1995 Dodge Stealth Car Hesitating and CEL on after transmis

1995 DODGE STEALTH
148,000 MILES • 6 CYL • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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ANITABLUE
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I just had a rebuilt transmission installed (2nd time in 8 years) and car ran fine on the way home (2 hour drive) except that the CEL was on. I called my mechanic and he said he didn't have the right equipment to reset the computer and the light should go off by itself, most likely by the time I got home. He also told me that he replaced the battery because it wouldn't hold a charge (he had to remove the battery to install the tranny).

The next day, however, the CEL was still on and the car has virtually no power on acceleration (forward or reverse). I couldn't even make it to the end of the street and pretty much had to coast back to my driveway. The car idles fine in park.

I've pretty much had everything replaced/repaired on this car and recent service includes air induction sensor, head gasket, plugs and fuel pump/filter.

Is there anything you can suggest that I look at and possibly fix myself before I have it towed to my mechanic and spend yet another several hundred dollars?

Thanks, Anita
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:12 PM
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Really need to start by getting codes out of the computer to start tracking it down. I'll do a litle research and post back with thoughts.
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:15 PM
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The best advice I can offer on this is to look under the hood for somthing that may be unplugged. The thing is, not knowing the codes doesn't help, but to send you in a direction blindly may not only cause you more greif and waste time and money trying to fix this over the net, but it may complicate the situation should another problem be caused from you and me trying to go after something with just a symptom.

IF you want to pull codes with a voltmeter I can tell you how, if you want to still go forward with this. Should this be related to the transmission replacement it should not cost you anything as the shop should warranty it.

You picked up the car and it was not complete, the CEL should not have been on. He assumed it was related to????? and didn't matter...I think it may be.

Let me know which way you would like to go and I wil gladly help.
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:42 PM
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ANITABLUE
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If you can advise me on how to pull the codes with a volt meter, that would be great! I assumed I needed one of those expensive OBD diagnostic tools for that.

I read in a different forum about disconnecting the battery for a few hours to reset the computer--what are your thoughts on that?

Could it be the computer itself? I live in south Florida and the car hasn't been garaged in several months, so I'm wondering about corrosion due to humidity.

I really appreciate all your help! Back in the day when cars were more simply built, I always worked on my own car but it seems so complicated now!
Apr 18, 2008 at 6:55 AM
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ANITABLUE
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You were right--something was disconnected. It was the Mass Air Flow Sensor. The shop would have had to disconnect it when replacing the transmission and apparently didn't reconnect it.

Thanks for your help and saving me some $$$!
Apr 18, 2008 at 4:27 PM
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I just got home and was working on getting caught up. Glad you found it!!!

Thank you for making the donation. and feel free to post anytime!
Apr 18, 2008 at 5:00 PM