magnuman
08-10-2004, 12:13 AM
Yesterday I was saying how great everything was working, but needed to put some more miles on the RT. Today is a different story. After picking it up Sat. afternoon we put 120 mi. on it, and 80 more on Sunday. About 4 mi. from home I noticed the converter lock-up clutch engaging and disengaging more than before, and it was at a slower speed, which I didn't think was quite normal. I didn't think much of it though until stopping at a stoplight about 2 mi. from home. Coming to a stop was like with a manual transmission in gear and not pushing the clutch in----shutter, shutter, stall.
Restarted several times and put in gear only to have it die. Felt like trying to start a manual trans. car in 3rd gear----shutter, shutter, stall.
I remember reading in the owner's manual about resetting the system by shutting it off, putting it in park, waiting about 10 seconds and then restarting. Did this about 3 times with no luck. On the 4th try it started to move. This was what the owner's manual calls the "Limp Home Mode" for the trans. It worked as advertised and allowed me to limp the last two miles to home. Thought leaving it sit overnight would magically heal it. Not so!
Called the free road service and they came to pick it up. (See photo)
Went to visit it this afternoon and the mechanic working on it said the converter clutch is locked in the engaged position. He's been talking with engineers at manufacturing plant and they gave him a few things to try. Also said if not fixed they'll put a new one in and send this one back for dissection at the factory. So far, they've had the car longer than I have. Go figure. Anyway, I have no doubt they'll fix it and everything will be great. What an optomist. I'll keep everyone posted on what caused it and if it is preventable or reparable while driving. (I was hoping a blown fuse or stuck solenoid.)
Restarted several times and put in gear only to have it die. Felt like trying to start a manual trans. car in 3rd gear----shutter, shutter, stall.
I remember reading in the owner's manual about resetting the system by shutting it off, putting it in park, waiting about 10 seconds and then restarting. Did this about 3 times with no luck. On the 4th try it started to move. This was what the owner's manual calls the "Limp Home Mode" for the trans. It worked as advertised and allowed me to limp the last two miles to home. Thought leaving it sit overnight would magically heal it. Not so!
Called the free road service and they came to pick it up. (See photo)
Went to visit it this afternoon and the mechanic working on it said the converter clutch is locked in the engaged position. He's been talking with engineers at manufacturing plant and they gave him a few things to try. Also said if not fixed they'll put a new one in and send this one back for dissection at the factory. So far, they've had the car longer than I have. Go figure. Anyway, I have no doubt they'll fix it and everything will be great. What an optomist. I'll keep everyone posted on what caused it and if it is preventable or reparable while driving. (I was hoping a blown fuse or stuck solenoid.)