1993 Chrysler Fifth Avenue

CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE AND THEN WENT 35 MILES TO TAKE CARE OF SOME BUSINESS. BUT WHEN SHE RETURNED HOME , STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT,AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. SHE HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO HER HOME. THERE, HER HUSBAND LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED. CONSUMER HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

I WAS BEHIND A PANEL VAN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AT ABOUT 2MPH. I HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND AND RATTLING NOISE. APPLIED THE BRAKES, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND RELEASED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE BACKWARDS. I SET THE PARKING BRAKE AND GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS A LARGE PUDDLE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING BADLY. I TOWED THE CAR BACK TO MY DRIVEWAY AND CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION CASE. I FOUND A CRACK IN THE DIFFERENTIAL AREA. I CONTACTED AN AAMCO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL TRANSMISSION USED ON 3.8L ENGINES AND MOST OF THEIR BUSINESS WAS REPLACING/REPAIRING THESE TRANSMISSIONS. THE SPECIALIST HAD TO REPLACE THE CASE AND INTERNAL PARTS WHICH COST ME $1000.00. I WAS GIVEN THE FAILED PARTS WAS TOLD WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION, WARNING ME NEVER TO SPIN THE TIRES--IF I GET STUCK IN THE SNOW, CALL A TOW TRUCK. IF THE TIRE(S) SPIN, THE SPIDER GEARS SPIN RAPIDLY ON THE SPIDER AXLE AND OVERHEAT. ONE OR BOTH OF THE GEARS WELD THEMSELVES TO THEIR AXLE AND SNAP THE RETAINING PIN. OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE SPIDER AXLE WORKS ITS WAY OUT OF THE YOKE AND STRIKES THE INSIDE OF THE CASE BREAKING THE CASE. THIS TIME, A PIECE OF THE SPIDER AXLE BROKE OFF AND ENTERED THE TORQUE CONVERTER AREA THROUGH ANOTHER HOLE IT CREATED DAMAGING THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE, WITHOUT THE SPIDER GEAR ASSEMBLY, THERE IS NO PARKING GEAR. IF THE CAR IS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, THE SPIDER AXLE DROPS OUT AND THE DRIVER LEAVES THE CAR WITHOUT NOTICING THE CAR IS IN MOTION, THE CAR CAN ROLL UNCONTROLLABLY. THIS IS TERRIBLE ENGINEERING AND A SAFETY CONCERN. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE LAUNCHED WITH POSSIBLE RECALLS/REIMBURSEMENTS FOR REPAIRS MADE. THERE IS ALSO A FLAW IN THE MAIN SHAFT FROM THE TROQUE CONVERTER THAT CAUSES TRANSMISSION FAILURE--A WEAK WELD JOINING THIN METAL PARTS CAN FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE. *A