1997 Chrysler Sebring Stuck in Limp mode and need advice

rrcade · Posted at Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:17 pm

Transmission problem
1997 Chrysler Sebring 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 99,000 miles

I have a 1997 Chrysler Sebring JXI Convertible 2.5 L V6 with Autostick , it has 99,000 miles on it and currently is having Transmission problems.

Here is the history my daughter got into a minor accident with the car in the front end, we
had it repaired and when we were supposed to pick it up from the Body shop they said they had it on a charger all day but the battery wonâ��t hold a charge, so we had to jump it to get it home. After we got it home it held a charge fine I donâ��t know if loosing power had anything to do with the trans. Problem but I thought Iâ��d mention it. Anyhow after we got the car home we drove it for probably 2 or 3 weeks and then one day it went into Limp mode. As you started driving from a stop the trans would shift from 1st gear to 2nd gear just fine but as the rpms increased and it was supposed to shift to 3rd it would SLAM back into 2nd gear. It would stay stuck in second gear until you stopped and shut the car off then it would start off in 1st gear and do the same thing. I should also mention that the Autostick did the same thing you could drive in 1st and 2nd but when you shifted to 3rd the RPMs went up and it SLAMMED back into 2nd gear.

I took the car to a nearby Mechanic who installed an Output sensor(the one towards the right when facing the front of the car).The Input sensor(the one right below the radiator cap/hose)is still the original. Well the Output sensor didnâ��t fix it and the Mechanica recommended that I take it to a Transmission shop.

Now the transmission is just Stuck in 2nd gear Period, it doesnâ��t shift from 1st to 2nd , it is just always in second gear, the auto stick is the same just 2nd gear nothing else. The other thing I noticed is that before the Gear selector would show if I was in P,N,R,1,or 2nd gear, now they are all always lit up. I was going to give up and sell the car for whatever I could get for it but People have told me to try replacing the Transmission Computer(TCM). I would like some expert opinions on what people with knowledge about these transmissions would do. I went to AutoZone today and had the Check engine light code read, the ONLY code that showed up was P1698 the Definition was:
BBECM fault-no CCD message from TCM
Explanation:
BBFailed ECM
Probable cause:
BB1.-Open CCD bus line
BB2.- Failed TCM

So Do I try a used TCM from the Junk yard for $50? I heard that these may or may not need to be reprogrammed to work properly, is that true? If so can Auto Zone reprogram it or do I have to search the world for a Chrysler dealership that is still in business?

Do you think it is the TCM or the ECM (which I assume is the same thing as the PCM located by the Air Cleaner?)? I do also remember that before all of this ever happened that the two connectors on top of the PCM used to get real Hot, should they? Maybe the PCM is the problem and not the TCM? From the Fault code above and past experiences what do you guys think?

If needed My TCM P/N is P04606474AB S/N TEDTH07772BMXX
My PCM P/N is P04671259AG S/N T10EH003736610