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Dodge Magnum Transmission Issues
After initial start and for about 5 minutes afterwards the transmission is slipping in any gear from 1 to 3. Most noticeable when in 3 gear and accelerating lightly. You will notice the RPMs are gradually going up, but the speed is not going up but tends to go down. Another symptom is when driving in Over-drive and you need to make a lane change, and lets just say you stomp on the gas, the RPMs basically red line. You need to get off the gas and then you feel the car drop into 4 gear and then you can go.
Had it back to the dealer, said there was a bulletin, seemed to be OK for about a month, now it is happening again. Anyone else experiencing the same issue ?
Had it back to the dealer, said there was a bulletin, seemed to be OK for about a month, now it is happening again. Anyone else experiencing the same issue ?
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Comments
engine is the 3.5
Story get worse. I started to get the check-engine and the PRNDL indicator would all ligth. The the car would be stuck in 3'rd gear. Back to the dealer again (two more times for the same problem). All they did was the computer reset. Fixed problem for a day. Second time it happen the trans would not come out of park. Made it back to the dealer and one of the control models were replaced on the shift.
Just got things "fixed" -- maybe
They were finally able to capture an error code. Of course it was the 999 unkown error. After 5 day at the dealer they decided to change the model on the shift column. Since then nothing, but I am watching out for it to start again.
We've contacted the customer service hot line but the person answering the phone won't give his last name nor let us talk to a supervisor. He was very rude.
I've emailed DR.Z - got a "we really don't care attitude" email back.
I'm so mad that I wish I had never bought this car! We're making payments on a BRAND NEW car and can't even drive it and have no idea when and IF we ever will be able to!
We've owned 6 Chryslers in the past 14 years. Some new some old. Have had problems with a few but have always had good customer service. I'm so disappointed in the way this particular cars problems have been handled that I'm thinking about returning it.
It is a shame a car with such nice lines has to have these types of problems.
Being your car is new I would look into the Lemon Laws ASAP.
Hope this helps
Pay close attention to the RPMS and which gear you are in when it happen ( mine was from 3rd 3000k rps, to 4'th around 1500 rpms)
Try to connect all of the links together, it was detailed as it happen.
There is a repair paper that Dodge should have. I will try to locate
Good luck
"I purchased my 2006 Magnum RT about a month ago with 18k miles. Started noticing the bad vibration - only way I can describe is like when you're on the highway and you get too close to the side and the grooves in the road make your car vibrate. That's what my Magnum does and it almost seems as if it is having a hard time switching gears. ...The problem has progressively become worse - especially in the last few weeks of holiday driving...."
UPDATE: So I took it BACK to the dealership and told them what I had found on this message board and the TSB - Tech Service Bulletin. The service manager looked into the TSB and said that was possibly the cause. Before leaving my car with them, I made that same service manager sit in the passanger seat while I took him down the service road and highway - just so he could see, it was in the CAR, not my HEAD.
Since the dealership reluctantly agreed to put me in a rental, they had my car in and out in about 3 business days. Verbatim from the invoice, here is what the dealership performed on my Magnum:
-------------------------------------
Problem: ESP and BAS lights on
Fix: Replaced the Steering wheel angle sensor. Replaced SAS
Problem: Transmission shudders/vibrates
Fix: ***UNDER TSB 385 WP40***
Replaced filter and o-rings
Replaced o-ring adaptor plug
Replaced filter - transmission oil
Replaced oil - automatic transmission
Replaced hose - 1ft. fuel and vapor
T-Conv Shudder: flushed transmission, replaced filter and tube seal, then road test.
During transmission diagnosis - noticed rear differential leaking fluid. Replaced ALL seal, axle shaft oil as per TSB 385 WP40. Axle seals leaking, R&R Rear Diff & replaced axle seals.
-------------------------------------
The service manager told me the rear axel leak was causing the vibration. He also said they replaced the torque converter? I never found that in any of my paperwork...
The first time I had it in the shop for the ESP & BAS lights, they replaced the Clockspring/Steering angle sensor. Apparently this didn't work or the new switch was faulty, because the lights came back on by the time the dealership delivered my vehicle to my house, straight from the service department.
After all that and two trips into the service department totalling over 2.5 weeks in-shop, I can finally say my Magnum is performing well. No more noticable shuddering or vibration. We have recently (and finally!) had some rain here in Dallas, so I guess that will be a good test to find out if all my seals are in working order. My only complaints now? The car pulling to the right - which I have read is normal? Suppose I'd better have the tires rotated every other oil change. Last but not least, the best gas mileage I can get carpooling kids and running to the grocery store is 16.8 mpg. Highway best - 21mpg. I guess that's the price you pay for having that AWESOME Hemi - oh, and a lead foot.
Good luck to you all.
Stephanie and her "Bad Mama Mobile"
Dallas, Texas
Thanks
Randy
Randy
Stephanie
The dealer followed up with a phone survey on their service dept. response which will come to me as a written form to confirm for the dealer and Chrysler.
I bought an '06 RT with 27K on it a few months ago. I've driven a few thousand miles since and from the getgo have had the shift from first to second gear accompanied by a heavy sounding, "clunk". On occasion the shift from Drive into Park does this as well. I've a few thousand left on the factory warranty, and will have it checked soon, but other than this, no problems or concerns. My roommate says that in her experience, Chryslers have never shifted smoothly, but given the possibliity, I plan to have this and as many things as possible checked.
P.S. For those of you who experienced strange RPM revs and odd shifting at higher speeds, I noticed this as well, but am reassured as it is mentioned in the owner's manual as part of the normal operation of the overdrive. Pulling up Topanga Pass and such hard, high speed climbs as this are the only times I've had to ease off the gas and let the car find its groove.
I want to grab a still for a screensaver. :shades:
P.S.
season six, episode nine: CSI Miami, CBS.
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi_miami/video/video.php?cid=577439402&pid=CMnB7gX- G5FB06DJoKe5XTHMweLgebvUk&category=recent&play=true
They also repaired it about a year ago, and found that the vibration I was having at high speeds was from a drive shaft nut not being tight.
My car has 76000 miles on it and is now running great!
All the above repairs was less then 600.00
Best car I ever owned!
Andre
Anyway here is my concern re my 2007 Magnum SXT @22Kmiles, purchased from a dodge dealer in Bellevue, WA with 12K June 2008. Build date May, 2007:
At 13kmiles started hearing a "rattle" as soon as all is warmed-up to operating temp coming from somewhere down under. Local dealer here in Ellensburg, WA not able to find anything conclusive. Still living with this rattle, for now. (Rattle sounds exactly like a loose exhaust hanger wiggling. This is not the case. )
Most important concern for me now is the "thump" I too am getting when trans downshifts from 3rd to 2nd especially when slowing down to a stop when exiting a freeway. Getting a bit more pronounced very recently. Local dealer here did find a "flash code" re the thump I was getting on upshift from 2nd to 3rd and that is all OK for now, so far.
Local dealer and I have good working relationship and they called me back re my email to them about the downshift "thump" and they want to look at it today.
Although only 22K miles, today I will request an ATF fluid flush and filter clean. filters are re-useable (they clean them.) Hopefully an ATF change out might fix the problem. Also, maybe they did some more research and might be another code adjustment.
I will get back to all of you to share my results.
I took the tech for a test drive, he agrees, not normal. Gonna check the whole drive line, incl the u joints.
Will keep you posted.
By the way, the car has 160,102 kms. So it is now over the 160 power warranty, Chrysler Canada is looking at this under goodwill warranty and issued a case number when I called the 800 line to complain.