I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your video. Actually my husband and I are in the market to purchase a minivan and only BECAUSE of your video, we are actually willing to buy a 2017 Pacifica. I have subscribed to your channel and will continue to look for additional videos on your auto repairs, as we trust your opinion/advice with fixes. You sound like a man who knows what he is talking about and I appreciate you taking the time to make informative videos from your experience on your own van. Thanks again.
Thanks for checking in Megan. I am glad I was able to provide you with some helpful information. Thanks for being a subscriber, I will continue to work at providing reliable and real world information.
You have no idea how long I've oozed for answers about my 2017 pacifica!! The dealers did the update, improved it for a short time, only to go straight back into crazy hard shifts!! Thanks so much for this info 😊
You are likely correct. Most of them act like their job is to separate their customers from their money…if they can fix their car it’s a secondary goal.
I dunno man 95% of these guys can't actually diagnose this stuff if it's not a blunt in your face problem they have no idea how to figure it out no joke i just got paid 6,500 to fly to a dealer because they had 1 vehicle go through 13 ac compressors in a matter of 3 months took me an entire 30 minutes and 14 seconds to figure out what the problem was They got a batch of compressors that came low on oil all I did was Evacuate freon and oil seen the oil was literally 2 ounces low i added 4 because I actually pulled the tube the oil was in and measured it ... which it was wrong then I added oil and freon in bam problem fixed on a 160,000 dollar car that I don't ever even work on That's just the stupidest thing I could think of for an example I've fixed alot of super stupid stuff that alot can't seem to figure out it honestly drives me nuts ...... and in most shops it seems they have the attitude of that's not my job mentality which does suck but I understand to an extent
I own one I've been a mechanic for 30 years I understand exactly what you are saying This is more of a self-adjusting system that needs some adjustments As long as the transmission is not about to go out I can understand and relate to it Thank you for your video.
Your the man dude you helped me withy wife's van 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and rest the transmission from your other video now I'm going to clean up the ruff idle and change spark plugs and possibly coil packs plus transmission fluid thank you very much for putting this info and how to videos out there .
Glad I could help. I suspect my oil filter housing/oil cooler is leaking coolant. Stay tuned, I'll let you know how that turns out. I should have looked at it/replaced it when I did the plugs.
This has bugged us for years on our 2017 Pacifica. Our dealer/service dept was useless when we took it in on 2 occasions and we were charged for service that pretty much accomplished nothing. It seems to happen at least once a week, at around 15 mph. That said, we're going to be going back to Honda or Toyota for our next family vehicle.
It is one of the most frustrating things in life, a vehicle that has issues...and a dealer that isn't helpful. I have run into this over the years and I always wonder if they are really that incompetent or if its all an act. I mitigate this shifting issue (I agree 15mph is the worst) by resetting the transmission control module about once a month. ruclips.net/video/k5lQmHBBvQA/видео.html Unfortunately the Honda Odyssey has the same ZF 9 speed transmission and had very similar issues. I have yet to find a good resource to accurately depict a vehicle's reliability. It's almost like you have to get knee deep in forums for each vehicle that you are considering and see what problems people are having.
My Pacifica is the only car I’ve ever owned that makes me nervous driving. Especially long distance. I had a Toyota Sienna quite old that drove all over US and Mexico never gave any issues.
@@TheLawnEngineer Its not really that hard. If you watch a couple different automotive youtubers you can usually figure things out easily enough. Hondas have always had transmission issues, as well as Chrysler, which logic would dictate is the reason they are both now using ZF transmissions instead of their own units. Toyotas rarely have any transmission problems, they use Aisin transmissions which they are the majority owner of. They did have issues with their 8 speed units when first released but resolved the problem fairly quickly. The real key is trying to avoid transmission with any more than 5 or 6 gears, especially ones that were just released.
We have a 2017 Pacifica that my wife usually drives, but when I drive it, it does this little bucking BS occasionally. When it happens, my wife comments that it happens to her, too, but not very often. Your description of the problem makes sense to me if you fold in different drivers as a variable. The controller is making changes based on the main driver's habits and then receives inputs based on those of another driver. What do you think? Could the settings for habits of one driver cause these issues more often? We have not been dissatisfied with the performance of the vehicle at all, and this issue occurs only once in a great while. The vehicle has only 77k miles.
Yes, the different driving habits can contribute to the poor shifting. My position is that the controller should be better than that…but that and $5 might get you a bowl of soup.
I just got a 2017 pacifica and as u say the trans acted a bit wonky so I took ur idea and did a reset. Better. Than I took it back to the dealer and drove around with a mechanic who used to rebuild transmissions. Of course the van performed performed perfectly for him. He explained the adaptive soft wear and told me I could try a reboot by disconnecting the battery and shorting the leads together and wait five minutes than reconnect and start it up. So I discovered the second battery and disconnected that also when I found there was still spark when shorting the main battery leads. So it seems good after a few days. What do u think?
I believe that is another way to clear the adaptive changes. Unfortunately, I think the poor shifting will come back, but at least you can mitigate with disconnecting the batteries or my method.
You’re welcome. It’s great to hear that you have a good dealer to go to! When you only hear about bad experiences, it makes you wonder if there is any good dealers left.
My 17' Pacifica does this hard shift like you talk about... very annoying.. kind of scary at times.. I reset the adaptions every few months and problem solved.
Places are now offering a transmission flush and changing out fluids using a machine (Valvoline, PepBoys, even Walmart). I've watched your partial exchange ) remove driver front wheel AND measuring actual (exact) amount to change out. AMSOIL is offering a compatible ATF; thoughts on using Amsoil's alternative fluids (synthetic). Curious if you think the new exchange using a system designed by Valvoline is the easier/better option? I used the Coolant flush for my 2017 Pacifica
I used AMSOIL in my drain and fill video. I think they make great lubricants. I’m not a fan of a transmission flush. Unless it is done early and often. The friction material from the clutch packs becomes dispersed in the fluid and modifies its properties. If all the fluid is exchanged at one time it often causes transmissions to slip.
@TheLawnEngineer purchased 5 quarts (just in case) Amsoil; waiting for delivery. Level ground, both front wheels lifted (driver side removed) or should I have the passenger side lifted slightly higher to drain fluid out? Currently working on the intake cleaning video and changing all fluids, spark plugs, etc. Check engine light is on (secondary DTC's) 1) P0440: General Evap System Failure 2) P0456 Evap System small leak 3) C1252-92 vacuum pump circuit performance- performance or incorrect operation 4) C1246-1C Vacuum Pressure Sensor Supply- circuit voltage out of range. Just purchased and check engine light comes on on the ride home from "dealer". Suspect they reset codes before I bought (no proof). Your insights and videos are giving me great insight/help. Thank you
I just got my transmission replaced on my 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Tour XL because when put into gear a loud violent metal grinding noise coming from inside the transmission, and vehicle stopped moving entirely. When the vehicle was started the RPM's jump without touching the gas pedal. I had to get it towed, but luckily it was under warranty still, and got the entire transmission replaced. Do you think if I do your transmission reset once per month, it should keep the minivan in good working order? Really appreciate this video you posted!
Unfortunately the transmission is the regular Pacifica and Hybrid are completely different. The hybrid has a CVT (no gears so no shifting). I don’t have specific experience with this CVT but in general, they are not reliable.
Nice video Lawn Engineer. I am/was considering purchasing a 2017 Pacifica to drive across Canada. After watching your video and a couple others highlighting Pacifica issues/recalls I'm having second thoughts. Have you had any other probs with yours?
Only other issue is that the power sliding doors not closing all the way occasionally. I made a video on troubleshooting and fixing that…otherwise I love the vehicle for a family hauler. If you go 2020+ you should avoid the transmission issue, they started using a different transmission computer.
@@MeneHuneUSA probably it ill be possible since it use the same transmission BUT I think that other module/s like the BCM (body control module) and/or the PCM (powertrain control module) needs to be reprogrammed to work "accordingly" with the TCM (transmission control module). I'm just saying.
