99 Stratus in "Limp Mode:

[goku569]

Alright, so I got into my car today to drive and get my haircut. I get about 100 yards down and I realize I have no acceleration, and my speedometer isn't working. I also notice that as I accelerate, my fuel gauge slowly increases. I brake to a stop and my fuel gauge returns to 3/4 of a tank, right where I started.I can't shift out of second either. There is no check engine light. I return home and start inspecting the car for damage to the underside and under the hood and find none. I then take my Haynes manual out and start looking at the wiring diagrams. I can't make any connection between the fuel gauge and the speedo, but I press on. I do a search on this forum and from what I gather, the car is in "Limp Mode" and the most likey cause is the output speed sensor. I pull it for inspectionand find a large amount of metallic shavings on the sensor. I clean it off and reinstall it, thinking that maybe that'll be the fix. I take it for a test drive and it's still having the same problems. I pull the battery cable thinking that maybe the memory just needs reset. I then take it for a drive again and still nothing. Anyways, I'm going to buy a new output speed sensor tomorrow and see if that fixes it. For the time being, is there a way that I can check to see if there are any transmission codes despite the fact that there is no check engine light? Can I do it without a scanner? If not, will a typical OBD II scanner work, or will I need to get a specialized transmission scanner? Finally, from what I've read, there will usually be a check engine light with a faulty output speed sensor. Does anyone know if it's possible to have a bad sensor without a check engine light? Thanks in advance to all who read/reply. MikeyB

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[ratsttam]

Woulden't be a bad idea if we had more details on your car. we know it's a '99, but is it the SE/ES, 2.0, 2.4, 2.5? Ammount of miles?
I had similar issue (gauges were OK though) which turned out to be a fluid leak. Have you checked to make sure the fluid was OK, proper ammount/type?

Yes, you can scan the car w/out a scanner, but the procedure only works if the check engine light is ON. You'll find that floating around the forum, just search for it. the odbII tool should work fine if there is any codes stored. The light should have come on when the car went into limp mode.

[bad venge]

speedo out is likely the output speed sensor ... that going will put tranny in limp mode and knockout the abs if so equipped

[goku569]

Hey guys, thanks for the input. Just wanted to give you guys an update on the car. I picked up an output speed sensor this morning and installed it. I also borrowed and OBD II scanner from autozone. I had a 700 and a 731. Don't remember what they meant, but I'm sure a quick search on the forum would tell me. Anyways, I thought it was weird that I never got a check engine light, but whatever. I cleared the codes and took her for a spin. My speedo worked, I got it up to 55mph using the manual shift, all 4 gears worked as advertised and my fuel gauge is reading normal. Which I thought it was REALLY weird that the fuel gauge was effected. Maybe because they're connected through the CCD (+) bus, or so my schematics seemed to indicate. Anyways, everything is fine and I'll continue to moniter the problem and if anything else pops up, I'll be sure to keep you informed. Thanks again.

MikeyB

[tacoboy]

OK, dumb question here but I have to ask. Does your CEL come on when you turn the key to the ON position (i.e. lamp test)? Could be that it just doesn't work at all.

[bad venge]

I don't believe the tranny is in the CEL parameters

[goku569]

Yeah, the check engine light is working. I've read many posts on this website that say alot of drivers get a check engine light when their Stratus' go into limp mode, so that why I assumed I should have one as well.