SUBJECT: Slips In Reverse At Low Temperature
NO: 21­06­96
GROUP: Transmission
DATE: Apr. 26, 1996
MODELS:
1989 ­ 1995 (AA) Spirit/Acclaim/LeBaron Sedan
1989 ­ 1993 (AC) Dynasty/New Yorker/New Yorker Salon
1989 ­ 1993 (AG) Daytona
1989 ­ 1995 (AJ) LeBaron Coupe/LeBaron Convertible
1989 ­ 1994 (AP) Shadow/Shadow Convertible/Sundance
1989 ­ 1995 (AS) Town & Country/Caravan/Voyager
1995 (PL) Neon
NOTE: THIS PROCEDURE APPLIES TO VEHICLES WITH 30TH OR 31TH TRANSAXLES BUILT BEFORE APR. 7, 1995 (TRANSAXLE IDENTIFICATION CODE NUMBER XXX­2306­XXXX).
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
Transaxle slips during Reverse engagement after the vehicle has set in an ambient temperature below 20° F (­6° C) for at least 8 hours. Slipping that lasts up to 5 seconds under these temperature/time conditions is considered normal.
DIAGNOSIS:
DISCUSSION:
PARTS REQUIRED:
1 4659837 Piston, Low/Reverse Servo
AR 4318025 Sealant, RTV
AR 4467721 Fluid, Mopar Automatic Transmission Type 7176
1 4269649 Filter, Transaxle
1 4269671 Gasket, Transaxle Filter
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
This bulletin involves installing a revised Low/Reverse servo piston.

1. Raise the vehicle with an appropriate hoist.
2. Clean the transaxle oil pan and mating area thoroughly, preferably with steam.

3. Remove the transaxle oil pan. Remove all sealant from the transaxle oil pan and clean the inside the oil pan and magnet.

4. Using special tool C­4553, remove the 2 screws attaching the transaxle oil filter. Separate the transaxle oil filter and gasket from the valve body and discard (refer to Figure 1).

5. Remove the parking rod E­clip and disconnect the parking rod from the valve body (refer to Figure 2).

6. Remove the neutral start/back­up lamp switch (refer to Figure 3).

7. Remove the seven valve body attaching bolts and separate the valve body and governor tubes from the transaxle.

8. Loosen the Low/Reverse band adjustment (refer to Figure 4). Disassemble the Low/Reverse servo (refer to Figures 5, 6 and 7).
9. Install the revised Low/Reverse piston (P/N 4659837) and reassemble the Low/Reverse servo assembly.
10. Using an inch­pound torque wrench, tighten the low/reverse band adjusting screw to 41 in. lbs. (4.6 Nm) then back the screw off 3 1/2 turns. Tighten the lock nut to 10 ft. lbs. (14 Nm).
11. Attach the valve body to the transaxle assembly, torque the seven attaching bolts to 105 in. lbs. (12 Nm).
12. Install and torque the neutral start/back­up lamp switch to 24 ft. lbs. (33 Nm).
13. Attach the parking rod to the valve body with the parking rod E­clip.
14. Install a new transaxle oil filter & trans axle oil filter gasket (P/N 4269649 & 4269671), torque the 2 attaching screws to 40 in. lbs. (5 Nm).
15. Apply Mopar RTV Sealant (P/N 4318025) to the mating surface of the transmission oil pan and the underside of the attaching bolt heads. Install the transmission oil pan and torque the bolts to 165 in. lbs. (19 Nm).
16. Pour four quarts Mopar Automatic Transmission Fluid Type 7176 (P/N 4467721) through the dipstick opening.
17. Start the engine and allow to idle for a minimum of one minute. With the parking brake and the service brakes applied, move the gear selector lever momentarily to each gear position. Place the gear selector lever in either park or neutral.
18. Add an appropriate a mount of transmission fluid to bring the level to 1/8 in. (3 mm) below the ADD mark on dipstick.
19. Recheck the fluid level after the transaxle is at normal operating temperature. The level should be in the HOT range of the dipstick.
POLICY: Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.