My van has always done that bad shift, but when it had 25k, I was in bumper to bumper traffic when it started doing the jumps, but it got stuck in that gear, It was super hard to accelerate under 40 mph. So I pulled over and tried turning it on and off but the van wouldn’t let me start it. I was trying to get it started again by opening the doors when I turned it off and eventually it turned back on, however, it remained stuck in gear all the way to the job (I use my van for work but I don’t max the payload. I was in a hurry to get to the job, and the transmission would not accelerate fast 😂) it smelled Burt all the way, so I was expecting my van not to turn on after my job was over, but if worked perfectly fine. And it has never done that super bad shift that it locks in gear. That’s the closest I’ve ever been to calling a tow truck, but 8th time starting it was the charm. My buddies thought I was purposely driving slow/ but I just couldn’t accelerate. My van is now on 165k miles and it still does the bad shifts and I tried taking it to the dealer about the transmission problem but “it’s a software issue” I thought they had their head in their a….
Thanks for the info. I have the same vehicle, and same symptoms. I'll give it a try. Currently trying to get to the bottom of a P1034 Engine code. Feels extra rough, and the engine wants to stall when idoling sometimes. Ever had an issue with this? Thanks!
I would start with the transmission reset, if the shifts get bad enough it will throw the light. For the idle I have this video as a starting point. ruclips.net/video/jS3nRZAaUFk/видео.html Unfortunately it sounds like the root cause of your poor idle may be beyond what I cover in that video. I have heard of a few cases of low fuel pressure due to corrosion on the fuel pump connectors. Anyway a decent scan tool can be used to troubleshoot this in short order (look at fuel rail pressure). The generic codes are difficult to get a diagnosis from.
Just for clarity, when it keeps adding changes and not going the other direction, that is actually a feed forward loop. Thanks for the rest of the info.
Does this also work when you are driving at slow speeds and the transmission loses connection to the car's computer? To the point where you have to restart it? I tried your method and it seemed to clear it up. At least for now
Great video. I just bought a 2017 Pacifica and noticed this hard shift the past couple of days. I just tried it hopefully it will fix it. My only question is how often do you have to do this?
Thanks for your exhaustive work and explanation. It is very unfortunate for consumers and Chrysler should be required to hold the TCM Manufacturer Bosch accountable for paying the repair costs. I thought German engineering was supposed to be top notch, maybe no longer. I could not buy another Chrysler again because of this unsupportive gesture to make the problem right. It is actually a dangerous road hazard and the US THSA should have forced Chrysler to recall and replace defective TCMs.
You're welcome, I'm glad I could help the Pacifica owners in a small way. I completely agree with your assessment of the situation with the TCM....very unfortunate that consumers are treated so poorly.
Thank you very much for taking your time to help others, specially saving time and $$. I don't have a pacifica atm but planning to buy one soon (probably a 2018). I been reading different comments about issues, one that makes me be worried is the one that driving on the hwy, the car stalls..., did you ever expericenced something related? Looks like if your vin number doesn't have a recall, is a "good sign" but you never know. Is a shame that this practical vehicle has some recalls that can be "dangerous".
Your video on resetting the memory saved me a ton if headache. Now my passenger sliding door as reverted to an old school sliding door. Trying to power slide it results in it beeping 3 times and not moving. I'm thinking it's probably a code issue that needs to be flashed.
Before taking it in, I would try disconnecting the negative battery cable on the main the auxiliary (if you have auto start/stop). Let it sit for a few minutes without power, this will reset the sliding door modules. Reconnect the batteries and there is a good chance your doors will be back in operation.
Besides the transmission BANG and the rusting hood it’s a nice automobile. Dealers will tell you a bad battery is the problem regarding the transmission problem. Totally ridiculous ! They Try to bang you over the head for $500. The Rusting hood is under warranty. Cruise control patch was released and must be installed. This was a recall issue.
I haven't heard the one about a bad battery...I know low voltage can cause some electrical gremlins but come on! That's what I dislike the most, just be honest and admit there is a problem. It is unfortunate because I love the vehicle otherwise. if they just kept from shooting themselves in the foot they might have a good business.
My understanding is these transmissions have what are known as “dog” clutches. This was in a move to make everything fit in such a small size. I’ve been in a position to consider one of these years ago, but spoiler alert we decided not to. If anyone is wondering, in a clutch like this instead of using friction and reaction disks like a normal clutch it literally meshes two gear sets, or dogs. The main advantage of this clutch is rather than relying on coefficient of friction and pressure all you need to worry about is the strength of the metal-to-metal interface. The result is a clutch of maybe half the axial length not counting piston with a shorter tolerance stack up which helps further shorten the clutch. Sometimes you really do only need 5 or 10 millimeters. Cue this psycho idea. There is however a big down side to a dog clutch. When meshing the two sides of these gears together you HAVE to know the relative speed between them. This seems simple but if you have enough error in your speeds it is going to shift with a bang. I’m fairly confident that at least in the random hard shift department this is the problem. Whatever method they’re using to measure relative speed between or even position of the dogs isn’t good enough. The trim must be an attempt to overcome speed uncertainty but it could be pretty easy for something like that to go into wind up.
I think your summary is spot on, couldn’t use regular clutches and fit in 9 speeds. The interesting part is, the base tune is pretty smooth. The problem arises when the adaptions start happening. It might be from as you mentioned, poor speed feedback so the adaptions are being made to poor data. It’s too bad we can’t just turn off the adaptions
@@PaulDo22 yes, if you have a high end scan tool you can go in and see all the shifting timing. I’m sure a good technician at the dealer could do this too but unfortunately they don’t have support from Chrysler to fix it. They are stuck with just resetting and patching in an updated if one exits.
@@TheLawnEngineer Sounds right. I was more curious to see if a DIY warrior could do better than the answers we have been given through Chrysler. Your answer sounds the most plausible but that would confirm it.
Have you ever had a problem with turning left at very low speeds making a vibrating/pulsating sound up under the hood you could feel it in the steering wheel? Only happens at very low speeds and only turning fully to the left, is very intermittent and goes away as soon as your turn back to the center. Thanks
Yes , I had the same vibration. It never seemed to get worse so I left it alone. The steering wheel also occasionally seemed to prefer to be off center slightly to the left. This was always momentarily and resolved itself.
Okay great. Thanks for posting all the videos on the Pacifica they're awesome you do such a great job. I just purchased a 2017 with 22,000 miles on it.
I just purchased a 2017 Pacifica with 55k kms (35k miles) and came across your great videos. I’m not noticing any hard shifts yet. I’ve been driving it for 5 days now. Do you recommend resetting the TCM anyways? My concern is that if I reset now, will I have to continue resetting every couple of months going forward. Thoughts?
I would hold off on resetting the TCM. I can’t say if 100% have a problem. It would be great if you could check-in after some time to let everyone know if your shifts got worse over time and required a reset.
@@rnparimore09 Overall it is a good van with nice features. I ended up getting ride of it at around 90,000 miles because I was getting tired of the repairs and wanted to try an EV. My Pacifica videos are all here: ruclips.net/p/PLbrthXtEfbVh9IxGOIdUhzkYhZXdJAsjz
Thanks for the videos. A few questions. 1) Do you think allowing only one driver will help since the TCM does not have to learn the habits of other drivers? 2) Once the TCM is reset can there be some initial hard shifts as the TCM re-learns? I ask because my son drove the vehicle the night before I did and it was hard shifting frequently the next day when I drove it. I reset the TCM, had a few minor bumps then it seemed to smooth out. I intentionally drove through the center of town with a lot of start and stops and had no issues. In fact, the shifts were fairly smooth for about an hour of driving. I then intentionally accelerated quickly and noticed a slight bump on the downshift. Seems like once it learns my driving habits I have to maintain those habits (slow, gentle accelerations).
I don’t know for sure because I’ve never studied the actual code used. But all of your points are valid. I have noticed a few less than ideal shifts directly after a reset and then smooths out. Also, it does seem to like slow smooth acceleration the best and different drivers can have wildly different styles. I believe the root cause of the issues on this system has something to do with the feedback sensors are giving the computer. They are either not accurate enough or don’t sample frequently enough to provide good direction to the computer. The computer then is making changes based on erroneous data and the mistakes add up over time compounded into an almost undrivable state.
