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Post by bluecruiser on Jan 17, 2008 2:43:48 GMT -5
I just bought an 07' automatic , Touring Edition about 6 weeks ago . It was pre-owned with 18,000 miles . I noticed when coming to a stop that the last downshift into 1st seemed a little "clunky" to me . So since it was still under warranty I took it by the dealership . They did a software upgrade and it seemed fine . Never heard of this on a tranny , but whatever works . About 2 weeks later I noticed it back again but not near as bad , it's very , very subtle but you can still feel just a little downshift about 20 feet from your stop . Almost like you would with a manual transmission where you feel that slight drag as it downshifts . Since my last PT was a stick I'm not sure if this is normal or not to feel any of the downshift . I can take it back to the dealership again but thought I would see if this is common before I went back . Thanks
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Post by tomcruz on Jan 17, 2008 12:43:41 GMT -5
There was a software change beginning with the 2006 model transmission on the PTs.
What is does is 'soften' the shift between gears or in other words slightly 'delays' the shift between gears.
The other thing it causes (and they claim is normal) is a slight 'clunk' or 'hard' downshift from 2nd to 1st at times when coming to a stop.
It is slight but sometimes you can notice it and other times do not.
I found this out when I complained that my wife's 2006 GT does not shift like my 2003 GT.
I complained about both issues stated above and found out about the software change.
The reason Chrysler 'softenned' the shift between the gears is to help resolve so many of the transmission warranty issues.
I can definitely shift my 03 GT 'quicker' than the 06 GT no matter if I'm in the Autostick mode or not.
And from what I was told, the change affected ALL PT transmissions beginning with the 2006.
On a side note... the transmission is one reason they discontinued the GT because Chrysler came out with the "Lifetime Power Train Warranty".
Because of all the idiots that abused the GT tranny Chrysler was scared of all the transmission warranty costs they would have to eat with their new lifetime warranty.
The ones of us that always service and take care of the transmission and don't try to get 400HP out of the engine now have to suffer not being able to purchase a GT any longer.
It's the extra torque that kills the tranny, not the HP.
But hey, the car is totally going away soon anyway.
Sorry...... I had to vent.
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Post by bluecruiser on Jan 17, 2008 16:30:47 GMT -5
Thanks , at least I can take some comfort in knowing it's not something abnormal with my car alone . Interesting though that it is a known , common thing with Chrysler . Typical dealership , when I dropped it off explaning my problem I got the " we're not sure what it is we may need to go into the transmission and we may the need the car all week" . Then I get a call the next afternoon saying the car is ready and they only had to do a software upgrade . Sounds like they knew as soon as I drove up what it was they will just never tell you about the background of the problem . Unfortunately Chrysler has a reputation with transmission problems .
I have noticed the faster I brake ( shorter braking distance ) the more I feel it . When I slow a little more gradually it's not really that noticable . Looks like for the sake of transmission preservation I need to change my driving habits ;D
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Post by tomcruz on Jan 17, 2008 19:15:46 GMT -5
Luckily the dealership I go to is our 'club partner' and we have 4 club members who work there.
So I can always get 'good' and accurate info from them.
Sounds like you also have the same and normal condition that now exist with all the PT transmissions that have the 'software' change that started with the 2006 model year.
You can really notice the difference in the way they shift if you had an older GT and now drive a 2006 and up GT.
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Post by bluecruiser on Jan 18, 2008 1:15:26 GMT -5
Would you mind asking those members you know at the dealership why the software upgrade made the downshift almost completely unnoticable and then about 3 weeks later it slightly comes back ? Could the computer somehow lose the upgrade and default back to where it was ?
I could call my local dealer but probably wouldn't get straight answers , only "bring it back in" .
Sometimes that downshift into 1st feels like someone tapped you from behind right before the stop .
Anything you could find out would be greatly appreciated .
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Post by tomcruz on Jan 18, 2008 8:49:48 GMT -5
Would you mind asking those members you know at the dealership why the software upgrade made the downshift almost completely unnoticable and then about 3 weeks later it slightly comes back ? Could the computer somehow lose the upgrade and default back to where it was ? I could call my local dealer but probably wouldn't get straight answers , only "bring it back in" . Sometimes that downshift into 1st feels like someone tapped you from behind right before the stop . Anything you could find out would be greatly appreciated . That's exactly what happened with our 06 GT the first time I took it in. They did the same thing to try to fix it and later the 2nd to 1st downshift issue came back but only 'slight' at times and other times nothing at all. But if it gets really bad then there is something else wrong in your case so still be aware of anything that feels unusual. The 2nd time I took it in for the same issue is when they found out from somewhere that the software change went into effect beginning with the 2006 model transmission. I was concerned that it did not shift like my 03 GT. If this had been our first PT we probably wouldn't have even been concerned about it. They also told me that Chrysler 'softened' the shift in the automatics for the SRT8 300 model for the same reason to help cut the tranny warranty costs. What's strange about the software change is the 'softenning' or delay in shifts when going up in the gears caused the little weird thing sometimes when it goes down from 2nd to 1st. |
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Post by tomcruz on Jan 18, 2008 9:13:38 GMT -5
In other words... what you are describing is 'normal' and 'nothing to worry about' now with the 2006 and up transmissions on the PT.
However if the 'clunk' gets bad then I would take it back in because that would not be normal.
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Post by bluecruiser on Jan 18, 2008 15:32:44 GMT -5
It still feels clunky to me , I'll make another dealership pitstop .
I just don't know why it was fine for a few weeks after the upgrade and then came back ?
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Post by PT4U2C on Jan 18, 2008 18:45:34 GMT -5
Tom, Tom--all that "venting"! Hey, it's fine with me. You're correct about Chrysler. Or at least I agree. I haven't modified my '03 Turbo because of Mopar's (unmodified) trans issues, particularly the 41TE that have been documented for the last 6 years. I have already vented about Chrysler's lack of customer focus. The whole "thing" stinks, and actually LOVE my PT's. It's the end of (another) top MOPAR, doomed by non-car, non-customer focused execs, paralyzed by profit focus only. Where's the profit now?
OK--I vented with you!! Thanks for the platform.
Richard
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Post by ncptcruiser on Jan 18, 2008 22:20:22 GMT -5
Tom, Tom--all that "venting"! Hey, it's fine with me. You're correct about Chrysler. Or at least I agree. I haven't modified my '03 Turbo because of Mopar's (unmodified) trans issues, particularly the 41TE that have been documented for the last 6 years. I have already vented about Chrysler's lack of customer focus. The whole "thing" stinks, and actually LOVE my PT's. It's the end of (another) top MOPAR, doomed by non-car, non-customer focused execs, paralyzed by profit focus only. Where's the profit now? OK--I vented with you!! Thanks for the platform. Richard Tell us how you really feel about the issue Richard!  joking aside...I sadly concur that you're dead on with your statement!  |
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