posted 01-16-2001 10:15 PM                  

I have just experianced the same thing. My symptom has prolonged for awhile though. My engine would begin to misfire at about 70 miles per hour and as I decreased my speed. The misfire symptoms would go away.

My tranny finally took a dump Sunday night. I went to a Sunday brunch with the Prowler group and started to experiance mid frequency knocking sounds on my floor panel on the drivers side. Later the knocking began to be felt on my shifting knob.

It began Sunday morning and ended Sunday evening. It ended by 1st gear taking for ever to shift to second while just cruising it from idle. The shift from D to N in automatic mode would engage very, very rough. I then stopped the car and went back to check for tranny oil levels or to see if the tranny oil was black. Tranny oil was fine and could not detect any problems. The fan would come on and off. I then got back on it and drove off but this would not be my normal drive home.

First gear took for ever to shift to second and when it did, it shifted very, very hard. I then gave it some more gas and all of a sudden, my check engine light comes on in the dash and my tranny seemed to have disengaged for a few seconds and then went to second gear real hard. I then realized something was wrong because my tranny would not shift to any gear other than 2nd. I then remembered my last tech session saying that if ever the tranny runs into trouble, it will go into safe mode which puts it into 2nd gear until serviced.

I will find out tomorrow what happened to my tranny. Has anyone out there beefed up their tranny with any other tranny? If so, can you let me know. Now would be the time to consider a different tranny if it has to be overhauled.

posted 01-16-2001 11:26 PM                  

OH NO! Just when I thought the tranny strong enough

Too bad Dan-Hope its an easy fix.

posted 01-17-2001 02:21 AM                  

You are a MAN of integrity! Good Guy!

Will find out today when Harry Sands comes down with his Prowler truck to tow it off.

posted 01-17-2001 02:27 AM                  

Not bad news at all..... This is good info that lets us know how much beating these trannies can take. We can speculate all year long how strong these trannies are but would never know until someone broke one.

I hope I'm the first one ...

posted 01-17-2001 08:43 AM                  

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AL
Yellow is DCOOLEST

posted 01-17-2001 11:47 PM                  

Reading this right off my repair copy!

**********************************************************
Customer concern:
------------------
Customer states check engine light is on, felt like transmission was stuck in second gear.

Cause:
Input speed sensor fault. Verified customer concern. Scanned with DRB3 and found multiple diagnostic trouble codes. Traced to input speed sensor with intermittent fault. Replaced sensor, cleared code and road tested to verify repair.
**********************************************************

Got to tell you my car feels GGGGRRRRREEEEEAAAAATTTTTT!!!!

I have had a speed sensor problem ever since I bought my kitty. I can absolutely tell the difference now. The new speed sensor will change the gears right before redline. The old speed sensor would always allow 1st gear to go into red rpm zone sending my PCM computer into limp mode. I would then continue punching it furthure loosing horsepower. I was coming back on the freeway home and punched it several times and got to tell you I was missing alot of fun. The shifts are more accurate now and don't feel my car going into limp mode any more or safe mode. Before I think I would always go into limp mode causing me to loose horsepower ever time.

Where did Prowler Man and John Davies go?

butchcee,

I think the tranny is strong enough because got to tell you, I beat the you know what out of it.

Once again, a happy camper here! Like I always say .... GOD IS GOOD BABY!!

posted 01-18-2001 04:58 PM                  

Just got in my new set of stainless mufflers, on tomorrow.
Gear set on the way.

posted 02-04-2001 01:00 PM                  

The Prowler Automatic Transmission is a Electronic Controlled Transaxle

Here is something you should know:

If the 42LE four-speed automatic transaxle has a malfunction, it may default to Limp-in mode: Second Gear, Reverse, Park and Neutral. Limp-in may happen when the computer has detected a fault in the transmission, it could be an electrical or mechanical fault. If this ever happens to you, find a safe place to pull over and then cycle the key off, then start it up again. If it is an intermittent problem this may take it out of limp in mode so you can drive it normally. You should secure the park brake, check the trans. fluid level and check for leaks before driving it. Take it to your dealer because a DTC (diagnostic trouble code) has been set. Remember that after 255 key cycles the code goes away if it was intermittent and it did not reoccur. The (Service Engine Soon) lamp might even come on. If it clunks, slips or grinds have it towed.

posted 02-04-2001 01:15 PM                  

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AL
Yellow is DCOOLEST

posted 02-04-2001 02:42 PM                  

Is it any better if you have the shifter in 3 vs. D

What gear ratio do you have now vs. before?
Is this only happening to Prowlers with the aftermarket gears?

There is not a wire I can think of to put a switch on.
The brake input will cancel lock-up, but I don't recommend putting a switch on that.

I wonder if there are any software updates that could possibly resolve an issue like this. The dealer can update the TCM with the latest code, I am not able to check the service bulletins like I used to be able to.

posted 02-04-2001 03:14 PM                  

I think the rear end ratio is 4.19(with gears) from a 3.89 stock.

We are losing precious and expensive time, 3/10-4/10's of a second which is huge in the drag racing.

Thanks PTMike

posted 02-04-2001 04:06 PM                  

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AL
Yellow is DCOOLEST