2001 Chrysler Sebring 3rd gear bindup

Tiny
CHUCKANDCINDY
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 144,330 MILES
The transaxle was rebuilt with a reman torque convertor and pump. The car was driven 5 miles and burned 2nd clutches. The unit was removed and repaired. On test drive found there was a bind up in 3rd gear after 1 mile. Wiith tranx tester installed I realized the computer was not keeping the second solenoid on which allowes the clutch to apply and bindup in 3rd. I have replaced PCM, MLP, valvebody with new wiring and solenoids. All wiring has been tested for integrity and passed amp flow test. This condition happens after about a mile of driving. It gets worse the longer it is driven the only way to prevent distructoin of the clutches is to put shifter in d2.
Sunday, June 27th, 2010 AT 7:41 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi chuckandcindy,

Thank you for the donation.

Symptoms indicates the trans is locking up in 3rd speed at initial startup and this would cause the clutrches to burn after prolonged driving. The trans would not up or down shift and during take off, you would have lack of power.

Is there any trouble codes?
Are the gear position indicator lights showing correctly?
What does MLP stands for?
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Monday, June 28th, 2010 AT 1:48 PM
Tiny
CHUCKANDCINDY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
There are no trouble codes present. MLP stands for manual lever position sensor or neutral safety switch. The computer is not grounding the 2nd solenoid enough to keep it on. This causes the 2nd clutch to apply in 3rd gear and causes it to lockup the transaxle
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Monday, June 28th, 2010 AT 4:54 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
What is the model code for the transmission?

41TE, 41AE, F4A42 or F4A51?

Most of the solenoids need to fail a few times before a DTC is set. To test, try driving for a short distance, tun engine OFF and restart. Repeat at least 4 times and try to retrieve for trouble codes.
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Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 AT 7:58 AM
Tiny
CHUCKANDCINDY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
This vehicle is a mitisubisi F4A51-2. All the solenoids have been changed and tested with the tranx tester and all flow the proper amps
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Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 AT 10:24 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
If everything is in order, did you check the possibility of the sensors being reversely connected?

The input and output sensors are near each other and are the connectors interchangeable?

Are the gear position indicator lights indicating correctly?
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Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 AT 10:42 AM
Tiny
CHUCKANDCINDY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The sensors are hooked up properly. The voltages of the mlp sensor have been checked at the computer. With the drb scan tool on this vehicle the duty cycle of the 2 clutch solenoid got to 100 percent when the computer shifts to 3rd gear but will drop duty cycle to 0 momentarly and make the transmission bind up. There are no trouble codes set. I havre not found any raeson why the computer does this. I have taken this vehicle to a coomputer expert for him to try and figure it out. Any other ideas would be greatlly needed
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Saturday, July 10th, 2010 AT 8:26 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
I would suggest rechecking the trans mechanical and hydraulics rather than the controls.

Problem could be due to mechanical as no codes are present.
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Saturday, July 10th, 2010 AT 11:44 PM
Tiny
CHUCKANDCINDY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
This tranaxle has been dyno tested with no problems. Also this vehicle can be driven with a tranx tester and transazxle works great. For some reason the computerwill not keep the second solenoid on 100 percent. This allowes the 2 clutch to apply when the trans is in 3rd gear and causes a bind and burning of the 2nd clutches. Alll other solenoids work properly. The valvebody and solenoids have been replaced. I am positive the trransaxle does not have an internal problem
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010 AT 12:29 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
For the Control unit be providing the wrong signal to the solenoids could mean either the computer, solenoids or the speed sensors to be faulty.

The speed sensor cousl be due to speed difference in the shaft speeds and that could mean internal.

When the trans was rebuilt, were the main shafts etc replaced?
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010 AT 2:51 AM

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