2000 T&C Limited, 3.8, 83,000 miles, tranny fluid changed at 55,000 miles and at 75,000 miles Amsoil was flushed into it. My wife just took it on a 300 mile trip and on the way home the engine light comes on. She said that she didn't notice anything wrong and it ran fine at 70 mph until about a 1/2 mile from the house. She had to stop for a stop sign then when she accelerated again she noticed that the tach stayed at 3000 RPM on the last 1/2 mile stretch at 45 mph. She said that while she had been stopped at the stop sign the engine sounded loud or rough so she put it in Neutral and it quieted down. She put it back in Drive and it was loud again. I pulled a code of P1776. Fluids are all at full mark. Can't tell if the tranny fluid is burnt because the Amsoil smells different anyway. It is not brown or foamy. Any ideas? Thanks.
davet
03-01-2006, 02:26 PM
I drove it today after clearing the code. It worked fine until I got on the freeway. The engine light came on but it seemed to be OK until I stopped for a stop sign. When I took off the tranny was in 2nd or 3rd gear. I shut the engine off and started it again but the light was still on. The tranny would start out in 2nd gear and when I got back on the freeway it would stay in 3rd and not go into overdrive. A few miles later when I got home it seemed like it was staying in 3rd gear even when I would stop. Called a tranny shop and a repair shop and neither had the P1776 code listed. Autozone showed that it meant Ignition Retard Requested. Any ideas?
Hemi Pete
03-01-2006, 02:50 PM
This happend to me during the short time I owned Candy Girl, a 1993 Dodge Intrepid SE.
Try shifting it into reverse when it happens again, and it shouldn't because the transmission is in what is called "limp-in mode".
Take it into a Dealership or trusted independent repair shop, because the transmission is computer controlled: you'll need someone else to find the problem for you.
Usually it is an intermittant fault between the TCM and one of the many input sensors in the transmission (and elsewhere on the vehicle) that would cause the computer to enter into failsafe mode.
Good luck.
davet
03-01-2006, 03:04 PM
It does go into reverse while its acting up.
Hemi Pete
03-01-2006, 03:13 PM
Does it change gears, just not downshift into 1st?
(I read your post, I just decided to run it by you anyway.)
bw03
03-02-2006, 08:28 PM
According to this (http://www.automotiveforums.com/t233466.html), p1776=solenoid switch latched in L-R (low-reverse) position. How you fix it, I don't know. Perhaps a new solenoid pack?
bw03
03-02-2006, 08:31 PM
I just came across this here http://www.automotivehelper.com/topic197259.htm
slantsixness05-11-2004, 01:11 PM
I hope this isn't redundant for the both of you, but
change your filter and fluid first, including the torque converter fluid. Then, disconnect your battery for 5 minutes.
Test drive. It should be corrected.
Re-program tranny manually see: www.allpar.com
or get a dealer to do it for money.
Also, make sure your radiator fan(s) are working. Could also be the fan or fan relay...
Always use ATF+3 if you pour dexronII,III, OR IV in these transmissions, even just once! If you do, there's nobody who can help you avoid a $2000.00 trans job.
The solenoid pack can be changed independently of having the trans rebuilt, and the screen filter in it will clog, and stick the solenoids. It has been done, but cleaning the solenoid pack and getting it back together correctly is hard to do, and can screw up your trans if not done right. Changing the fluid and using fresh fluid tends to clean out the solenoid pack, not to mention the rest of the trans... and solve many troubles.
Again, I would hope that you knew all this already, but if not, I hope I can save you some dough!
Try it. ATF+3 and +4 both have limited lifespans and the trans won't take any other fluids, or fluids that have broken down, or become tainted with normal wear deposits.
Don't trust a shop with one of those trans cleaning machines. You'll be sorry if you do.
Slantsixness
Hemi Pete
03-04-2006, 06:51 PM
Thanks for the input, we needed it.
davet
03-10-2006, 10:40 AM
It turned out that the solenoid pack was bad. $308.00 to change the pack and put a new filter in. The pack from the dealer was $226.00 for me to buy it and put it on or $160.00 for him to buy it and $75.00 to install it. He wanted to pull the pan and change the filter to see if there were signs of more serious wear. Runs great. Thanks for the help all.
