Car moves very sluggishly?

Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 DODGE CALIBER
  • 1.8L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 177,919 MILES
A client called me complaining about the car that has an acceleration problem. The codes that were retrieved are below. The car moves very sluggishly and can't climb the slightest bump on the road or a hill. Please, how can I fix this problem?
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Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025 AT 3:29 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
Okay, these are transmission related codes. This can mean a few things but the first code in the list u1146 is most likely the reason for the following codes. So, the u1146
Code is about how memory is not being read or has been lost and how the transmission and control module are not communicating properly or not at all. This often can be the eprom memory inside the transmission or the transmission control module itself or a disconnected or damaged link between them which might account for all the other codes in the list it's probably best to find a good mechanic with a bidirectional scanner to help pinpoint the cause. Hope this helps.
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Thursday, April 24th, 2025 AT 9:49 AM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
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Thank you so much sir. I've gone testing it and observed that there's no power in pin 3 of the solenoid circuit using a test light and a DVOM. Alldata said there must be bright illumination like that of a battery. But there's no voltage when the tester is in ground. What should I do next? Where's the power coming from, is it at the TIPM or PCM?
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Thursday, April 24th, 2025 AT 4:16 PM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 152 POSTS
Yesterday, I did more test recommended due to the codes retrieved by a scanner. Alldata required Pins 1, 2, and 3 to illuminate brightly. Nevertheless, only Pins 1 and 2 illuminated test light brightly, using DVOM it increased in volt when ignition was on, there was continuity in all 3 wires from TCM to the clutch solenoid circuit at the gear. However, the Ohms were too low but I was seeing 15 Ohms. Lastly, there was no Ohms between the TCM wire to the clutch solenoid circuit wire with ignition at lock position as recommended by Alldata.
Something very unusual is that Pin 3 didn't illuminate the test light at all but voltage increased in the DVOM with ignition on to 5v as required. Why is that please?

There was continuity in the TCM to clutch solenoid control circuit wire. But no Ohms from the TCM to the clutch solenoid circuit wire when ignition is in off position.
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Saturday, April 26th, 2025 AT 3:17 AM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
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If you've already checked the pins and all the wiring connections down at the transmission and at the TCM,
then at this point it might be Best to use a bidirectional scantool. So it can test the TCM module
and or the eprom functions. Seems like you're on the right track. Good luck
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Sunday, April 27th, 2025 AT 12:29 PM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 152 POSTS
I loose the TCM screws and touched the board with my palms while the ignition was on with 3 minutes and observed that it was hot to the touch. Test light didn't also illuminate dim and flicker in the pin 5 and 6 of the white connector which is for CAN high and low.
However, most challenging issue is that the car doesn't rev pass 3000 and it's accompanied with a lightning bolt on the dashboard/ instrument cluster. Please, can the TCM also cause that? Or is something else. It seems too to me that the car is now in lime mode, how can I fix all these problems?
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Monday, May 5th, 2025 AT 10:12 AM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
  • MECHANIC
  • 382 POSTS
Can you give me a short list of any and all improvements you might have noticed since you began the diagnostics on the car? Also What type of scan tool did you use on the car. Was it a bi directional tool. If not you might need one to scan the eprom memory chip in the TCM (which I believe is inside the transmission on this model mounted on the valve body you might get accec to it by dropping the pan ) once inside check any wires to see if any are melted or disconnected damaged. Itmighth bmalfunctioningng maybe not giving proper shift comands but I believe it can be rewritten on this car. I would check that next I have a sneaky suspitiin it might be there. Also check at the batery for a parisitic drain pull fuzes and try to isolate anything that might be draining while eng off and with key one. Good luck.
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Monday, May 5th, 2025 AT 8:31 PM
Tiny
DAVID DAVO ESSIEN
  • MEMBER
  • 152 POSTS
I called someone with a bidirectional scanner to scan and calibrate the TCM. However, when I did a bypass on pin 3 to 18 the car moved back and forth freely but over a few minutes. It is not working again after that time. I'm really worried now. What powers that TCM please?
Please, at this point what should I do to fix the problem permanently?
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Sunday, May 11th, 2025 AT 2:50 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
If I can jump in here, this car has the CVT transmission which are not good. Check the fluid to see if it is burnt, also I would clear the codes and then turn the key on without starting the engine to see which codes are present. These will be the codes we need to concentrate on. Let me know what you find.
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Wednesday, May 14th, 2025 AT 9:50 AM
Tiny
MECHTRIX
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Good lookin out ken
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Thursday, July 10th, 2025 AT 9:06 PM

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