Well I've looked over and over at different posts regarding trasmissions and still can't find exactly what is going on with mine. I drive a 2002 4 cylinder, dohc, sedan with almost 90,000 miles. In the last month I've had the solenid pack replaced and trans pan gasket replaced due to them leaking. Now and as it was before when I shift into drive the car/transmission feels like it jumps. Sometimes pretty hard! Anybody have any ideas into what I should look into next?

 

Transmission mount? Should be located under the battery.

Does it do it when shifting? Accelerating?

I assume the fluid level is optimum.

 

I just checked the fluid today and it is perfect. The only time this happens is when the transmission is engaged from Park to Drive. More like a harsh engagement from Park to Drive or from Neutral to Drive.

 

I would say Mounts .... it happens to mine...i have to change it but its not a priority

 

have an 03 Stratus ES 2.7 love this car but I keep having all kinds of problems and am sick of it and the 2 different local dealerships that are so incompetent its not even funny. Car has 76,000 miles and the last couple months has been nothing but CA CHING $$$$$. Now today I went to leave for an appointment and put the car in drive and nothing....just revving. put car in reverse no problems, put back in drive car stalls out. Start back up, airbag light blinks and chimes. Shut off again turn back on and still no "drive". I proceeded to take my mom's (Ford) Windstar and while my car was in neutral basically rear end it giving it a nice jerk. Get back in my car start back up put in drive and oh my god it MOVED!!!!!! Take it around the block and shifts like crap, delayed upshift, hard clunky downshift etc. Notice small puddle of tranny fluid where car was sitting, check fluid and it was still in the OK area (although not full)....look underneath and fluid is splattered all over undercarriage. Pathetic....car has been absolutly babied to death since i've owned it and this is what I get it return. Getting towed to transmission place tomorrow, he says it sounds like a stuck torque converter...fantastic. As soon as I get it back GOODBYE!!!!! Too bad because I really loved the car....

 

One piece of info that I forgot to mention is that this only seems to happen when its could outside and when I don't let the car warm up at all. Any other suggestions?

 

update on my tranny: Trans shop called said I lucked out big time. The solenoid ? was shot and leaking fluid and the pan gasket was shot....$300 like new again...waiting for them to get it finished today. Car is still going though because its costing too much to maintain.

 

My 2006 with 65K does the same thing. Feels like it is going to drop the Tranny out the bottom sometimes when cold. I did spend another $115 at different dodge dealer to tell me the Right Front Motor Mount is very questionable. Same place I feel the squishy suspension shifting around feeling.

I think it needs all four mounts, my old dodge spirit would wear out the front one, had two in 120K miles. You can hear the rubber doughnuts stretching going in and out of D.

My shifting at times seems delayed engagement. They told me some TSB's or notes about "Resealing" the Tranny, involves teardown. I think it is a losing pressure issue.

Other than the Motor Mounts/Tranny issues I love mine too, now that I stuck 4 new General Altimax Tires on it. All the Road Noise is gone, except for what has to be deteriorated Strut Cap rubber. Road Joints sound like when you Ping an overinflated basketball! It's rough and abrupt and sounds like no shock absorbing going on, passing right through the struts to body. Guessing the top plates need replaced. Did this on older Olds car and instant quiet. I did see a TSB about deteriorating Strut Rubber on Rear Struts so probably what it is.

I think the tranny is junk the way it shifts. I have a Durango with the 545RFE that is not too bad, fairly smooth except between 2-3rd at times it kicks downshifting.

 

the mounts on my coupe were bad within the first few years...i went to deyeme racing's solid mounts, and i love them...although you do inherit some vibration through the chassis with the solid mounts.

 

Kc8wx: I also put Altimax's on my stratus in the spring ...sure are a damn fine tire for the price I have about 22,000 miles on them and it looks like I should be able to get another 10,000-15,000 miles out of em ....if I keep the car that much longer. Good luck with your stratus ...i love mine to death but I just don't have the time or patience to deal with all these issues (i'm in college and my commute to school is about 20 miles each way so I need something more reliable) or else i would keep the car.
(P.S. The pic is before I put the tires on)