chevrolet Manufacturing in Flint, Michigan for 30 yrs. and have worked on my cars for over 40yrs. so I not only have a working knowledge of pretty much all aspects, but have consulted many people here in Tucson, no one seems to have an answer. That's why I would almost like to change every controling solenoid in the transaxle, I'm pretty much convinced that is it, but of course not positive. I agree the best thing to do would be a flush, but I drove over 4,500 miles on that trip to Tenn. from AZ and it only did it a few times and again heat didn't seem to be a factor nor did anything else because it did it under all conditions. I drove for 10 hrs. at a time with no problem then all of a sudden it did IT!!! As I said very scarey!!!!!!!!! I like the car and would like to continue driving it especially since it gets about 28 mpg, so it's a good travel across country car.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on July 18 2006 at 3:38 AM

No not the modulator, that is the TV cable you are thinking of. If that was causing the problem, It would NEVER act right.

You said Autozone couldn't do it? Cycle the key on, off 4 times and write the codes down.

flash, pause, flash, flash = 12

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Reply to ase_master327's Post: The modulator being vacuum controled wouldn't work if it had a hole in the diaphram so I know what you mean, but what I meant is the governor similar to the modulator?? Anyway I could do what you said. just a minute, I can go outside

The TV cable took place of modulator. Does your truck have the vacuum modulator? If the diaphragm was busted, the engine will smoke from all of the trans fluid that will be sucked into the engine from the vacuum. If the TV cable were out of adjustment, it would cause worse symptoms than you describe.

When the throttle is pressed harder, the throttle valve in the trans stays open longer, and the trans shifts only on pressure. It will do this through all gears if adjusted too tight. Also used for downshifting, will never downshift if too loose. If the TV is out of adjustment, the trans will still shift, but the timing will be all out of wack. Like the modulator, the TV controls the timing of the shift. Firm shifts at higher RPM when accelerating rapidly, and soft shifts when just driving along.

The governor, controls if the trans will shift at all, not when it happens. If it is clogged or dirty, you will have a hard time getting the thing to shift.

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Reply to ase_master327's Post: None of those things exist, it runs perfectly except for the problem I originally asked. I did check for a code and the one I get is a 35. That probably has nothing to do with my problem. This CAR runs perfectly, and no problems whatsoever except when it doesn't upshift occasionally. This may not happen only every 1-2,000 miles and then only briefly, as I said it usually won't upshift then if I shut the car off for about 1 minute it will then upshift and act normal for maybe a month or maybe a 1,000 miles or so.

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