Expert: Roland Finston - 9/12/2011

Question
Hello,
 my gf's 99 plymouth breeze has the following symptoms:

 1. Speedometer does not work (sits at 0)
 2. When i turn in somewhere, and let off the gas, the car cuts off (starts back up easily)
 3. Car never seems to go very fast no matter how hard i push the gas
 4. Seems to have a problem down shifting. . almost like it is stuck in one or 2 gears

Those are the symptoms. I am doing some reading, and my first cheap step is to replace the TCM Relay. Not sure if this will help even but it's cheap so i am going to do that first.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

thank you

j

Answer
Hi Jason,
The lack of speedo reading suggests the 'output speed sensor' located on the side of the transmission facing the front of the car is not functioning. That is located toward the end of the transmission and it has a similarly-shaped sensor near the bell housing as its 'mate', just for ID.
It has a plug with lift tab to remove that, it unscrews and a replacement will screw in to about the same torque as a spark plug (20 foot-pounds). That replacement will possibly restore trans function too. On the overall performance may I suggest getting a free fault code readout at an Autozone or similar part store? Or try the key: 'on-off-on-off-on and leave on', doing that in 5 seconds or less elapased time. Then watch the odometer window to see if the mileage reading is replaced by 4-digit numbers preceded by a P. Let me know and we'll go from there. Save your money on the TCM relay, that is probably not the reason for the trans/speedo issue.
Roland