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2008 PT Cruiser base 2.4 going into limp mode

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#61 ·
chuzz said:
You're quite welcome. We're here to help when we can. I truly hope Myckee can help you out.
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He was very honest with me he told me I could probably get one cheaper besides through him but honestly I don't think that's what's wrong with my car. If I want it to shift through all the gears I go through the car wash get the underbody wash and it will shift until I hit a bump and then it drops back down to low one. And it doesn't do it all the time not shift sometimes it shifts for me so I just think there's something loose underneath. My sister was driving me because of my health and she had a whole big enough to swim in and then down the road it went into limp mode. Everything else works on my car just fine. It cranks right up and all. I just have no one to help me and here they want $167 to diagnose it per hour and they said it could take up to 3 hours and I don't have that kind of money just to find out what's wrong with it. Thank you again all of you for your help and advice and may God bless you all and yours.
 
#62 ·
It sounds more like a loose connection to me than anything else, but keep in mind, I'm NOT a mechanic. If it was mine, I'd remove the battery and battery tray then take the connector to the transmission module loose and clean it. I use CRC Electrical Contact Cleaner for such things but any brand electrical cleaner will do. I'd spray it, let it air dry for 10 minutes, then plug it in and unplug it 5 or 6 times and then put it all back together and see what happens. Too bad you don't live around here or I'd TRY to help you figure it out.
 
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Discussion starter · #63 ·
$167/hr may sound like a lot of money but if they are skilled at troubleshooting and can pinpoint the problem in reasonable time, then it is money well spent.
This conversation began by your asking what relay was used which led me to believe that you or somebody else had read through all the posts
in this thread and had come to the conclusion that the relay would be the fix. However, this now appears not to be the case considering your posts
about the water and bumps in the road. In other words, it seems that this problem has not yet been logically troubleshot. Any fix at this point, including TIPM
replacement would be only a guess.
As it is, your PT is nearly useless in the present unreliable condition. IDK if you mentioned the mileage but it looks like a well kept PT.
Given the cost of a replacement vehicle, new or used, your best course of action IMHO, is to find and fix the transmission problem since
you say that the PT is otherwise OK
So, it comes down to finding the right shop to pinpoint and repair the problem. You need to ask around and find a shop with a reputation
for expert diagnosis and quality work. Any mechanic can change parts. You don't want a parts changer. You want a guy like the one in the video in this thread.
 
#64 · (Edited)
chuzz said:
. . . .It sounds more like a loose connection to me than anything else, but keep in mind, I'm NOT a mechanic. If it was mine, I'd remove the battery and battery tray then take the connector to the transmission module loose and clean it. I use CRC Electrical Contact Cleaner for such things but any brand electrical cleaner will do. I'd spray it, let it air dry for 10 minutes, then plug it in and unplug it 5 or 6 times and then put it all back together and see what happens. . . . .
Click to expand...
Agree with this idea. Vibration or jostle caused by irregular road surfaces can cause an electrical fault in an electrical connector associated with transmission control.

Carl H said:
. . . .$167/hr may sound like a lot of money but if they are skilled at troubleshooting and can pinpoint the problem in reasonable time, then it is money well spent.
This conversation began by your asking what relay was used which led me to believe that you or somebody else had read through all the posts
in this thread and had come to the conclusion that the relay would be the fix. However, this now appears not to be the case considering your posts . . . .
Click to expand...

Agree. More troubleshooting to isolate specific cause is needed.

I woiuld suggest looking at the 8 pathway electrical connector at the transmission shift solenoid assembly. A bolt hold the connector in place. Remove and make sure all pins and cavities clean. It is located on side of the transmission facing the radiator. You will have to remove other devices on the vehcile to gain access.

Another connector to inspect and make sure it is clean is connector C102 on the side of the transmission. Images follows.


. . . . In other words, it seems that this problem has not yet been logically troubleshot. . Any mechanic can change parts. You don't want a parts changer. You want a guy like the one in the video in this thread. . . . .
Click to expand...
The technician, Ivan, reference video for code P0882 in a PT Cruiser (post #14 and #32) is located in State College Pennsylvania. That is a 250+ mile drive from your location but if somehow you could get the vehicle to his location, he would be able to fix it. If you follow his vehicle troubleshooting videos, he outshines any other mechanic / technician in the business.
 
