The transmission is completly no good, the car slams into gear the automatic transmission kicks in and won't alow you to go into a higher gear.
Sounds like the now famous death knell of a Chrysler computer-controlled POS transaxle. In its last stage of decay, the computer slams the transmission into 2nd gear and locks it there until you shut down the motor and start up again. When this happens, you don't need to consult a dealer mechanic about the diagnosis. YOUR TRANSMISSION IS SHREDDED.
I have just received a 1997 Chrysler LHS and the transmission is not shifting. It runs at a high RPM. At low speeds there does not appear to be any issues. Higher speeds, one can hear the tranny whining. Is this the same problem? Probably. The car is absolutely beautiful and engine is strong, so I will invest in the repair.
Not worth fixing. Just sell it!
The whining problem is usually simply a very dirty transmission filter. When the transmission pump does not get enough fluid, it makes a distinctive whining sound. Flush the transmission fluid and change the filter. When the pump gets fluid, the whining will stop. I just had this same issue on my 1996 LHS, and problem solved!
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