@@TheLawnEngineer i can see where a slow sample rate from the sensors would paint an erroneous picture for the computer. If there are not enough data points, the computer would have to interpolate; if it is even capable. Like trying to watch a pixelating TV and understand what is happening. You won't have an accurate picture
Could you possibly shed some light? This is a bunny trail, from the shifting issue you had on your 2017. Your story of clearing the module and our issue with the TCM has me wondering if you might be on to a possible mitigation. We bought a 2020 Pacifica Limited, 79,000 miles, 35 days ago. Stalled at 30mph. It started up, in apx 15 minutes. Mechanic read the codes, said the TCM wasn't communicating well, with the other modules and shut down. He said the module connections on the battery were loose and tightened them. It stalled again 10 days later. The Chrysler service center was able to get codes, as it stalled for them. The computer codes, from the previous owner and since we bought it tell a story of a long-term problem. According to the computer history the mechanic (of the previous owner) reprogrammed the computer and it was sold to our used car dealer. The Chrysler mechanic said his educated guess was that everything pointed to replacing the TCM that all the other computer modules couldn't communicate with. This entire time I have been in contact with the dealer, from which we bought the van. Yesterday, with the latest update of long term stalling issues, covered up with reprogramming, and the mechanic's educated guess for a fix, they asked us to bring the van back to them. They are going to have their Chrysler guy look at it. Thank you, for your time and insight.
An update. The TCM was replaces and a Chrysler dealer programmed it. Within 4 days, it stalled again, with an error msg to pull over, put in park and have the transmission serviced. Went back to the dealer. They reset the computer and replaced the shifting control, based on error msg. Good for a few days and it stalled again. At a loss.
I May be crazy, but there’s a couple of nice 2017 Pacificas for sale at very reasonable prices. Thinks about buying a used one with over 100k miles.. I’ve rented a Pacifica for a long road trip and was very impressed with it.
Overall I like the vehicle. If you can stand the rough shifting, it may be a good deal for you. One thing to verify, if the oil cooler has been replaced and/or if its currently leaking, see videos below. Oil Cooler Failure Videos ruclips.net/video/0srcjv20u4I/видео.html ruclips.net/video/GauBMDckIKE/видео.html
@@TheLawnEngineer we were impressed with the 2023 that we’ve rented. Not sure what trim level it was, but it worked so well, that’s why I’m interested. Thank you!
mine was doing this and the dealers has fixed it a couple times and I also received a letter from a lawyer on it and they said if I had to have it done 2 or more times to let them know.
I cover that in this video Chrysler Pacifica-Jeep Cherokee 948TE ZF 9 speed Transmission Reset: Fix those harsh shifts ruclips.net/video/REgRcfIc6Z0/видео.html I do the reset about every 3 weeks.
I have the P000B camshaft 2 bank 2 position sensor issue happening slow response. I bought a new sensor but am wondering if that piece is a red herring. Thoughts? I have the 2017 touring L Pacifica.
I had the same transmission in my Honda Civic X 1.6 Diesel 2019 and the main problem was that after the transmission would get warm the it would shift really hard at 26 mph when going from 4th to 5th gear. It was a loud metal bang with a hard jerk and it turned out this is something that cannot be reset. However the reset mentioned here did help with smoother shifting.
Chrysler does manufacture these transmissions in their plant (probably in Mexico) under license from ZF, so the chances of the quality being lower than one built in Germany is increased substantially. Not that this has anything to do with this issue, just an FYI. Chrysler is also infamous for "fixing" their crappy products with a "software update" which doesnt seem to happen to other manufactures nearly as often and is really code for "we actually arent fixing anything, but this will pacify you for awhile". Ive been looking to buy one of these because Im broke and want a mini van and I noticed how cheap the used ones are, and this is probably exactly why. Its unfortunate, the ZF RWD transmissions are considered the best in the world. I have driven a dodge challenger with one and it shifts perfectly. You actually want a bit of a firm shift. Most people think thats a problem, but it makes the transmission last longer. When it shifts real smooth and soft, its because its slipping between gears. People think this is desirable when actually its the opposite. Nice work, very informative video. Will I buy one now? Still on the fence, if the right deal comes along, ill probably go for it.
Great additions to the video. It isn't easy to make a good transmission because the design and manufacturing have to be spot on as you have pointed out. Chrysler handling manufacturing does hurt that side of this transmission. Good luck on your decision whether to purchase or not but as least you are going in with your eyes open...buying one and then finding out about the shifting problems is not a pleasant experience.
have you had any problems with the auto/start stop? i went to start it one day and it wouldn’t start on the first attempt, dash lit up with all codes, once it started (on the second attempt) and since then it says the auto start stop is unavailable. it occasionally has a hard time starting. meaning when i hit the button it doesn’t start right up it’s kind of electrically clunky and takes a moment longer to start! but it always does on the first push. i have heard an occasional clunking sound in the engine and the rear brake assist is not available. i’m unsure if these are all related? would love your thoughts.
My Pacifica does not have the auto start/stop so I do not have personal experience. However, it sounds like your aux. battery needs to be replaced. The models with start/stop have two batteries, the large main one and another smaller one that is dedicated to powering the starter motor.
I had a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica limited and it would jerk and shift hard but It would do it a lot while merging onto a highway or on a highway. When it would do it the car would not accelerate for about 2 seconds so it was really dangerous and then one day the car wouldn’t start every light outside and inside the car started to flash we took it to the dealer it ended up being a bad battery but we only had it for about 2 years and the dealer test drove the van and said nothing was wrong with it we took it in multiple times but we just ended up selling it to a company and bought a 2020 ford expedition.
I just bought a used ‘19 Pacifica with 35k miles. I’m noticing a bit of a subtle jerk/gear change at low speeds. Would this covered under warranty at 35K miles? Great video, awesome info btw!
Thanks for checking in. Yes, the transmission should be covered by the powertrain warranty. But, I haven't found anyone that had a dealer solve that very common issue.
@@TheLawnEngineerhanks for the reply. I forgot to mention we had a ‘19 Honda Passport and not once it shifted like the Pacifica at low speeds. I have done the TCM reset several times, but the hard shifts/low clunking noise remains. I might have to bring it into the dealer for the update. Thanks again fir this excellent explanation.
@@Mike_44 your welcome, thanks for sharing your experiences. I suspect Honda used a better/different control module. I don’t think it’s purely software, my leading theory is sampling rate on the transmission sensors is too slow, giving erroneous feedback.
@thelawnengineer HOW are they getting away with this. Shouldn’t we be able to file a lawsuit or something. I too have an 19’ limited Pacifica and not long after purchasing I took it back 2 times and they swore they didn’t feel anything. 3yrs later it still jerks turning corners every now and then. NOW, the door cable is the issue and I got it back from the shop and NOW THE SEAT WARMER CONTROLS HAVE DISAPPEARED AND MY BACK UP CAM DIESNT COME ON! I’m sicka the van
@@angelajammer4759 very sad…people keep buying them I guess? I believe there is a class action lawsuit that covers a few years, google around and you will find it.
I took my Pacifica to the dealership about a month ago. It cost me $276 to be told there was nothing wrong with my car. Useless. I've done this and we'll see how it goes.
The least they could do is be honest…we see this problem a lot but there isn’t anything we can do about it…before you spend $276. Unfortunately, they all seem to be in the business of taking money and occasionally fixing vehicles.
A little update on my Pacifica a year later.. I know you no longer own this car but just in case others are looking for info.. I have not reset the transmission on mine ever again and it has not jerked ever since. It’s as if the computer learned what to do at low speeds. The reset only brings it back to default settings, and the computer will not have any learned driving habits stored. So DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT reset the tranny otherwise you will still have the issue from time to time. Drive the car many miles and the jerks at low speeds will eventually disappear.
I can’t confirm that, 2017-2020 is the 1st generation of the new Pacifica. I suspect the issue was the capability of the transmission control module which usually doesn’t get updated until a redesign/refresh that happened for the 2021 model year. Chrysler may have updated it before the scheduled refresh because of this issue but I can’t find any info on that. I believe someone commented in my transmission reset video that they had the problem with their 2019.
I have no personal experience with the 200 but it sounds like much the same issue, along with the Jeep Cherokee. I would reset the transmission and see if there is an improvement.
Reset procedure at the end of this video Updated 2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Transmission Reset: Fix those harsh shifts ruclips.net/video/REgRcfIc6Z0/видео.html
I believe they fixed this issue in 2020. The transmission control unit (TCU (trans. computer)) was the same from 2017-2019. It was changed in 2020 and has remained the same through 2022. I have not heard of anyone with an issue on 2020+, so I have to think it was a hardware limitation of the original TCU.
