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viperpit	My car is acting up after being in storage for 6 months. We were building a new house and had to put the prowler in storage. We had no access to power for a battery tender and as expected the battery croaked. So last weekend I put a new Optima battery in and as I hooked up the positive cable I heard a few clicks as things energize as normal. But when I went to drive the car it wont go past 2nd gear in auto or autostick mode, and the speedometer does not work. Everything else seems fine, but a check engine light came on until I restarted the car but since has not come on again. I have checked the fuses both under dash and under the hood and they look ok. Anybody got some idea whats going on. I have never have a problem until now. Its a 99 model year with 6k miles. Thanks in advance
idive	Output sensor. Rear most sensor on rear of trans. driver side. Easy R&R. $13 part. Before replacing it, try this... I'm cuious... Start it cold. Let it warm up without driving, but while warming up, move shifter thru all gears randomly giving a few seconds between gears to catch, including thru all manual gears. Do it several times. See if that brings it back for you. Park to reverse to neutral to drive to neutral to reverse to drive to 1, to 2, to 1, to 2, to drive, back to 1, to 2, to 3, etc. Please report back your results. This message has been edited by idive on 07-15-2011 at 01:45 AM
bjprowler	Common problem....Easy DIY inexpensive fix... Parts are normally "in stock" at most auto parts stores (you'll need a 1" deep well socket) http://www.prowleronline.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000092.html This message has been edited by bjprowler on 07-15-2011 at 06:18 AM
Kevin A	I keep input and output sensors along with a 1" deep socket in my car. I've replaced the output sensor twice on my 99 and it only has 17,500 miles.
ALLEY CAT	V/pit,,,this might help: How about a picture of your Viper?
MIKE GATLIN	I would be interested to know if Idive's idea would work. Sure would make for a quick short term fix.
viperpit	This is great. A wealth on info. I will try this tomorrow in the am and let you know.
idive	The theory in my process above... Occasionally, when I haven't driven my car for a while (3 weeks or so), I start it and put it in reverse to back out of the garage. Sometimes it goes into gear, sometimes it just rolls back like its in neutral. If I then put it in drive, it rolls back like its in neutral and doesn't shift into drive. If I then go into manual mode I notice it is stuck in 2nd gear. My first thought at that point is the sensor. After shifting around thru the gears with my foot on the brake, it will finally go into gear and start working normally. Manually, it will then shift thru the gears. (It doesn't go into 4th when sitting still.) Maybe it just took a while for the trans fluid to get thru the lines again after not running for a while. I can also just leave it in drive with my foot on the brake and rev it a few times but doing that, when it catches into gear, it catches hard and probably isn't a good alternative. Doing this when it happens has kept me from replacing the sensor since it starts working fine again in short order. If this actually works for others, it may save some money and may also get you out of a bad situation when "stranded" in the middle of nowhere stuck in 2nd gear.
ed monahan	Back before POA, I had a sensor go out. I disconnected the battery and it worked for awhile. I took it to the dealer and had it fixed since it was under warranty.
viperpit	STATUS REPORT: I bought one sensor from the dealer because that was all they had for a cost of 35.00. I then thought to go try Autozone and bought both sensors for a total of 32.00. Put in the sensors in about 15 minutes and the car drives better than it ever did. I was wondering how long this this was not working 100%. I did find some metal paste on one of the units similar to that you would find on an oil drain plug. Is this normal? So far so good.
bjprowler	That's great news!....And it just proves the value of this great website...Can you imagine what the dealer would have charged you to diagnose and do the same thing that you did for $32 and 15 minutes of your time? This is a great time to ask that all who benefit from this site consider a contribution to the POA to keep it going..... As Reverend Deutoronomy Scaggs used to say...."Don't make me holler!.....Don't make me shout!....Turn them pockets inside out!!!" This message has been edited by bjprowler on 07-20-2011 at 09:32 PM
TLRandall	My 99 Purple had a little paste on one too when I replaced it a while back.
idive	Glad you got it fixed. Did you give my theory a try before replacing the sensors?
viperpit	Yep, It looked normal as far as moving it through the gears standing still. But as soon as you started to move it defaulted to 2nd gear and wouldn't move. It now runs smoother than it ever did and I bought from the dealer with 300 miles on it. Go figure! I am going back to Autozone to pick up a spare sensor so I will now have both on hand.
DES	is this under the hood?
viperpit	no on the transmission itself
StingRay	quote: Originally posted by DES: is this under the hood? Opposite end of car, from undernieth.
idive	quote: Originally posted by viperpit: Yep, It looked normal as far as moving it through the gears standing still. But as soon as you started to move it defaulted to 2nd gear and wouldn't move. It now runs smoother than it ever did and I bought from the dealer with 300 miles on it. Go figure! I am going back to Autozone to pick up a spare sensor so I will now have both on hand. Thanks for the feedback!