Chrysler Stratus Convertible. Manual - part 70

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

41TE TRANSAXLE GENERAL DIAGNOSIS

CAUTION: Before attempting any repair on a 41TE
four speed automatic transaxle, check for Diagnos-
tic Trouble Codes with the DRB scan tool. Always
use the Transmission Diagnostic Procedures Man-
ual.

Transaxle malfunctions may be caused by these

general conditions:

• Poor engine performance

• Improper adjustments

• Hydraulic malfunctions

• Mechanical malfunctions

• Electronic malfunctions
Diagnosis of these problems should always begin

by checking the easily accessible variables: fluid level
and condition, gearshift cable adjustment. Then per-
form a road test to determine if the problem has been
corrected or that more diagnosis is necessary. If the
problem persists after the preliminary tests and cor-
rections are completed, hydraulic pressure checks
should be performed.

ROAD TEST

Prior to performing a road test, verify that the

fluid level, fluid condition, and linkage adjustment
have been approved.

During the road test, the transaxle should be oper-

ated in each position to check for slipping and any
variation in shifting.

If the vehicle operates properly at highway speeds,

but has poor acceleration, the converter stator over-
running clutch may be slipping. If acceleration is nor-
mal, but high throttle opening is needed to maintain
highway speeds, the converter stator clutch may
have seized. Both of these stator defects require
replacement of the torque converter and thorough
transaxle cleaning.

Slipping clutches can be isolated by comparing the

“Elements in Use” chart with clutch operation
encountered on a road test. This chart identifies
which clutches are applied at each position of the
selector lever.

A slipping clutch may also set a DTC and can be

determined by operating the transaxle in all selector
positions.

ELEMENTS IN USE AT EACH POSITION OF SELECTOR LEVER

Shift Lever

Position

INPUT CLUTCHES

HOLDING CLUTCHES

Underdrive

Overdrive

Reverse

2/4

Low/Reverse

P - PARK

R - REVERSE

N - NEUTRAL

OD -

OVERDRIVE

First

Second

Direct

Overdrive

D - DRIVE*

First

Second

Direct

L - LOW*

First

Second

Direct

* Vehicle upshift and downshift speeds are increased when in these selector positions.

TRANSAXLE

21 - 19

The process of elimination can be used to detect any

unit which slips and to confirm proper operation of
good units. Road test analysis can diagnose slipping
units, but the cause of the malfunction cannot be
determined. Practically any condition can be caused
by leaking hydraulic circuits or sticking valves.

HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TESTS

Pressure testing is a very important step in the

diagnostic procedure. These tests usually reveal the
cause of most hydraulic transaxle problems.

Before performing pressure tests, be certain that

fluid level and condition, and shift cable adjustments
have been checked and approved. Fluid must be at
operating temperature (150 to 200 degrees F.).

Install an engine tachometer, raise vehicle on hoist

which allows front wheels to turn, and position
tachometer so it can be read.

Attach

300

psi

gauge

(C-3293SP)

port(s)

required for test(s) being conducted. Use adapter set
L-4559 to adapt gauge(s) to transaxle.

Test port locations are shown in (Fig. 26).

TEST ONE-SELECTOR IN LOW (1st GEAR)

(1) Attach pressure gauge to the low/reverse clutch

tap.

(2) Move selector lever to the (L) position.
(3) Allow vehicle wheels to turn and increase

throttle opening to achieve an indicated vehicle speed
to 20 mph.

(4) Low/reverse clutch pressure should read 115 to

145 psi.

(5) This test checks pump output, pressure regula-

tion and condition of the low/reverse clutch hydraulic
circuit and shift schedule.

TEST TWO-SELECTOR IN DRIVE (2nd GEAR)

NOTE: This

test

checks

the

underdrive

clutch

hydraulic circuit as well as the shift schedule.

(1) Attach gauge to the underdrive clutch tap.
(2) Move selector lever to the 3 position.
(3) Allow vehicle wheels to turn and increase

throttle opening to achieve an indicated vehicle speed
of 30 mph.