These dealerships don't want to do warranty work. If you have a intermittent problem good luck they want to keep your vehicle to try and find it they say after a few days the cannot make it do it. You get it back home and the next day it does it. I think it does it they don't know were to start. Myself a car today is a computer on wheels. Like your home computer it starts to mess up and you do a restart or reboot and it works fine again. Or sometimes a system restore fixes the problem. If you have a problem like this they should do a reboot of the computer when you have a intermittent problem. It solved my problem with the fob not detected at times. After like 3 times taking it to the dealer and them keeping it a few days and not finding the problem. After the 3rd time I asked for a computer reboot. I stayed in the car they hooked it up to the computer that goes to the factory which tested everything. The lights would cycle, windows up and down, everthing you would use and some you never though of. It took about 30 minutes or so why the tech just sat in a chair. When it was all said and done it was a bad fob. They reprogrammed a new key fob and it fixed all the problems I was having. It was under warranty even. To get them to do this was like pulling teeth. The scan tool they could not find anything. That doesn't mean something is wrong when you have a intermittent problem.
My 2017 Pacifica Limited. The ac compressor can never be switched off, wether the ac switch is on or off, the compressor will remain on. I can never get fresh air in my pacifica. Can you help
Unfortunately I know why you have a dead spot in your steering but it’s not an easy fix. There is a bad spot in the steering rack and the only real fix is to replace the assembly.
Hoping you may have some advice. I had the transmission update done on my 2017 pacifica, (along with other mechanical fixes). Shortly after I realized my van will not go into park the first drive of the day until I drive it for 10 mins or more. When I try to put it into park it automatically goes into neutral and the dashboard says "Service trans press break when stopped key off engine to engage park". After I drive it for 10 mins it goes into park no problem. Dealerships are stumped, as well as people on pacifica forum. Do you happen to have any guesses?
@@nichellerozelle1975 that is unfortunate. I would ask the dealership that performed the software upgrade to try again. Perhaps something didn't go correctly when they were flashing the software; although, it sounds like it is related to heat because of the 10 mins you describe. What has the dealership that performed the work said?
@@TheLawnEngineer okay, so when I messaged you I had an apt at a different dealership and they believe they found the problem. They said the Transmission Valve body is bad and it needs to be replaced. $2,000 fix. Thankful to finally have answers. Is this the part you spoke about in this video being made by Bosch and being faulty?
@@nichellerozelle1975 I agree with that dealerships assessment, it sounds like a valve is sticking until it warms up after ~10 mins of operation. This is not the part I was referring to. I was referring to the Bosch computer (Transmission Control Module) that is used to send the control signals to that valve body. The valve body is a set of solenoid valves that physical move to control the flow of fluid inside the transmission.
Great question, I wish I had some data on that but sadly I do not. I do have anecdotal feedback in that I have not heard of anyone who has had to replace the transmission because of catastrophic failure…the same transmission is used in Honda Odyssey vans.
@@TheLawnEngineer I had my 2019 chrysler hybrid pacifica transmission replaced exactly because of "catastrophic failure". Hoping the reset monthly will prevent this from happening again.
Unfortunately, this won’t fix a misfire. How many miles are on the van? A misfire on a single cylinder is usually caused by an ignition issue (coil or spark plug). Each cylinder has its own coil and they do fail. Spark plugs are usually good for around 100k miles.
@@TheLawnEngineer we swapped coil 3&5 and cleared the code. No ck engine light yet but its running rough upon starting. Any suggestions? Just wait for the code to come back?
@@jogl3914 you could wait to see if a cylinder 5 misfire appears, then you know it’s the coil. You could take a chance and replace the coil and see if it runs better.
At what point do you just say, you know what this vehicle is a piece of crap. We have a 2017 pacifica and I have never had as many issues or recalls on a vehicle as I have had on this one and I am ready to drive it into a wall.
Have you done the reset? It has helped myself and many others. 2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Transmission Reset: Improve those harsh shifts ruclips.net/video/k5lQmHBBvQA/видео.html
Have you replaced the battery? You could try to disconnect the negative terminal of your battery for a few minutes to reset all of the vehicle's computers. I would also go through the fuses (they are under the hood by the battery) the air blower motor fuse may have blown. Unfortunately, it is relatively easier to cause electrical damage when jump starting a car. Hopefully it just a fuse.
I had two versions of the recall done. They made small improvements but still had to do the reset routinely. That has been a couple of years so hopefully they have come up with something better.
That is very sad and frustrating. I can’t believe some people treat people like that. They could say, we know it’s a problem but we don’t have a solution.
I would say that my 2017 Pacifica shifts like a Mack truck, buuut, I bet a Mack truck shifts much much better. Them ole boys should just be ashamed…some companies don’t learn from their mistakes. Toyota does though….
@@TheLawnEngineer over 65 K rough ,jerky shifting most of the time but your rest TCM video helps ,only few days and it’s backs again in rough and jerky shifting and you can hear the bad shifting most of the time thx
You are 100% correct for most every transmission but this situation is slightly different. There is something wrong with the control system on this transmission. I suspect the sample rate for the feedback is not sufficient to accurate measure what's really going on the with transmission. The control system then adapts the parameters to erroneous data and shifting gets worse and worse. The control hardware is simply not good enough for this trans and that is why software updates can't fix it. I did the first fluid change on this trans and the fluid was nearly clear no clutch material.
As someone who has been told he needs a new transmission and I've been sweating when the shoe is going to eventually drop... You are my hero!
You're welcome, I'm glad I could help.
I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your video. Actually my husband and I are in the market to purchase a minivan and only BECAUSE of your video, we are actually willing to buy a 2017 Pacifica. I have subscribed to your channel and will continue to look for additional videos on your auto repairs, as we trust your opinion/advice with fixes. You sound like a man who knows what he is talking about and I appreciate you taking the time to make informative videos from your experience on your own van. Thanks again.
Thanks for checking in Megan. I am glad I was able to provide you with some helpful information. Thanks for being a subscriber, I will continue to work at providing reliable and real world information.
You have no idea how long I've oozed for answers about my 2017 pacifica!! The dealers did the update, improved it for a short time, only to go straight back into crazy hard shifts!! Thanks so much for this info 😊
I’m glad I was able to help. Thanks for leaving a nice message 👍
The dealership definitely knows. They just play games.
You are likely correct. Most of them act like their job is to separate their customers from their money…if they can fix their car it’s a secondary goal.
I dunno man 95% of these guys can't actually diagnose this stuff if it's not a blunt in your face problem they have no idea how to figure it out no joke i just got paid 6,500 to fly to a dealer because they had 1 vehicle go through 13 ac compressors in a matter of 3 months took me an entire 30 minutes and 14 seconds to figure out what the problem was
They got a batch of compressors that came low on oil all I did was Evacuate freon and oil seen the oil was literally 2 ounces low i added 4 because I actually pulled the tube the oil was in and measured it ... which it was wrong then I added oil and freon in bam problem fixed on a 160,000 dollar car that I don't ever even work on
That's just the stupidest thing I could think of for an example I've fixed alot of super stupid stuff that alot can't seem to figure out it honestly drives me nuts ...... and in most shops it seems they have the attitude of that's not my job mentality which does suck but I understand to an extent
I own one I've been a mechanic for 30 years I understand exactly what you are saying This is more of a self-adjusting system that needs some adjustments As long as the transmission is not about to go out I can understand and relate to it Thank you for your video.
I appreciate the support; especially given your experience. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
Your the man dude you helped me withy wife's van 2018 Chrysler Pacifica and rest the transmission from your other video now I'm going to clean up the ruff idle and change spark plugs and possibly coil packs plus transmission fluid thank you very much for putting this info and how to videos out there .
Glad I could help. I suspect my oil filter housing/oil cooler is leaking coolant. Stay tuned, I'll let you know how that turns out. I should have looked at it/replaced it when I did the plugs.
Had this issue with my ‘17. Performed the reset (after owning for 6 years 😂). Much better and many thanks. I’ll remember to do this monthly.
It’s not ideal that we have to perform this reset but I’m glad it helped
This has bugged us for years on our 2017 Pacifica. Our dealer/service dept was useless when we took it in on 2 occasions and we were charged for service that pretty much accomplished nothing. It seems to happen at least once a week, at around 15 mph. That said, we're going to be going back to Honda or Toyota for our next family vehicle.
It is one of the most frustrating things in life, a vehicle that has issues...and a dealer that isn't helpful. I have run into this over the years and I always wonder if they are really that incompetent or if its all an act.
I mitigate this shifting issue (I agree 15mph is the worst) by resetting the transmission control module about once a month. ruclips.net/video/k5lQmHBBvQA/видео.html
Unfortunately the Honda Odyssey has the same ZF 9 speed transmission and had very similar issues. I have yet to find a good resource to accurately depict a vehicle's reliability. It's almost like you have to get knee deep in forums for each vehicle that you are considering and see what problems people are having.
