Expert: Roland Finston - 1/17/2012

Question
Hello! I have an 03 Concorde LXi with about 120k on it. I had MIL come on with codes P0562 (had recently replaced thermostat and some sort of new hose to coolant that had popped), P0700, P1776, P0871. Brought to Chrysler and they installed new PCM, as I guess it was a recall. Problem is, about a week of driving after they fixed PCM, MIL came back on with the same codes. The car is fine as long as I don't drive over 45 minutes, but when it heats up and temp gauge gets to around 1/2 way mark, tranny pulls hard on up shift occasionally and will get stuck (seemingly in 2nd) on down shift. Shut the car off, turn it right back on and I'm fine for a little while. Again, when cold, it's fine. Does this sound like a fuse? I noticed that there is the Q fuse you talked about with another poster but also an interior fuse (cavity 1) that says "transmission controller, gauges, autostick) and was wondering what that is for? I have no problems with anything other than the above. Appreciate any insight you provide!

Answer
Hi Kristie,
You have listed a number of codes and questions which I will sort out.
The 0562 is saying that the battery voltage is lower than the minimum acceptable; I don't understand its relationship to a thermostat or hose. Perhaps a too loose drive belt for the alternator?
The 0871 and 1776 are about the transmission specifically issues with both the low-reverse pressure switch circuit and the overdrive pressure switch circuit. It is possible that the transmission relay (or its power circuit, from fuse Q) are failing when they warm up. So you could look carefully at Q to see if it might have a subtle crack in its wire which causes the fuse to 'open' when it gets hot and then close after it cools down. Also you could try exchanging out the trasnsmission control relay in the same box in the engine compartment with another relay that has the same part number in case the present relay is failing. If neither of those effect an improvement then it may be that one or two solenoid valves in the valve body inside the transmission is getting stuck (either the low-reverse or the overdrive). That valve body is accessible from the underside of the transmission so it would not be a major job such as the removal and rebuild of the transmission. But I would want to do some research into the shop that I gave this job to do by asking for references and asking friends about local transmission shops.
The cavity 1 fuse powers the engine control module and the powerstick type of automatic transmission, and the instrument cluster, and the diagnostic data connector socket. It is net relevant to your present situation unless you have the "autostick".
Roland