as bad a reputation as this trans has earned, I really think people don't give it enough credit.
First check the fluid level. it may just be low. make sure you follow the book on *how* to check the level.
also find out--- if she puts in gear, then waits 10 seconds, does it act normally? (TC may be draining down while car sits off).
It's a neon trans that somehow was given service to minivans, and it's in a impressively tiny package. it never misses a shift either until something goes wrong. the programing between trans and engine is spot-on, as in it's consistent, predictable, it's very nice to drive.
but it does have some weaknesses.
the solenoid packs "vibrate" to modulate shifts and can wear down internally.
the computer program is fairly intolerant of the wrong fluid. you can't tell by how it drives... as it automatically compensates... but the wrong fluid = high clutch wear.
it gets HOT in the minivans, especially in the summer, even on the interstate. if you drive the vehicle hard enough that it doesn't stay in lockup, temps will walk right past 200F.
It helps Nothing that the fluid life is considered 100k or "lifetime." I think standard 60, 30 30 30.... intervals would be a huge benefit for this unit.
I picked out the van in my sig at 90k miles on it. the fluid that dumped out seemed original. trans shifted fine, drove fine. but the whole vehicle was neglected. hoses, t-stat, alternator, shot suspension, leaks everywhere.... and here's where my trans developed problems.... AFTER I changed 90% of the fluid. 3 months later the solenoid packs went south and I believe the over/under-drive piston/seal has been scored or damaged. replacing the pack resolved the issue almost all the way... I still get some nuisance behavior from it but it's working ok for the most part. theory I have is the old fluid had been in too long, and the new fluid freed up minor deposits that decided to get caught in the above mentioned parts. Not really the transmission's fault.
anyway--- my beef with it is that it should never have been called a lifetime maintenance unit. and it should never have seen service in a minivan without upgrades. In a sebring I think it'd be well-suited. you're just down to the "maintenance interval" issue.
I'd get a pan drop and filter change without hesitation at your mileage. Make sure the shop uses ATF+4 and not something else with a modifier to make it act like ATF+4. The only substitute I'd consider would be amsoil. A genuine mopar filter would also be recommended.... I've installed mopar and non-mopar and there's a difference.
sorry - 10% info and 90% rant. people flame this unit--- but I've worked on several and YES acknowledge that for all the reasons above they are failure prone--- but having owned a couple I've developed a bit of respect for them also. it's a nice little unit--- just not really set up appropriately by chryco. and until it bombs out, there ARE things the handyman can service too!
First check the fluid level. it may just be low. make sure you follow the book on *how* to check the level.
also find out--- if she puts in gear, then waits 10 seconds, does it act normally? (TC may be draining down while car sits off).
It's a neon trans that somehow was given service to minivans, and it's in a impressively tiny package. it never misses a shift either until something goes wrong. the programing between trans and engine is spot-on, as in it's consistent, predictable, it's very nice to drive.
but it does have some weaknesses.
the solenoid packs "vibrate" to modulate shifts and can wear down internally.
the computer program is fairly intolerant of the wrong fluid. you can't tell by how it drives... as it automatically compensates... but the wrong fluid = high clutch wear.
it gets HOT in the minivans, especially in the summer, even on the interstate. if you drive the vehicle hard enough that it doesn't stay in lockup, temps will walk right past 200F.
It helps Nothing that the fluid life is considered 100k or "lifetime." I think standard 60, 30 30 30.... intervals would be a huge benefit for this unit.
I picked out the van in my sig at 90k miles on it. the fluid that dumped out seemed original. trans shifted fine, drove fine. but the whole vehicle was neglected. hoses, t-stat, alternator, shot suspension, leaks everywhere.... and here's where my trans developed problems.... AFTER I changed 90% of the fluid. 3 months later the solenoid packs went south and I believe the over/under-drive piston/seal has been scored or damaged. replacing the pack resolved the issue almost all the way... I still get some nuisance behavior from it but it's working ok for the most part. theory I have is the old fluid had been in too long, and the new fluid freed up minor deposits that decided to get caught in the above mentioned parts. Not really the transmission's fault.
anyway--- my beef with it is that it should never have been called a lifetime maintenance unit. and it should never have seen service in a minivan without upgrades. In a sebring I think it'd be well-suited. you're just down to the "maintenance interval" issue.
I'd get a pan drop and filter change without hesitation at your mileage. Make sure the shop uses ATF+4 and not something else with a modifier to make it act like ATF+4. The only substitute I'd consider would be amsoil. A genuine mopar filter would also be recommended.... I've installed mopar and non-mopar and there's a difference.
sorry - 10% info and 90% rant. people flame this unit--- but I've worked on several and YES acknowledge that for all the reasons above they are failure prone--- but having owned a couple I've developed a bit of respect for them also. it's a nice little unit--- just not really set up appropriately by chryco. and until it bombs out, there ARE things the handyman can service too!