My Pacifica is the only car I’ve ever owned that makes me nervous driving. Especially long distance. I had a Toyota Sienna quite old that drove all over US and Mexico never gave any issues.
@@TheLawnEngineer Its not really that hard. If you watch a couple different automotive youtubers you can usually figure things out easily enough. Hondas have always had transmission issues, as well as Chrysler, which logic would dictate is the reason they are both now using ZF transmissions instead of their own units. Toyotas rarely have any transmission problems, they use Aisin transmissions which they are the majority owner of. They did have issues with their 8 speed units when first released but resolved the problem fairly quickly. The real key is trying to avoid transmission with any more than 5 or 6 gears, especially ones that were just released.
Thanks for your learning videos, i did the reset on my 2014 Jeep Cherokee KL and i feel right away the improvements in shifting.
Great to hear!
Amazing work sir. I really appreciate you taking the time and effort to record these videos for us. Keep up the awesome work.
You're welcome. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
We have a 2017 Pacifica that my wife usually drives, but when I drive it, it does this little bucking BS occasionally. When it happens, my wife comments that it happens to her, too, but not very often. Your description of the problem makes sense to me if you fold in different drivers as a variable. The controller is making changes based on the main driver's habits and then receives inputs based on those of another driver. What do you think? Could the settings for habits of one driver cause these issues more often? We have not been dissatisfied with the performance of the vehicle at all, and this issue occurs only once in a great while. The vehicle has only 77k miles.
Yes, the different driving habits can contribute to the poor shifting. My position is that the controller should be better than that…but that and $5 might get you a bowl of soup.
I just got a 2017 pacifica and as u say the trans acted a bit wonky so I took ur idea and did a reset. Better. Than I took it back to the dealer and drove around with a mechanic who used to rebuild transmissions. Of course the van performed performed perfectly for him. He explained the adaptive soft wear and told me I could try a reboot by disconnecting the battery and shorting the leads together and wait five minutes than reconnect and start it up. So I discovered the second battery and disconnected that also when I found there was still spark when shorting the main battery leads. So it seems good after a few days. What do u think?
I believe that is another way to clear the adaptive changes. Unfortunately, I think the poor shifting will come back, but at least you can mitigate with disconnecting the batteries or my method.
I appreciate this video! And now I like my dealer as they told me the same although very briefly.
You’re welcome. It’s great to hear that you have a good dealer to go to! When you only hear about bad experiences, it makes you wonder if there is any good dealers left.
My 17' Pacifica does this hard shift like you talk about... very annoying.. kind of scary at times.. I reset the adaptions every few months and problem solved.
I agree, the shifting can get scary…at least there is this band aid (resetting)
Places are now offering a transmission flush and changing out fluids using a machine (Valvoline, PepBoys, even Walmart). I've watched your partial exchange ) remove driver front wheel AND measuring actual (exact) amount to change out. AMSOIL is offering a compatible ATF; thoughts on using Amsoil's alternative fluids (synthetic). Curious if you think the new exchange using a system designed by Valvoline is the easier/better option? I used the Coolant flush for my 2017 Pacifica
I used AMSOIL in my drain and fill video. I think they make great lubricants.
I’m not a fan of a transmission flush. Unless it is done early and often. The friction material from the clutch packs becomes dispersed in the fluid and modifies its properties. If all the fluid is exchanged at one time it often causes transmissions to slip.
@TheLawnEngineer purchased 5 quarts (just in case) Amsoil; waiting for delivery. Level ground, both front wheels lifted (driver side removed) or should I have the passenger side lifted slightly higher to drain fluid out? Currently working on the intake cleaning video and changing all fluids, spark plugs, etc.
Check engine light is on (secondary DTC's) 1) P0440: General Evap System Failure
2) P0456 Evap System small leak
3) C1252-92 vacuum pump circuit performance- performance or incorrect operation
4) C1246-1C Vacuum Pressure Sensor Supply- circuit voltage out of range.
Just purchased and check engine light comes on on the ride home from "dealer". Suspect they reset codes before I bought (no proof).
Your insights and videos are giving me great insight/help. Thank you
I just got my transmission replaced on my 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Tour XL because when put into gear a loud violent metal grinding noise coming from inside the transmission, and vehicle stopped moving entirely. When the vehicle was started the RPM's jump without touching the gas pedal. I had to get it towed, but luckily it was under warranty still, and got the entire transmission replaced. Do you think if I do your transmission reset once per month, it should keep the minivan in good working order? Really appreciate this video you posted!
Unfortunately the transmission is the regular Pacifica and Hybrid are completely different. The hybrid has a CVT (no gears so no shifting). I don’t have specific experience with this CVT but in general, they are not reliable.
Nice video Lawn Engineer. I am/was considering purchasing a 2017 Pacifica to drive across Canada. After watching your video and a couple others highlighting Pacifica issues/recalls I'm having second thoughts. Have you had any other probs with yours?
Only other issue is that the power sliding doors not closing all the way occasionally. I made a video on troubleshooting and fixing that…otherwise I love the vehicle for a family hauler. If you go 2020+ you should avoid the transmission issue, they started using a different transmission computer.
Can that different TCM be ordered to replace the original if the ZF9 is still the same?
@@MeneHuneUSA probably it ill be possible since it use the same transmission BUT I think that other module/s like the BCM (body control module) and/or the PCM (powertrain control module) needs to be reprogrammed to work "accordingly" with the TCM (transmission control module). I'm just saying.
Canadians are so cheap.
My van has always done that bad shift, but when it had 25k, I was in bumper to bumper traffic when it started doing the jumps, but it got stuck in that gear, It was super hard to accelerate under 40 mph. So I pulled over and tried turning it on and off but the van wouldn’t let me start it. I was trying to get it started again by opening the doors when I turned it off and eventually it turned back on, however, it remained stuck in gear all the way to the job (I use my van for work but I don’t max the payload. I was in a hurry to get to the job, and the transmission would not accelerate fast 😂) it smelled Burt all the way, so I was expecting my van not to turn on after my job was over, but if worked perfectly fine. And it has never done that super bad shift that it locks in gear. That’s the closest I’ve ever been to calling a tow truck, but 8th time starting it was the charm. My buddies thought I was purposely driving slow/ but I just couldn’t accelerate. My van is now on 165k miles and it still does the bad shifts and I tried taking it to the dealer about the transmission problem but “it’s a software issue” I thought they had their head in their a….
It is amazing a vehicle like this is still being sold in 2023.
It’s actually one major benefit of EVs…no freaking transmission 🤣
Going to try resetting. Been noticing the shift between 1st and 2nd is rough if i let off the gas a little bit before the shift occurs
I hope this helps, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Thanks for the info. I have the same vehicle, and same symptoms. I'll give it a try. Currently trying to get to the bottom of a P1034 Engine code. Feels extra rough, and the engine wants to stall when idoling sometimes. Ever had an issue with this?
Thanks!
I would start with the transmission reset, if the shifts get bad enough it will throw the light.
For the idle I have this video as a starting point.
ruclips.net/video/jS3nRZAaUFk/видео.html
Unfortunately it sounds like the root cause of your poor idle may be beyond what I cover in that video. I have heard of a few cases of low fuel pressure due to corrosion on the fuel pump connectors. Anyway a decent scan tool can be used to troubleshoot this in short order (look at fuel rail pressure). The generic codes are difficult to get a diagnosis from.
Just for clarity, when it keeps adding changes and not going the other direction, that is actually a feed forward loop. Thanks for the rest of the info.
Thanks for the proper terminology 👍
Does this also work when you are driving at slow speeds and the transmission loses connection to the car's computer? To the point where you have to restart it? I tried your method and it seemed to clear it up. At least for now
Yes it has been reported to resolve that issue. I think the parameters get so far off that the car goes into limp mode.
Great video. I just bought a 2017 Pacifica and noticed this hard shift the past couple of days. I just tried it hopefully it will fix it. My only question is how often do you have to do this?
I have to reset every 3-4 weeks, I have an updated video here: ruclips.net/video/REgRcfIc6Z0/видео.html
Thanks for your exhaustive work and explanation. It is very unfortunate for consumers and Chrysler should be required to hold the TCM Manufacturer Bosch accountable for paying the repair costs. I thought German engineering was supposed to be top notch, maybe no longer. I could not buy another Chrysler again because of this unsupportive gesture to make the problem right. It is actually a dangerous road hazard and the US THSA should have forced Chrysler to recall and replace defective TCMs.
