This type of CVT transaxle is found on different type of vehicles. One would be Dodge, Jeep, and also Nissan.
This particular unit came in with a ratio motor circuit code and was stuck in High Ratio Mode both forward and reverse.
The Ratio Motor is located on the valve body and can be replaced on the vehicle without removing the transmission from the vehicle. All that is needed is to drop the valve body and replace.
Well, the most common issues with this type of units is the Ratio Control Motor and the Pressure Sensors or Transducers. Also bearings like to fail. If you get a noisy unit more than likely a bearing has failed, usually the one on the Primary Variator by the Reverse Piston Housing.
On Chrysler Vehicles like this one, it has a very unique cooling system. There are 2 thermostats on the thermostat housing. One for the engine and the other for the transmission. Even though there is a heat exchanger on the transaxle itself, 2 cooler lines come out of the heat exchanger and also go to the radiator.
Now, this was an insurance job and they supplied the replacement unit to be installed. One thing you have to keep in mind is that if the unit is installed as is it may not work properly. The reason why is that on the valve body itself there is a small module that is the ROM or read only memory. All the information from the vehicle is stored in this module. It is not necessary to remove the valve body to swap this module. Just remove the 2 bolts that hold it in place, unplug and swap. You're good to go. Or you can do a "initialization" with your scan tool.
Any ways, I hope you like this short video of some pictures I took of this little unit, Thank you.
