[Turbo Tommy]

I posted this once before.

The autostick trans is an 41TE. Break it down and 4 is for number of speeds, 1 is torque rating, t is transverse, and e is electronic. That trans is used on all fwd mopars since around 89, other than sebring coupes, they may use a mitsibshi trans. Since it is a stretched eclipse. The 41TE is used in the minivan, in fact that is were it made it's debut in 1989, but then it was called an A604. Over the years the trans has been improved and worked over, but it is pretty much the same trans as 1989. The name was changed from A604 "ultradrive" to 41TE because at first they were very trouble prone, so chrysler didn't want any media relations issues with consumers, so they switched the names. It has been used and is still used in all fwd chrysler products since. The trans on the Lh cars, the A606 now known as 42LE is basically a 41TE (A604) internally with a different case and differential.
This trans was state of the art in 89' fully electronically shifted, no governor or hydraulic shift controls like a normal older trans. All shifts were done via solinoides, which were controled by computer. The transmission is addaptive, meaning it can learn your driving style and shift accordingly. If you are a sportier driver, it will time shifts later, and make them more firm. If you drive like grandma, it will shift sooner and very soft. It can addapt for wear by the amount of pressure it applys to bands and such. When it is new it doesn't require as much pressure to hold a band, but in time as things were it puts more pressure to the bands, and other parts to keep from having any slippiage. It will do this until it can't anymore. then you start to have slippage and other problems
You can train it to shift firm, by disconnecting the battery, and when you reconnect it, go out and pound on it, and it will shift firm and hard for a few days. (don't hold me liable if you have a problem)
The biggest problems originally was that the computer would try to make shifts imperceptible, and it did this by trying to hold one gear while engageing the next, basically the oposite of a shift flare, this put so much stress on internall componets, that is why early ones failed so often. Also early ones had problems with clogged coolers and burned themselves out, or wrong fluid was used.
From what I have read forcing firmer shifts is acctually better for it, because it doesn't try to hold one gear and engage the next as severly, it is forced to make a quicker shift with less gear holding overlap. The trans will post codes that the scan computer at say a dealer can pull, I'm not sure if you can get them with the check engine light on the dash.
Also you can only use mopar ATF+4 fluid, anything else will ruin the trans, don't believe anyone that tells you differenty.

As for autostck you just give the computer a signal for up or down shift, it then looks at all the sensor date and decides to allow or deny it, that is why the slight delay. Then based on driving style, and lots of factors it shifts hard or soft. Also I think the autostick shifts are more firm, because the engineers feel it is suposed to be more manual like and they want you to feel a distinct shift, so it is programmed that way.

They are supose to be much better now, and are teamed up with some torquey motors, so I wouldn't worry to much. But everything I have learned is that the motors are generaly stronger than the trans.