(4) In second gear the underdrive clutch pressure

should read 110 to 145 psi.

TEST TWO A–SELECTOR IN OD (4th Gear)

NOTE: This

test

checks

the

underdrive

clutch

hydraulic circuit as well as the shift schedule.

(1) Attach gauge to the underdrive clutch tap.
(2) Move selector lever to the (OD) position.
(3) Allow wheels to rotate freely and increase

throttle opening to achieve an indicated speed of 40
mph.

(4) Underdrive clutch pressure should read below

5 psi. If not, then either the solenoid assembly or
TCM is at fault.

TEST THREE-OVERDRIVE CLUTCH CHECK (3rd and
2nd Gear)

(1) Attach gauge to the overdrive clutch tap.
(2) Move selector lever to the (OD) position.
(3) Allow vehicle wheels to turn and increase

throttle opening to achieve an indicated vehicle speed
of 20 mph. Vehicle should be in 3rd gear.

(4) Overdrive clutch pressure should read 74 to 95

psi.

(5) Move selector lever to the (3) position and

increase indicated vehicle speed to 30 mph.

(6) The vehicle should be in second gear and over-

drive clutch pressure should be less than 5 psi.

(7) This test checks the overdrive clutch hydraulic

circuit as well as the shift schedule.

TEST FOUR-SELECTOR IN OVERDRIVE (4th Gear)

(1) Attach gauge to the 2/4 clutch tap.
(2) Move selector lever to the (OD) position.
(3) Allow vehicle front wheels to turn and increase

throttle opening to achieve an indicated vehicle speed
of 30 mph. Vehicle should be in 4th gear.

(4) The 2/4 clutch pressure should read 75 to 95

psi.

(5) This test checks the 2/4 clutch hydraulic cir-

cuit.

Fig. 26 Pressure Taps

1 – OVERDRIVE CLUTCH
2 – TORQUE CONVERTER OFF
3 – LOW/REVERSE CLUTCH
4 – 2/4 CLUTCH
5 – REVERSE CLUTCH
6 – UNDERDRIVE CLUTCH

21 - 20

TRANSAXLE

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING (Continued)

TEST FIVE-SELECTOR IN OVERDRIVE (4th Gear-CC
on)

(1) Attach gauge to the torque converter clutch off

pressure tap.

(2) Move selector lever to the (OD) position.
(3) Allow vehicle wheels to turn and increase

throttle opening to achieve an indicated vehicle speed
of 50 mph. Vehicle should be in 4th gear, CC on.

CAUTION: Both wheels must turn at the same
speed.

(4) Torque converter clutch off pressure should be

less than 5 psi.

(5) This test checks the torque converter clutch

hydraulic circuit.

TEST SIX-SELECTOR IN REVERSE

(1) Attach gauges to the reverse and LR clutch

tap.

(2) Move selector lever to the (R) position.
(3) Read reverse clutch pressure with output sta-

tionary (foot on brake) and throttle opened to achieve
1500 rpm.

(4) Reverse and LR clutch pressure should read

165 to 235 psi.

(5) This test checks the reverse clutch hydraulic

circuit.

TEST RESULT INDICATIONS

(1) If proper line pressure is found in any one test,

the pump and pressure regulator are working prop-
erly.

(2) Low pressure in all positions indicates a defec-

tive pump, a clogged filter, or a stuck pressure regu-
lator valve.

(3) Clutch circuit leaks are indicated if pressures

do not fall within the specified pressure range.

(4) If the overdrive clutch pressure is greater than

5 psi in Step 4 of Test Three, a worn reaction shaft
seal ring or a defective solenoid assembly is indi-
cated.

(5) If the underdrive clutch pressure is greater

than 5 psi in Step 4 of Test Two A, a defective sole-
noid assembly or TCM is the cause.