#66 ·
Carl H said:
$167/hr may sound like a lot of money but if they are skilled at troubleshooting and can pinpoint the problem in reasonable time, then it is money well spent.
This conversation began by your asking what relay was used which led me to believe that you or somebody else had read through all the posts
in this thread and had come to the conclusion that the relay would be the fix. However, this now appears not to be the case considering your posts
about the water and bumps in the road. In other words, it seems that this problem has not yet been logically troubleshot. Any fix at this point, including TIPM
replacement would be only a guess.
As it is, your PT is nearly useless in the present unreliable condition. IDK if you mentioned the mileage but it looks like a well kept PT.
Given the cost of a replacement vehicle, new or used, your best course of action IMHO, is to find and fix the transmission problem since
you say that the PT is otherwise OK
So, it comes down to finding the right shop to pinpoint and repair the problem. You need to ask around and find a shop with a reputation
for expert diagnosis and quality work. Any mechanic can change parts. You don't want a parts changer. You want a guy like the one in the video in this thread.
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
#67 ·
chuzz said:
It sounds more like a loose connection to me than anything else, but keep in mind, I'm NOT a mechanic. If it was mine, I'd remove the battery and battery tray then take the connector to the transmission module loose and clean it. I use CRC Electrical Contact Cleaner for such things but any brand electrical cleaner will do. I'd spray it, let it air dry for 10 minutes, then plug it in and unplug it 5 or 6 times and then put it all back together and see what happens. Too bad you don't live around here or I'd TRY to help you figure it out.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much
 
#68 ·
Please be sure to get back to us and let us know if you get it fixed. Nothing is more frustrating to those of us that try to help someone is to have them just disappear and leave us wondering.
 
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#70 ·
AllanC said:
The technician at Pine Hollow Auto Diagnostics, Ivan, used a two channel scope to monitor active voltage on the T15 / T16 circuits. The scope display for the T15 and T16 circuits starts at time interval 28:00. Link to part 1 below.


Note that the T16 circuit has voltage that is dropping out intermittently. Finally the T16 circuit fails and a few milliseconds later the PCM detects this and de-entergizes the T15 circuit. This made his diagnosis of a failed TIPM T16 circuit absolute and then led to his "fix".
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Yep. That guy's video led me to buy a reconditioned TIPM, which fixed the limp mode issue. Too bad that guy's shop is so far away deom me. He would be a valuable resource to me for my old PT. Since the PT went out of production over 10 years ago, dealerships mostly don't want to even diagnose problems for PT owners. I found a dealership abiout 2.5 hours' drive from here that has some old-timers on staff. I'll be going there the next time I need help with my '06 Touring.
 
#72 ·
Carl H said:
Any update on this...
Hopefully you were able to resolve the issue.
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No Carl still no luck. TIPM didn't solve issue either. Stuck in 1st gear but sometimes rarely it shifts like nothing's wrong and then suddenly drops into low 1. It starts up fine it runs it's just stuck in limp mode in low one with the same code p0882 and sometimes TCM but only sometimes.
 
#73 ·
The TIPM can store fault codes also. See Possible Causes. The TIPM may not be the issue.
Image

Image


Possible TIPM fault codes:
  • P128B-TCM POWER CONTROL CIRCUIT 2 LOW
  • P128C-TCM POWER CONTROL CIRCUIT 2 HIGH
  • P128D-TCM POWER CONTROL CIRCUIT 2 OPEN
  • P128E-TCM POWER CONTROL CIRCUIT 2 OVERCURRENT
  • U0100-LOST COMMUNICATION WITH ECM/PCM
 
Discussion starter · #75 ·
MelissaAnn44691 said:
Just replaced TIPM today what the battery disconnected in both cables together and soon as the vehicle started the same codes came up again
Click to expand...
Why did they replace the TIPM? Did they actually do any real diagnosis? Probably not because it did not fix the problem.
The additional information that you provided us regarding spraying water underbody and hitting bumps in the road seem
to suggest a loose or bad connection... a bad splice, broken wire, or more likely a loose or corroded pin(s) in a connector.

From what you report, this issue has still not been properly troubleshot.
Problem is that most "technicians" aren't. They have at best only a very rudimentary knowledge of electricity and none of electronics.
 
#76 ·
Carl H said:
Why did they replace the TIPM? Did they actually do any real diagnosis? Probably not because it did not fix the problem.
The additional information that you provided us regarding spraying water underbody and hitting bumps in the road seem
to suggest a loose or bad connection... a bad splice, broken wire, or more likely a loose or corroded pin(s) in a connector.

From what you report, this issue has still not been properly troubleshot.
Problem is that most "technicians" aren't. They have at best only a very rudimentary knowledge of electricity and none of electronics.
Click to expand...
No real diagnosis I guess they said they had no clue what was going on. On another suggestion about tricking the computer I put the key straight in and turn it on within 3 seconds and it will shift fine for a while then goes back into limp mode. I'm just at a loss. These people here just keep draining money from me and I live on less than 700 a month because of my disability. I've been having to cancel appointments with my doctors and specialists so it's really heartbreaking and frustrating cuz I won't have the money to purchase another vehicle for the price all at once or a large down payment. It's just my car runs so good starts right up it's just stuck in that limp mode almost everything in the engine is new.
 
#77 ·
Always diagnose first.
Guessing gets expensive & frustrating.
 
#79 ·
There are published procedures on how to find the cause of this without guessing. They may not have the resources, tools or the skills to solve this issue?
It is unprofessional to spend the customer's money on guesses.
A pinout box (8815) is used while probing the connectors to avoid possibly damaging the terminals.
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