Help -Tranny problems - How to test sensor wiring

ateick · #1 11-05-2009, 05:30 PM

I have an 03 Grand Caravan 3.8L. One day driving at 100km/h the tranny dumped down into 2nd gear and the CEL came on. I read the codes and it came up with P0700, P0500 and something else. After doing some reading online I thought it might be the Output speed sensor. I changed it and cleared the codes. I was still in limp mode and the codes came back. I then took it to Mr. Transmission were the diagnosed it was the Transmission Control Module. I went and got one from Chrysler and put it on myself. This solved the limp mode but I noticed it still wasn't right and the speedometer needle won't move from reading 0. After a short drive the CEL came on and this time the code was just P0500. I figured it must be the input sensor so I changed that one. That didn't fix it either.

Anyone have any idea? Could it be the wiring to the sensors? How do I test the connectors? It's driveable and shifts but not very well. I can press the pedal to the floor and it just won't accelarate and shift properly.

Help!!!

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circumventor · #2 11-05-2009, 06:35 PM

yall need to have the pinion factor programmed into the tcm. which tells teh trans comput what size tires are on the van. i do it with my scanner. and the input speed sensor has noting to do with speedo its the output speed sensor but if yall put in a new trans puter, then it dont know what size the tires is.

ateick · #3 11-06-2009, 02:48 AM

What type of scanner I need? Do I need to see my local Chrysler dealer/transmission shop or will my OBDII scanner do anything?

92dak5.24x4 · #4 11-06-2009, 07:13 AM

I use a $300 used OTC4000 that I bought off Ebay. Code readers are useless for this proceedure. Yes your Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep dealer being able to do this. But don't ask how much they will charge. Everydealer has different labor rates.

ateick · #5 11-07-2009, 06:21 PM

One last question - would the pinion factor not being set properly affect the speedo at all? I ask because the speedo is a 0 and won't move. I also keep getting a P0500 code which is why I think it might be the output sensor wiring. Anyone have an idea how I test the sensor wiring? Should there be a certain voltage/ohms at the connector?

92dak5.24x4 · #6 11-07-2009, 08:09 PM

With a quality sensor, you can easily test the sensor, wiring and all. Besides if you put in a new TCM and didn't have the Pinion programed in, it has really no idea what speed to tell the instrument cluster. so Yes you can still have the code and no speedometer. Or why not just toss in another new output speed sensor just incase the new one you already put is is bad. Or you can unplug the sensor, look at the wire colors, then find the same colors at the TCM then Ohm the wires. Sounds like you know how to run a multimeter so I'm sure I don't have to tell you what the value of the wire resistance should be. But still, without actually doing the pinion factor programing, you're totally wasting our time. After you have the pinion set, and still have the problem, then get the professionals to actually diagnose the problem. Sit with them and test drive looking at scanner data to see if any signal is getting to the TCM

ateick · #7 11-08-2009, 12:22 AM

Thanks 92dak5.24x4. I'll get the pinion set first and go from there.

ateick · #8 11-11-2009, 02:18 AM

Pinion factor set and all is well. Speedo came back, no more codes and it actually shifts gears now! Thanks everyone for the help.

circumventor · #9 11-11-2009, 11:43 AM

sweet now wernt that ez?