Chrysler Transmission Problem
 

The automatic trans in my wife's 99 Sebring started acting up today. The car has about 110k on it and I'm sure before we were married it was neglected. I doubt it's the original trans fluid but I'm sure it's been 30-50k since last change.

Anyway the car will not shift past first gear right now and the speedo isn't working. It'll go from Park to Reverse to Neutral to Drive and function properly, just won't shift past first gear. Anyone have any ideas?

I could try changing out the fluid or adding some type of trans medic snake oil but since reverse and first are ok I'm not sure this would help....possibly hinder. If I could get it working again without any major mechanical work it'd be great as we're planning on getting rid of the car soon anyway.

Possibly a bad VSS. You need to scan it and look at the data. No VSS signal = no shift since the PCM will not realize the car is moving, therefore no shift solenoids commanded on.

Yeah....I did a bit more research and apparently they are known for having speed sensors go bad. There's an input and output sensor. I'm thinking maybe the output sensor went bad and that is A...giving me no speedo reading and B...giving the computer no speed reading resulting in no shifting. Safe bet? Unfortunately I don't have a scanner.

The sensor is an external one thankfully and AutoZone carries them for like $25. Maybe I'll give it a whirl tomorrow.

That would have been my first guess.

I was right....$25 and a half hour later the trans is shifting happy and the speedo is working again. I got lucky for once.

wow that is great news!

Woohoo, glad it was an easy fix!!