Expert: Roland Finston - 7/2/2011

Question
Hello Roland i have a 1996 dodge intrepid my check engine light came on i took it to a shop and its a P code. The car goes into limp mode. The code said it was overdrive pressure switch circuit. Someone told me i should replace the solenoid pack on the valve body. Or do think it just a sensor that needs to be replaced or do u think a tranny flush would clean everything out.


Thanks for all your help
Dodge Intrepid

Answer
Hi Donald,
I assume the code was either a 21 or a 1784 depending upon the reader, as '96 was a transition year between 0BD-I and OBD-II. Might either of those be the numbers they found? Unfortunately I don't have the '96 manual but rather a '94 and a '98 manual, which differ slightly on pin assignment for the plug at the transmission solenoid pack and the TCM. Replacing the solenoid pack on the valve body involves dropping a pan, removing the valve body/range switch assembly and then removing the solenoid pack so you might want to check out other possibilities first before getting into that.
I don't know that a sensor replacement would have any effect on this problem, at least none is mentioned as a possibility.
As to the fluid, the main issue would be that it not be too low, so check that to begin with.
Wiring problems might be well to check:
The wire from the OD pressure switch it orange/black and goes to pin 9 at the TCM. The other end is either on pin 1 at the plug for the pack ('94 manual# or pin 2 #'98 manual) so look at those two possibilities and let me know on which pin you find that wire, please.
Check that the wire is neither open or shorted to ground after removing both plugs.
Also make sure that when you plug it in to the tcm only that it doesn't read 12V at the disconnected pack plug.
Also check that the shifter/shift lever are not slightly off center from the detent position.
After that you could try a tranny flush and filter replacement, before the last step which would be to remove the valve body and change out the pack.
If all that is to no avail, then consideration as to an internal failure of the torque converter is appropriate, but we hope it doesn't come to that.
Roland
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