You're welcome, I'm glad I could help the Pacifica owners in a small way.
I completely agree with your assessment of the situation with the TCM....very unfortunate that consumers are treated so poorly.
Thank you very much for taking your time to help others, specially saving time and $$. I don't have a pacifica atm but planning to buy one soon (probably a 2018). I been reading different comments about issues, one that makes me be worried is the one that driving on the hwy, the car stalls..., did you ever expericenced something related? Looks like if your vin number doesn't have a recall, is a "good sign" but you never know. Is a shame that this practical vehicle has some recalls that can be "dangerous".
The stalling is related to the transmission shifting. Resetting the TCM regularly will prevent the shifting for getting so bad it causes stalling.
Your video on resetting the memory saved me a ton if headache.
Now my passenger sliding door as reverted to an old school sliding door. Trying to power slide it results in it beeping 3 times and not moving. I'm thinking it's probably a code issue that needs to be flashed.
Before taking it in, I would try disconnecting the negative battery cable on the main the auxiliary (if you have auto start/stop). Let it sit for a few minutes without power, this will reset the sliding door modules. Reconnect the batteries and there is a good chance your doors will be back in operation.
Besides the transmission BANG and the rusting hood it’s a nice automobile. Dealers will tell you a bad battery is the problem regarding the transmission problem. Totally ridiculous ! They Try to bang you over the head for $500. The Rusting hood is under warranty. Cruise control patch was released and must be installed. This was a recall issue.
I haven't heard the one about a bad battery...I know low voltage can cause some electrical gremlins but come on! That's what I dislike the most, just be honest and admit there is a problem.
It is unfortunate because I love the vehicle otherwise. if they just kept from shooting themselves in the foot they might have a good business.
My understanding is these transmissions have what are known as “dog” clutches. This was in a move to make everything fit in such a small size. I’ve been in a position to consider one of these years ago, but spoiler alert we decided not to. If anyone is wondering, in a clutch like this instead of using friction and reaction disks like a normal clutch it literally meshes two gear sets, or dogs. The main advantage of this clutch is rather than relying on coefficient of friction and pressure all you need to worry about is the strength of the metal-to-metal interface. The result is a clutch of maybe half the axial length not counting piston with a shorter tolerance stack up which helps further shorten the clutch. Sometimes you really do only need 5 or 10 millimeters. Cue this psycho idea.
There is however a big down side to a dog clutch. When meshing the two sides of these gears together you HAVE to know the relative speed between them. This seems simple but if you have enough error in your speeds it is going to shift with a bang. I’m fairly confident that at least in the random hard shift department this is the problem. Whatever method they’re using to measure relative speed between or even position of the dogs isn’t good enough. The trim must be an attempt to overcome speed uncertainty but it could be pretty easy for something like that to go into wind up.
I think your summary is spot on, couldn’t use regular clutches and fit in 9 speeds. The interesting part is, the base tune is pretty smooth. The problem arises when the adaptions start happening. It might be from as you mentioned, poor speed feedback so the adaptions are being made to poor data. It’s too bad we can’t just turn off the adaptions
@@TheLawnEngineer Is there a way to monitor the data to identify if the timing is the culprit?
@@PaulDo22 yes, if you have a high end scan tool you can go in and see all the shifting timing. I’m sure a good technician at the dealer could do this too but unfortunately they don’t have support from Chrysler to fix it. They are stuck with just resetting and patching in an updated if one exits.
@@TheLawnEngineer Sounds right. I was more curious to see if a DIY warrior could do better than the answers we have been given through Chrysler. Your answer sounds the most plausible but that would confirm it.
Have you ever had a problem with turning left at very low speeds making a vibrating/pulsating sound up under the hood you could feel it in the steering wheel? Only happens at very low speeds and only turning fully to the left, is very intermittent and goes away as soon as your turn back to the center. Thanks
Yes , I had the same vibration. It never seemed to get worse so I left it alone. The steering wheel also occasionally seemed to prefer to be off center slightly to the left. This was always momentarily and resolved itself.
Okay great. Thanks for posting all the videos on the Pacifica they're awesome you do such a great job. I just purchased a 2017 with 22,000 miles on it.
@@HiltonFirewood-su6si You're welcome, I'm glad that you are finding them helpful.
Your transmission reset is the best!
I just purchased a 2017 Pacifica with 55k kms (35k miles) and came across your great videos. I’m not noticing any hard shifts yet. I’ve been driving it for 5 days now. Do you recommend resetting the TCM anyways? My concern is that if I reset now, will I have to continue resetting every couple of months going forward. Thoughts?
I would hold off on resetting the TCM. I can’t say if 100% have a problem.
It would be great if you could check-in after some time to let everyone know if your shifts got worse over time and required a reset.
Sounds good. Will do
@@kangemangi72 great, thanks.
@@TheLawnEngineerI'm looking at a 17 Pacifica. How has your held up? I would love to hear your experience
@@rnparimore09 Overall it is a good van with nice features. I ended up getting ride of it at around 90,000 miles because I was getting tired of the repairs and wanted to try an EV.
My Pacifica videos are all here: ruclips.net/p/PLbrthXtEfbVh9IxGOIdUhzkYhZXdJAsjz
Thanks! Resetting the Tranny as you indicated in your other video worked perfectly. I will do it monthly.
Glad to hear it helped, thanks for the super thanks!!
Thanks for the videos. A few questions. 1) Do you think allowing only one driver will help since the TCM does not have to learn the habits of other drivers? 2) Once the TCM is reset can there be some initial hard shifts as the TCM re-learns? I ask because my son drove the vehicle the night before I did and it was hard shifting frequently the next day when I drove it. I reset the TCM, had a few minor bumps then it seemed to smooth out. I intentionally drove through the center of town with a lot of start and stops and had no issues. In fact, the shifts were fairly smooth for about an hour of driving. I then intentionally accelerated quickly and noticed a slight bump on the downshift. Seems like once it learns my driving habits I have to maintain those habits (slow, gentle accelerations).
I don’t know for sure because I’ve never studied the actual code used. But all of your points are valid. I have noticed a few less than ideal shifts directly after a reset and then smooths out. Also, it does seem to like slow smooth acceleration the best and different drivers can have wildly different styles.
I believe the root cause of the issues on this system has something to do with the feedback sensors are giving the computer. They are either not accurate enough or don’t sample frequently enough to provide good direction to the computer. The computer then is making changes based on erroneous data and the mistakes add up over time compounded into an almost undrivable state.
@@TheLawnEngineer i can see where a slow sample rate from the sensors would paint an erroneous picture for the computer. If there are not enough data points, the computer would have to interpolate; if it is even capable. Like trying to watch a pixelating TV and understand what is happening. You won't have an accurate picture
Could you possibly shed some light?
This is a bunny trail, from the shifting issue you had on your 2017. Your story of clearing the module and our issue with the TCM has me wondering if you might be on to a possible mitigation.
We bought a 2020 Pacifica Limited, 79,000 miles, 35 days ago. Stalled at 30mph.
It started up, in apx 15 minutes.
Mechanic read the codes, said the TCM wasn't communicating well, with the other modules and shut down. He said the module connections on the battery were loose and tightened them. It stalled again 10 days later.
The Chrysler service center was able to get codes, as it stalled for them. The computer codes, from the previous owner and since we bought it tell a story of a long-term problem.
According to the computer history the mechanic (of the previous owner) reprogrammed the computer and it was sold to our used car dealer.
The Chrysler mechanic said his educated guess was that everything pointed to replacing the TCM that all the other computer modules couldn't communicate with.
This entire time I have been in contact with the dealer, from which we bought the van. Yesterday, with the latest update of long term stalling issues, covered up with reprogramming, and the mechanic's educated guess for a fix, they asked us to bring the van back to them. They are going to have their Chrysler guy look at it.
Thank you, for your time and insight.
To clarify, our van has not had the same issue with the transmission shifting and lurching.
I would push for a new TCM. Communication errors are a definite sign of a computer failing.
An update.
The TCM was replaces and a Chrysler dealer programmed it. Within 4 days, it stalled again, with an error msg to pull over, put in park and have the transmission serviced. Went back to the dealer. They reset the computer and replaced the shifting control, based on error msg.
Good for a few days and it stalled again.
At a loss.
@@usborneconnection wow, I’m sure you feel like driving the thing into a lake at this point. I guess TCM replacement isn’t the trick.
