96 Intrepid problems...grrr...

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princess_v - 29 Dec 2006 00:24 GMT

I don't know much about cars so I'm going to need all the help I can
get!!

While driving my automatic 96 Intrepid the other night, I got stuck in
some snow and I put the car in reverse and pressed on the gas so that I
could get out. That never seemed to cause a problem but all of a
sudden, after driving a few miles, I noticed the [Check Engine] light
went on, and the car wouldn't go over a certain speed, and would not
shift gears.

After driving at a certain speed (the maximum it will go to is about
60km/h), the car sort of jumps a little, I don't know if Im making much
sense, but it seems like it's pulling.

Any help would be great, I just don't want to take my car to a mechanic
and get screwed over because of the fact that I don't know anything.

If possible, if you could also just let me know how much I'm looking at
in repairs, that would be appreciated.

Thanks alot!

- Veronica

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ed - 29 Dec 2006 02:32 GMT

could you have jammed the exhaust with snow?

> I don't know much about cars so I'm going to need all the help I can
> get!!
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> - Veronica

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Noozer - 29 Dec 2006 02:42 GMT

>I don't know much about cars so I'm going to need all the help I can
> get!!
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> 60km/h), the car sort of jumps a little, I don't know if Im making much
> sense, but it seems like it's pulling.

If you're having tranny issues, you are just burning it out driving it more.

Have you checked the transmission fluid?

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Bob - 29 Dec 2006 03:25 GMT

>I don't know much about cars so I'm going to need all the help I can
> get!!
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> - Veronica

Good plan! Just keep driving it in low gear until you need a transmission
AND an engine. Whatever your problem is it will only get more expensive if
you keep driving it. At this point it may not be that bad.

Bye the way, if your leg was broken would you avoid going to the Dr because
you don't know anything about medicine and don't want to get screwed over?
Auto repair is like anything else, some shops are good and other ones should
be avoided. Find a shop with a good reputation and get your intrepid in
quick.

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Steve B. - 29 Dec 2006 04:41 GMT

> After driving at a certain speed (the maximum it will go to is about
> 60km/h), the car sort of jumps a little, I don't know if Im making much
> sense, but it seems like it's pulling.
>
> Any help would be great, I just don't want to take my car to a mechanic
> and get screwed over because of the fact that I don't know anything.

Your transmission is locked in second gear. This is known as limp
home mode and meant for just that... to get you home when the computer
detects a transmission problem. Continuing to drive the car as fast
as you can get it to go in this condition is incredibly stupid.

Chances are you only needed an input or output speed sensor. You
might have even just knocked the connection off of one of them. Drive
it slowly to someone capable of fixing it before you turn a $150
repair in to a $2500 repair.

Steve B.

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Steve W. - 29 Dec 2006 06:23 GMT

> I don't know much about cars so I'm going to need all the help I can
> get!!
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> - Veronica

You NEED to get it to a shop. Your burning up the transmission driving
it the way you are. I would almost bet that it is too late though,
sorry. Your probably looking at a replacement transaxle. $1,200.00 or so
if that is the problem.

Signature

Steve W.

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Steve - 29 Dec 2006 22:08 GMT

> I don't know much about cars so I'm going to need all the help I can
> get!!
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>
> - Veronica

The car is in "limp" mode, which uses ONLY 2nd gear for forward movement
and reverse for (obviously) reverse. The most common cause for this is a
disagreement between the input and ouput speed sensors on the
transmission so that the computer assumes the transmission is slipping.
Putting it in "limp" is intended to minimize further damage to the
transmission.

Now in practice, the problem is USUALLY not with the transmission but
with one or both of the sensors. In this case (obviously driving in
snow) I'd guess that you may have knocked a sensor connector loose.

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princess_v - 30 Dec 2006 03:22 GMT

Thanks for all the help you guys.

Let me ask you this though, does calling me stupid make you feel
better? Cause it seems to me, my first sentence was "I don't know much
about cars." So, if it made you sleep better at night thinking you were
better than a helpless girl, wow, let me take a few seconds to applaud
you. *clap clap* loser.

Anyways, to those who actually cared enough to help, I took it to a
shop this morning and the problem was in fact the transmission, I'm
either thinking about getting it fixed, the guy said it would cost
about $900 but seeing as how the car is getting really old, I'm
probably just going to buy my Lancer instead.

Thanks for the help though, It meant a lot.

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conan - 30 Dec 2006 03:47 GMT

What about considering a transmission from a junkyard?

Pete

> Thanks for all the help you guys.
>
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Thanks for the help though, It meant a lot.

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Bob - 30 Dec 2006 03:57 GMT

> Thanks for all the help you guys.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> better than a helpless girl, wow, let me take a few seconds to applaud
> you. *clap clap* loser.

A couple of us pointed out how stupid it was to drive the car in that
condition, but I just read the thread again and no one called you stupid. I
don't know why though as the name fits better than "princess"

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Steve B. - 30 Dec 2006 12:05 GMT

>Thanks for all the help you guys.
>
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>better than a helpless girl, wow, let me take a few seconds to applaud
>you. *clap clap* loser.

Who said you were stupid? Several pointed out your actions were
stupid, but smart people do stupid things every day. You don't need
to know anything about cars to use common sense. If the car were on
fire and you could use either a fire extinguisher or a gallon of gas
to try to put it out which one would you pick? Same thing applies to
this situation... The car obviously isn't working right so you can
either drive slowly and carefully to a repair facility or just hold
the gas to the floor and see what parts fly off first. No car
knowledge needed whatsoever to make this decision.

>Anyways, to those who actually cared enough to help, I took it to a
>shop this morning and the problem was in fact the transmission, I'm
>either thinking about getting it fixed, the guy said it would cost
>about $900 but seeing as how the car is getting really old, I'm
>probably just going to buy my Lancer instead.

"it's the transmission" is very often a lazy answer on the mechanics
part. Anytime the computer puts the transmission in to limp home mode
it stores the codes that tell you what is wrong. Did he tell you what
the codes were? If so pass them on to us. If not take it somewhere
else for diagnosis. Ask family and friends for the name of a shop
they trust or you could take it to a dealer for diagnosis. With the
problem you have and the conditions that caused it I would really be
surprised if it was actually an internal transmission problem. If it
were actually "the transmission" your cost would far exceed $900. My
gut feeling on this one is that this shop is trying to take advantage
of you.

Steve B.

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Steve - 02 Jan 2007 23:02 GMT

> Thanks for all the help you guys.
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Anyways, to those who actually cared enough to help, I took it to a
> shop this morning and the problem was in fact the transmission,

Transmission, or just the input or output SPEED SENSORS. The difference
in price is a LOT.
I'm

> either thinking about getting it fixed, the guy said it would cost
> about $900

Alarm bells are going off in my head BIG TIME. A bad transmission on an
Intrepid costs a HELL of a lot more than $900, and a bad speed sensor
costs a HELL of a lot less! You need to find out more details. Sounds
like this shop is replacing the sensors and charging you an arm, leg,
and partial torso for the job.

but seeing as how the car is getting really old, I'm

> probably just going to buy my Lancer instead.

Not a fair trade unless you're talking about a '62 Dodge Lancer ;-) A
Mitsushitti Lancer isn't in the same league as even a worn-out Intrepid.

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