Some 2006 and up Dodge Caliber equipped with the CVT transmission may experience a complaint of the check engine light coming on, accompanied with numerous solenoid circuit faults, such as P0962-963 Pressure Control Solenoid fault, P0966-967 Secondary Pressure Control Solenoid, P2770 Lock-Up Control Solenoid, P1723 Lock-Up Selection Solenoid, P0848 Secondary Pressure Sensor, P0712-713 Transmission Fluid Temperature, P0843 Primary Pressure Sensor.
Note: These codes could be intermittent and may also include Stepper Motor Control issues.
The cause may be that the wiring harness leading to the case connector on the transmission is corroded and or partially disintegrated by battery acid dripping down on to the harness. Figure 1 shows the battery tray. The drain tube exits the bottom of the tray, right above the transmission wiring harness.
See Figure 2 for the location of the harness and the connector at the transmission.
To correct this problem, re-route the drain tube so it is away from the wiring harness, or purchase the new drain tube listed in service information. Repair the wiring harness as necessary. Refer to figures 3 and 4 for terminal location and identification at the transmission control module and Figure 5 for a view of the harness connector.
Note: This information also includes ohm values and solenoid location as shown in Figure 6 in case the harness is good and a solenoid circuit fault is present.
Battery tray drain tube, Dodge part #05054250AC
A vehicle equipped with the AS68RC transmission may experience an early full TCC apply. This complaint may also be accompanied with no PTO operation. Or, the complaint is a loss of 5th, 6th and TCC apply.
One cause may be malfunctioning temperature sensors. There are two temperature sensors used with this transmission, TFT Sensor A located in the sump (Figure 7) and TFT Sensor B located in the “To Cooler” fitting on the transmission (Figure 8). TFT Sensor B monitors converter out temperature, which is typically hotter than the sump which TFT sensor A monitors.
If an overheat signal is sent to the TCM, the computer strategy is to fully apply the converter clutch at slightly above the 1,200 rpm range. PTO is also disabled. Likewise, if the sensors provide a cold reading to the TCM, the computer strategy is to prohibit 5th, 6th and TCC apply function.
When one or both of these sensors malfunction a diagnostic trouble code is suppose to be stored. The problem is that there have been reports of these sensors failing causing the affects yet the TCM does not set the codes making the cause of the malfunction elusive.
Compare scan data temperature readings with an actual reading using an infrared thermometer gun on the transmission pan and cooler out line. If the high temperature reading appears to be valid, then there is a transmission malfunction. This actual transmission overheat malfunction can be due to a defective torque converter, or a defective pump (turned stator shaft), or in some applications a malfunctioning thermal bypass valve in the cooling system.
If the reading taken by the thermal gun is normal yet the scan tool reports a much higher temperature, the sensor itself is malfunctioning and will need to be replaced.
Additional TFT sensor information for diagnostic purposes: The sump sensor is one of two temperature sensors which the TCM uses to determine shift scheduling, temperature fluctuations outside of the normal range will affect shift points.
Sump Temp Strategies
- Below -20° C (-4°F), extreme cold = P, R, N, limp-in 3rd, no TCC apply
- Below -10° C (14°F), super cold = P, R, N, 4, 3, 2, 1, no 5-6, No TCC, less downshifts
- Below 5° C (41°F), cold = P, R, N, 4, 3, 2, 1, no 5-6, no TCC
- Below 25° C (77°F), warm = all gears, no TCC
- Above 25° C (77°F), hot = normal operation
Converter Out Sensor Codes
- P2741 – TFT Sensor B circuit range performance
- P2742 – TFT Sensor B circuit low
- P2743 – TFT Sensor B circuit high
Service Information
- TFT Sensor A ………………#68019703AB
- TFT Sensor B ………………#68020004AA
November 2017 Issue
Volume 34, No. 11
- Dodge Caliber CVT: Multiple solenoid faults
- AS68RC: Early TCC apply & no PTO operation/no 5th, 6th, TCC apply