I May be crazy, but there’s a couple of nice 2017 Pacificas for sale at very reasonable prices. Thinks about buying a used one with over 100k miles.. I’ve rented a Pacifica for a long road trip and was very impressed with it.
Overall I like the vehicle. If you can stand the rough shifting, it may be a good deal for you. One thing to verify, if the oil cooler has been replaced and/or if its currently leaking, see videos below.
Oil Cooler Failure Videos
ruclips.net/video/0srcjv20u4I/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/GauBMDckIKE/видео.html
@@TheLawnEngineer we were impressed with the 2023 that we’ve rented. Not sure what trim level it was, but it worked so well, that’s why I’m interested. Thank you!
Great video, thank you!
You’re welcome
Frickin GENIUS! Thank you!
You’re welcome
mine was doing this and the dealers has fixed it a couple times and I also received a letter from a lawyer on it and they said if I had to have it done 2 or more times to let them know.
I also received a couple letters but I learned how to manage the situation so I never contacted them.
What do we think are the mileage intervals that we should be resetting
I cover that in this video Chrysler Pacifica-Jeep Cherokee 948TE ZF 9 speed Transmission Reset: Fix those harsh shifts
ruclips.net/video/REgRcfIc6Z0/видео.html
I do the reset about every 3 weeks.
I have the P000B camshaft 2 bank 2 position sensor issue happening slow response. I bought a new sensor but am wondering if that piece is a red herring. Thoughts? I have the 2017 touring L Pacifica.
Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with the cam sensor issue. I’ll make a video if I come across anything.
I had the same transmission in my Honda Civic X 1.6 Diesel 2019 and the main problem was that after the transmission would get warm the it would shift really hard at 26 mph when going from 4th to 5th gear.
It was a loud metal bang with a hard jerk and it turned out this is something that cannot be reset.
However the reset mentioned here did help with smoother shifting.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I had the same experience, the reset helps live with the transmission but doesn't make it perfect.
@@TheLawnEngineer I sold the car in the end as the prognosis was not good and I tried to avoid expensive repairs.
@@bojanjovanovic7531 sometimes that’s the best move
What is the name of the video that shows how to correct?
Here it is 2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Transmission Reset: Improve those harsh shifts
ruclips.net/video/k5lQmHBBvQA/видео.html
Chrysler does manufacture these transmissions in their plant (probably in Mexico) under license from ZF, so the chances of the quality being lower than one built in Germany is increased substantially. Not that this has anything to do with this issue, just an FYI. Chrysler is also infamous for "fixing" their crappy products with a "software update" which doesnt seem to happen to other manufactures nearly as often and is really code for "we actually arent fixing anything, but this will pacify you for awhile". Ive been looking to buy one of these because Im broke and want a mini van and I noticed how cheap the used ones are, and this is probably exactly why. Its unfortunate, the ZF RWD transmissions are considered the best in the world. I have driven a dodge challenger with one and it shifts perfectly. You actually want a bit of a firm shift. Most people think thats a problem, but it makes the transmission last longer. When it shifts real smooth and soft, its because its slipping between gears. People think this is desirable when actually its the opposite. Nice work, very informative video. Will I buy one now? Still on the fence, if the right deal comes along, ill probably go for it.
Great additions to the video. It isn't easy to make a good transmission because the design and manufacturing have to be spot on as you have pointed out. Chrysler handling manufacturing does hurt that side of this transmission.
Good luck on your decision whether to purchase or not but as least you are going in with your eyes open...buying one and then finding out about the shifting problems is not a pleasant experience.
Great video
Thank you
You’re welcome
Thank you very much for the information ❤️
You’re welcome
have you had any problems with the auto/start stop? i went to start it one day and it wouldn’t start on the first attempt, dash lit up with all codes, once it started (on the second attempt) and since then it says the auto start stop is unavailable. it occasionally has a hard time starting. meaning when i hit the button it doesn’t start right up it’s kind of electrically clunky and takes a moment longer to start! but it always does on the first push. i have heard an occasional clunking sound in the engine and the rear brake assist is not available. i’m unsure if these are all related? would love your thoughts.
My Pacifica does not have the auto start/stop so I do not have personal experience. However, it sounds like your aux. battery needs to be replaced. The models with start/stop have two batteries, the large main one and another smaller one that is dedicated to powering the starter motor.
I had a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica limited and it would jerk and shift hard but It would do it a lot while merging onto a highway or on a highway. When it would do it the car would not accelerate for about 2 seconds so it was really dangerous and then one day the car wouldn’t start every light outside and inside the car started to flash we took it to the dealer it ended up being a bad battery but we only had it for about 2 years and the dealer test drove the van and said nothing was wrong with it we took it in multiple times but we just ended up selling it to a company and bought a 2020 ford expedition.
Unfortunately, quite a few people have had the very same experience.
How to you clear the TCM? How to go to the base line programming?
At the end of this video Updated 2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Transmission Reset: Fix those harsh shifts
ruclips.net/video/REgRcfIc6Z0/видео.html
I just bought a used ‘19 Pacifica with 35k miles. I’m noticing a bit of a subtle jerk/gear change at low speeds. Would this covered under warranty at 35K miles? Great video, awesome info btw!
Thanks for checking in. Yes, the transmission should be covered by the powertrain warranty. But, I haven't found anyone that had a dealer solve that very common issue.
@@TheLawnEngineerhanks for the reply. I forgot to mention we had a ‘19 Honda Passport and not once it shifted like the Pacifica at low speeds. I have done the TCM reset several times, but the hard shifts/low clunking noise remains. I might have to bring it into the dealer for the update. Thanks again fir this excellent explanation.
@@Mike_44 your welcome, thanks for sharing your experiences. I suspect Honda used a better/different control module. I don’t think it’s purely software, my leading theory is sampling rate on the transmission sensors is too slow, giving erroneous feedback.
@thelawnengineer HOW are they getting away with this. Shouldn’t we be able to file a lawsuit or something. I too have an 19’ limited Pacifica and not long after purchasing I took it back 2 times and they swore they didn’t feel anything. 3yrs later it still jerks turning corners every now and then. NOW, the door cable is the issue and I got it back from the shop and NOW THE SEAT WARMER CONTROLS HAVE DISAPPEARED AND MY BACK UP CAM DIESNT COME ON! I’m sicka the van
@@angelajammer4759 very sad…people keep buying them I guess? I believe there is a class action lawsuit that covers a few years, google around and you will find it.
I took my Pacifica to the dealership about a month ago. It cost me $276 to be told there was nothing wrong with my car. Useless. I've done this and we'll see how it goes.
The least they could do is be honest…we see this problem a lot but there isn’t anything we can do about it…before you spend $276.
Unfortunately, they all seem to be in the business of taking money and occasionally fixing vehicles.
A little update on my Pacifica a year later.. I know you no longer own this car but just in case others are looking for info.. I have not reset the transmission on mine ever again and it has not jerked ever since. It’s as if the computer learned what to do at low speeds. The reset only brings it back to default settings, and the computer will not have any learned driving habits stored. So DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT reset the tranny otherwise you will still have the issue from time to time. Drive the car many miles and the jerks at low speeds will eventually disappear.
I appreciate you providing updates for everyone, thank you.
@@TheLawnEngineer Sure thing. You're welcome.
So, this problem still exists with the 2020 model?
I can’t confirm that, 2017-2020 is the 1st generation of the new Pacifica. I suspect the issue was the capability of the transmission control module which usually doesn’t get updated until a redesign/refresh that happened for the 2021 model year.
Chrysler may have updated it before the scheduled refresh because of this issue but I can’t find any info on that.
I believe someone commented in my transmission reset video that they had the problem with their 2019.
Mine was stalling and losing power, felt like it was running lean..it was the oxygen sensor.
Thanks for sharing, so others can learn from your experience.
Where is the trans spot to insert the dipstick. Doesn't fit in the fill location
The fill hole for the dipstick is accessed from the drivers side wheel well.
What about the Crysler 200? i notice there is a couple of recalls on my car.
I have no personal experience with the 200 but it sounds like much the same issue, along with the Jeep Cherokee. I would reset the transmission and see if there is an improvement.
Reset procedure at the end of this video Updated 2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Transmission Reset: Fix those harsh shifts
ruclips.net/video/REgRcfIc6Z0/видео.html
Good morning I was wondering how to reset the transmission
Hello,
At the end of this video: ruclips.net/video/REgRcfIc6Z0/видео.html
Is this an issue with the 21 - 22 year as well?