PRESSURE CHECK SPECIFICATIONS

Gear Selector

Position

Actual Gear

Pressure Taps

Underdrive

Clutch

Overdrive

Clutch

Reverse

Clutch

Torque

Converter

Clutch

Off

2/4 Clutch

Low/

Reverse

Clutch

Park

PARK

0-2

0-5

0-2

60-110

0-2

115-145

0 mph

REVERSE

0-2

0-7

165-235

50-100

0-2

165-235

0 mph

NEUTRAL

0-2

0-5

0-2

60-110

0-2

115-145

0 mph

FIRST

110-145

0-5

0-2

60-110

0-2

115-145

20 mph

SECOND

110-145

0-5

0-2

60-110

115-145

0-2

30 mph

DIRECT

75-95

0-2

60-90

0-2

45 mph

OVERDRIVE

0-2

75-95

0-2

60-90

75-95

0-2

30 mph

OVERDRIVE

WITH TCC

0-2

75-95

0-2

0-5

75-95

0-2

50 mph

* Engine speed at 1500 rpm

# CAUTION: Both front wheels must be turning at the same speed.

TRANSAXLE

21 - 21

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING (Continued)

CLUTCH AIR PRESSURE TESTS

Inoperative clutches can be located using a series

of tests by substituting air pressure for fluid pressure
(Fig. 27) (Fig. 28). The clutches may be tested by
applying air pressure to their respective passages.
The valve body must be removed and Tool 6056
installed. To make air pressure tests, proceed as fol-
lows:

NOTE: The compressed air supply must be free of
all dirt and moisture. Use a pressure of 30 psi.

Remove oil pan and valve body. See Valve body

removal.

OVERDRIVE CLUTCH

Apply air pressure to the overdrive clutch apply

passage and watch for the push/pull piston to move
forward. The piston should return to its starting
position when the air pressure is removed.

REVERSE CLUTCH

Apply air pressure to the reverse clutch apply pas-

sage and watch for the push/pull piston to move rear-
ward. The piston should return to its starting
position when the air pressure is removed.

2/4 CLUTCH

Apply air pressure to the feed hole located on the

2/4 clutch retainer. Look in the area where the 2/4
piston contacts the first separator plate and watch
carefully for the 2/4 piston to move rearward. The
piston should return to its original position after the
air pressure is removed.

LOW/REVERSE CLUTCH

Apply air pressure to the low/reverse clutch feed

hole (rear of case, between 2 bolt holes). Then, look
in the area where the low/reverse piston contacts the
first separator plate. Watch carefully for the piston to
move forward. The piston should return to its origi-
nal position after the air pressure is removed.

UNDERDRIVE CLUTCH

Because this clutch piston cannot be seen, its oper-

ation is checked by function. Air pressure is applied
to the low/reverse and the 2/4 clutches. This locks the
output shaft. Use a piece of rubber hose wrapped
around the input shaft and a pair of clamp-on pliers
to turn the input shaft. Next apply air pressure to
the underdrive clutch. The input shaft should not
rotate with hand torque. Release the air pressure
and confirm that the input shaft will rotate.

FLUID LEAKAGE-TORQUE CONVERTER
HOUSING AREA

When diagnosing converter housing fluid leaks,

three actions must be taken before repair:

(1) Verify proper transmission fluid level.
(2) Verify that the leak originates from the con-

verter housing area and is transmission fluid.

(3) Determine the true source of the leak.
Fluid leakage at or around the torque converter

area may originate from an engine oil leak (Fig. 29).
The area should be examined closely. Factory fill
fluid is red and, therefore, can be distinguished from
engine oil.

Some suspected converter housing fluid leaks may

not be leaks at all. They may only be the result of
residual fluid in the converter housing, or excess
fluid spilled during factory fill, or fill after repair.

Fig. 27 Air Pressure Test Plate

1 – TOOL 6056
2 – ACCUMULATORS

Fig. 28 Testing Reverse Clutch

1 – TOOL 6056
2 – AIR NOZZLE

21 - 22

TRANSAXLE

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING (Continued)

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