1993 Chrysler Fifth Avenue

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

RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL CONCERNING ABS ON 10/98. DEALER LOOKED AT VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES OR LESS, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT EVERYTHING WAS OKAY. MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE REPAIRS WOULD TAKE AT LEAST ONE HOUR. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE PADS, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 9 MONTHS TO ONE YEAR. SEEKING HELP OR FURTHER INFORMATION FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. ALSO CONSUMER WOULD BE PASSING ON ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER ON RETURN MAIL. *AK

ON THIS VEHICLE AND ANOTHER I OWNED WITH THE 3.3 L ENGINE, THERE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT . WHEN IT IS NECESSARY TO DRIVE THROUGH SNOW DRIFTS OF MAYBE 10" TO 12" OR WHEN HIGH WINDS DRIVE SNOW AND/OR SLEET INTO THE ENGINE BAY, THIS IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE BELT TO SLIP OFF THE PULLEYS. THIS CAUSES TOTAL LOSS OF CHARGING FUNCTION, COOLING FUNCTION, POWER STEERING. NATURALLY THERE IS NO HEAT TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR OF FOGGING, THE HEADLIGHTS GO QUITE DIM. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COUNT ON REPLACING THIS BELT AT LEAST ONCE EACH WINTER SEASON, AND SOMTIMES TWICE. ONCE THE BELT IS KNOCKED OFF IT TENDS TO GET DAMAGED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO USE. EACH TIME THIS HAS COST ABOUT $60. THE COST IS NOT THE ISSUE, RATHER, IT IS THE AGGRAVATION.