I believe they fixed this issue in 2020. The transmission control unit (TCU (trans. computer)) was the same from 2017-2019. It was changed in 2020 and has remained the same through 2022.
I have not heard of anyone with an issue on 2020+, so I have to think it was a hardware limitation of the original TCU.
watching this because I have the same issues on my 2022 with 66k on it 😢
These dealerships don't want to do warranty work. If you have a intermittent problem good luck they want to keep your vehicle to try and find it they say after a few days the cannot make it do it. You get it back home and the next day it does it. I think it does it they don't know were to start. Myself a car today is a computer on wheels. Like your home computer it starts to mess up and you do a restart or reboot and it works fine again. Or sometimes a system restore fixes the problem. If you have a problem like this they should do a reboot of the computer when you have a intermittent problem. It solved my problem with the fob not detected at times. After like 3 times taking it to the dealer and them keeping it a few days and not finding the problem. After the 3rd time I asked for a computer reboot. I stayed in the car they hooked it up to the computer that goes to the factory which tested everything. The lights would cycle, windows up and down, everthing you would use and some you never though of. It took about 30 minutes or so why the tech just sat in a chair. When it was all said and done it was a bad fob. They reprogrammed a new key fob and it fixed all the problems I was having. It was under warranty even. To get them to do this was like pulling teeth. The scan tool they could not find anything. That doesn't mean something is wrong when you have a intermittent problem.
You are spot on. I'm documenting my current experience with a small coolant leak now. I'm still under a powertrain warranty but it's still a struggle.
My 2017 Pacifica Limited. The ac compressor can never be switched off, wether the ac switch is on or off, the compressor will remain on. I can never get fresh air in my pacifica. Can you help
I’m assuming you have the auto climate? I’ll work on a video 👍
@@TheLawnEngineer yes my Pacifica does have Auto mode
@@ikhalid1 Ok, I'll look into the operation of this related to the AC compressor; it might make a good video.
Awesome! Next help us fix our pacifica power steering issue that causes the wheel to stick on a steady curve. Thanks in advanced!
Unfortunately I know why you have a dead spot in your steering but it’s not an easy fix.
There is a bad spot in the steering rack and the only real fix is to replace the assembly.
Hoping you may have some advice. I had the transmission update done on my 2017 pacifica, (along with other mechanical fixes). Shortly after I realized my van will not go into park the first drive of the day until I drive it for 10 mins or more. When I try to put it into park it automatically goes into neutral and the dashboard says "Service trans press break when stopped key off engine to engage park". After I drive it for 10 mins it goes into park no problem. Dealerships are stumped, as well as people on pacifica forum. Do you happen to have any guesses?
Yes, perform the reset at the end of this video.
@@TheLawnEngineer I have done that already as well.
@@nichellerozelle1975 that is unfortunate. I would ask the dealership that performed the software upgrade to try again. Perhaps something didn't go correctly when they were flashing the software; although, it sounds like it is related to heat because of the 10 mins you describe.
What has the dealership that performed the work said?
@@TheLawnEngineer okay, so when I messaged you I had an apt at a different dealership and they believe they found the problem. They said the Transmission Valve body is bad and it needs to be replaced. $2,000 fix. Thankful to finally have answers. Is this the part you spoke about in this video being made by Bosch and being faulty?
@@nichellerozelle1975 I agree with that dealerships assessment, it sounds like a valve is sticking until it warms up after ~10 mins of operation.
This is not the part I was referring to. I was referring to the Bosch computer (Transmission Control Module) that is used to send the control signals to that valve body. The valve body is a set of solenoid valves that physical move to control the flow of fluid inside the transmission.
How’s the longevity reliable of this transmission after out of powertrain warranty? Thanks
Great question, I wish I had some data on that but sadly I do not. I do have anecdotal feedback in that I have not heard of anyone who has had to replace the transmission because of catastrophic failure…the same transmission is used in Honda Odyssey vans.
@@TheLawnEngineer I had my 2019 chrysler hybrid pacifica transmission replaced exactly because of "catastrophic failure". Hoping the reset monthly will prevent this from happening again.
@@mylounge9703 hybrid uses a different transmission
I have a p0303 code cylinder 3 misfire. Would the fix in the video help? I've had the van less than 3 weeks and driven about 1000 miles. I'm so sad.
Unfortunately, this won’t fix a misfire. How many miles are on the van?
A misfire on a single cylinder is usually caused by an ignition issue (coil or spark plug). Each cylinder has its own coil and they do fail. Spark plugs are usually good for around 100k miles.
@@TheLawnEngineer 85000
@@TheLawnEngineer we swapped coil 3&5 and cleared the code. No ck engine light yet but its running rough upon starting. Any suggestions? Just wait for the code to come back?
@@jogl3914 you could wait to see if a cylinder 5 misfire appears, then you know it’s the coil. You could take a chance and replace the coil and see if it runs better.
Thank you!
You’re welcome, glad to help.
Gee, a Chrysler with a transmission problem. What are the chances.
I know 🫣
the van cost over 40000$ after u buy, u go to chysler every week , that not a good choice?
I’m curious to know the year and mileage your problem started. Has it been the transmission or additional things too?
Sooo what’s the reset process? You have a video on it?
The link to my original reset video is in this videos description. I also have an updated one here: ruclips.net/video/REgRcfIc6Z0/видео.html
If you don’t take it to the dealer for repair, as far as they are concerned, they don’t have a problem.
I took it in multiple times and talked with the head service technician. He admitted they don’t have a fix and most people just live with it.
How to reset the transmission shifting module
at the end of this video: ruclips.net/video/REgRcfIc6Z0/видео.html
or the original here: ruclips.net/video/k5lQmHBBvQA/видео.html
At what point do you just say, you know what this vehicle is a piece of crap. We have a 2017 pacifica and I have never had as many issues or recalls on a vehicle as I have had on this one and I am ready to drive it into a wall.
Well, I guess you have found that point. Thankfully, I am not at the point...yet.
Mopar Junk 14 Challenger RT Classic bought new 36k miles on it now. No more Mopar for me. Plum Crazy purple 1 of 36 made. I can see why now.
I have the same problem in my 2017 pacifica 😢
Have you done the reset? It has helped myself and many others.
2017+ Chrysler Pacifica Transmission Reset: Improve those harsh shifts
ruclips.net/video/k5lQmHBBvQA/видео.html
My battery went dead I got a jump now my heat or ac will turn on no air is blowing out
Have you replaced the battery? You could try to disconnect the negative terminal of your battery for a few minutes to reset all of the vehicle's computers. I would also go through the fuses (they are under the hood by the battery) the air blower motor fuse may have blown.
Unfortunately, it is relatively easier to cause electrical damage when jump starting a car. Hopefully it just a fuse.
Guys this has a a recall on it. ask the dealer about a free repair
I had two versions of the recall done. They made small improvements but still had to do the reset routinely.
That has been a couple of years so hopefully they have come up with something better.
I had this exact problem and the dealership said I was an over reactive female.
That is very sad and frustrating. I can’t believe some people treat people like that.
They could say, we know it’s a problem but we don’t have a solution.
I would say that my 2017 Pacifica shifts like a Mack truck, buuut, I bet a Mack truck shifts much much better. Them ole boys should just be ashamed…some companies don’t learn from their mistakes. Toyota does though….
Well said.
I have 2021 Pacifica bad trans
That’s not good. How many miles?
@@TheLawnEngineer over 65 K rough ,jerky shifting most of the time but your rest TCM video helps ,only few days and it’s backs again in rough and jerky shifting and you can hear the bad shifting most of the time
thx
It’s pretty sad that the ‘21s still have the same problem.
Lol wrong thing to do, look at the clutch volumes for the clutch packs.
You are 100% correct for most every transmission but this situation is slightly different.
There is something wrong with the control system on this transmission. I suspect the sample rate for the feedback is not sufficient to accurate measure what's really going on the with transmission. The control system then adapts the parameters to erroneous data and shifting gets worse and worse.
The control hardware is simply not good enough for this trans and that is why software updates can't fix it.
I did the first fluid change on this trans and the fluid was nearly clear no clutch material.
Damm they asked me $3500 to fix my van.
Ouch, also sad...crooks.
Lol get the transmission software up dated.
I did have it updated twice. It helped for a month but then went back to its old ways.
Can you get to the point.
Fair enough
Puro bla bla bla bla
Thanks for checking in
Just a piece of trash made car
That is one way to summarize =)