Engine Code P0740 Torque Converter Clutch Circuit

[ctsimonjr]

Hello,

First time poster, thought I would share a fix for P0740 since I have read alot of ya'lls fixes for various problems..I recently bought a Plum Purple 01 PT Cruiser with 138K with an Engine Light on.. Being that I got the car for a good price, I figured what the hey it runs and drives good, it will make a good car for my high schooler..The high mile has to be a highway car to get that many miles in such a short period of time.. I hooked up my Davis CarChip once I got this baby home and got the P0740 code.. I been reading the site and either your able to drive sluggishly or your unable to shift... With my situation my driving and shifting was optimal. I tried to reset the engine light with my CarChip but was unsuccessful. So I dropped the Transmission Pan which had a lot of metal shavings and a clogged filter.. Cleaned it up, put in a new filter, clean magnet, along with a half quart of Trans X (a transmission fluid conditioner for seals and cleaning). Added 4 quarts of Trans Fluid.. I put my Davis CarChip back in the car to drive it with new filter and fluid.. The car is now codeless... Hope this helps someone in the future...

Charlie

[CREWZIN]

Thanks for your input Charlie. The auto trans in the PT Cruiser is a known weak link. Those of us that have been around since the 01 models first came out try to get the word out that a trans flush, (not just a pan drop & fill), will add years and thousands of trouble free miles to the cruiser.
On yours, can you tell if the timing belt was changed? Although the PT is supposed to be a non-interference engine (which means things won't go terribly wrong if the belt should break) it still can cause some damage and it's a lot easier to change the belt than tear down the engine later. Along with the belt change, the water pump and belt tensioner should also be changed at the same time.

Good luck with your new-to-you 01 PT Cruiser.

[ctsimonjr]

Crewzin,

I do not know about the timing belt, I would imagine that it has not been replaced but I do not know.. I do know that new CV Joints have been replaced on the car after I inspected it before buying. I do want to change out all the belts but it looks like a nightmare with this front wheel drive... I have restored many old cars this is my first front wheel drive car to maintain.. I usually buy rear wheel but my daughter wanted this car so I'm wanting to do as much preventive maintenance as possible. All in all it is very solid and dependable I just want to keep it that way.. BTW, when the 704 code was in the car before I changed out the fluid it also had a PCM code P0602 (PCM checksum error.. I guess the fluid change helped with the checksum and have no more codes...

Charlie

[CREWZIN]

Charlie,

Most of the things on the engine can be changed by lifting the car and taking off the passenger side wheel. Then the inner liner comes off to give access to the whole front of the engine just like it was a V8. I also do my own maintenance when I can, but I wouldn't try the timing belt as I've seen posts where others have tried and had trouble. Belts I would tackle plus brakes, hoses parts of the exhaust that didn't need welding and stuff like that. Some things are better left to the professionals.

[ctsimonjr]

Crewzin,

Thanks for the insight on the belts.. That sounds logical..I always look down from the top and just shake my head on these front wheel drive vehicles. I do not plan to mess with the timing belt, I agree to leave that to the professionals..... Nice chatting with ya..

Charlie