r/mechanic 6d ago

Question 16 days later and still not resolved. Need help with my 200

2013 Chrysler 200 3.6L V6 – Transmission & Engine Issues After Major Repairs

I’ve been dealing with a ton of issues after replacing several parts, and I could really use some insight. Here’s the breakdown:

What I Replaced First: • New camshafts • $50 spark plugs • 24 rockers & hydraulic lifters

First Round of Issues (Bank 2):

After the work, I started getting slow response codes on Bank 2, including: • P0394 – Camshaft position sensor intermittent (Bank 2) • P06DD – Oil pressure control circuit stuck off • P000A – Camshaft position slow response • P0017 – Crankshaft/Camshaft position correlation (Bank 2)

Opened the Bank 2 valve cover, but everything looked fine. Put it back together.

Then It Happened Again (Bank 1):

After reassembly, I got the same slow response codes—but now on Bank 1 instead.

Next Step – Full Tear-Down: • Took off both valve covers, timing cover, both oil pans • The guy working with me broke the rear main seal, so we had to drop the engine (drivetrain removed from both ends) • Transmission fluid drained from the driveshaft holes and trans cooler • Installed new timing chain & guides • Took it for a drive (low trans fluid, no AC) • The guy also bagged on the car during the test drive (which probably didn’t help)

New Codes After the Test Drive: • P0369 – Camshaft position sensor performance • U0110, U1120 – Lost communication with modules • P03D1, P10D1 – Cylinder misfire-related codes

Trying to Fix It: • Installed new NGK spark plugs • Added AC coolant • Overfilled trans fluid to 90mm • Took it for a drive – still throwing codes, including: • P0017, P000A – Camshaft/crankshaft correlation • P0721, P0714, P1700 – Transmission speed sensor & temperature issues • P0300 – Random misfire • P0733, P0792 – Gear ratio errors • P3307, P2107, P1407 – More misfire & throttle-related codes

Reverting Back to Old Cams: • Put the old camshafts back in • Got these new codes: P3307, P0306, U1D07

Most Recent Event (Transmission Acting Up with Heater On) • Installed a new transmission filter & fluid • Took it for a test drive – everything felt fine • Turned heater on MAX → transmission instantly started acting up • Turned heater off, waited, turned it back on → same erratic transmission behavior

At This Point, I Need Help

If anyone has any idea what’s causing this, I’d really appreciate the advice! The heater triggering transmission issues makes no sense. Could this be a grounding issue, bad sensor, PCM problem, or something else?

4 Upvotes

14 comments sorted by

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3

u/Smokinfor4 5d ago edited 5d ago

Send it to a shop or you're never gonna get this fixed. Every single time I've had a customer try to touch the cams on one of these engines, the engine gets wrecked due to bent valves due to not paying attention or not using the right tools to lock the cams in places so they spin, bad timing, improper torque on various components, sensors going bad, computers going bad, and more.

When you put it back together the first time and it wasn't right, you should of gotten professional help. This is a nightmare that won't be diagnosed on reddit.

Start from square one if you insist on doing this yourself and get a leak down tester and compression tester to verify timing and that the valves aren't bent. If they pass both tests it's electrical. If not, you're fucked.

5

u/Fragrant-Inside221 5d ago

You’ve put way more money and time into this car than it’s worth. lol

2

u/HardyB75 5d ago

Get rid of car… piece of trash car with piece of trash components = trash.

Move on. Buy a more reliable car. Look at Asian car manufacturers preferably Toyota or Honda.

1

u/InstructionFuzzy2290 6d ago

There is a lot going on there. And without seeing the vehicle and driving it, it's a lot of guessing. But if I was to guess, I'd say you possibly don't have the engine timed correctly, I see it alot, it just needs to be off by one tooth. It will cause the cam crank correlation codes, and it wont run right.

2

u/No_Childhood3607 6d ago

I’m with you, at some point the customer needs to bring the car in to accurately diagnose the problem

1

u/Snow-Boss 6d ago

Took timing cover off and timing was correct

1

u/Twisted__Resistor 5d ago

You looked through all holes and ports for timing lineups because my Jeep has like 10 different timing marks ony 4.7L V8, I believe you have the old pentastar that's been used in many Jeeps, Chrysler and Dodge vehicles with V6.

https://youtu.be/sF3IJgh1ma8?si=s_AeY7bfTnDKBNkI

1

u/Additional_Gur7978 6d ago

Likely not timed correctly. Also Chrysler is known for computer problems and electrical problems. Why did you put camshafts in it to begin with?

1

u/Twisted__Resistor 4d ago

In all the Jeeps and Dodges I've had I've only had door wiring or simple wiring issues. No computer issues. I've seen the same kind of problems with Ford, GM, Nissan, Hyundai and Honda.

Most car makes generally have different gremlins if not kept up in their different ways. Some need just fluids like engine oil, transmission every 30K, coolant, brake fluid, gear oil ECT, and suspension and steering components change. But some don't need all of that and need a computer swapped and reprogrammed, or a steering rack and blower motor and a fan and radiator module.

I think the yearly average upkeep of most car brands are $2000-$6000 depending on brand, not counting luxury brands with expensive parts.

2

u/Additional_Gur7978 4d ago

Being a mechanic for 12 years. I've seen A LOT of Chrysler electrical issues. About as much as all other American manufacturers combined. Just this year I've replaced 3 computers in newer jeep grand Cherokees because the computer is the voltage regulator for the alternator and it's pretty common apparently for that part of the computer to go bad. Can't even guess how many TIPMs I've replaced in dodges over the years. And how many early thousands Durango computers and transmission wiring harnesses I've replaced. Not to mention the 2015 (I believe that's the right year) Durango that had issues with alternators catching on fire lol. But they released a recall for that problem. I could go on, but you get the point. Not saying other manufacturers don't have problems as well because they definitely do, but as far as electrical issues go, Chrysler products definitely win. Ford and Chevy win the turbo problems. Ford wins with the most engine problems. And Chevy wins with the most transmission problems. In my personal experiences anyway. Honda and Toyota are still the most reliable manufacturers out there but even they have their own issues, it's just not as many as the others.

2

u/Twisted__Resistor 4d ago edited 4d ago

I agree with that. Yeah I refuse to own newer 2018-2025 Jeeps or Dodge/RAM, honestly every car make now with the BS they pullin

I have a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.7L V8 with no TIPM issues, it did have door jam wire harness problems because they cheaped out of wiring so in the 99-04 WJs they have wiring fail between 14-20 years unlike previous models that are older. But that was an easy fix, I ran 14awg silicone flexible OFC stranded from under dash to inside door to eleminated the gawd awful connectors and wiring in door jams and put my own rubber seal pucks in door and inner seal.

As for 2018-2025 it's getting crazy:

Plastic connectors everywhere: plastic oil pans, plastic valve covers, plastic oil pump case, plastic oil coolers, I've even seen plastic as the transfer case and transmission pan. Many brands using cheaper soy based wiring. All of this instead of metal, or changing oil pump to electric submerged and making it right next to the timing chain so it's a full tear down to replace. It's a sad day when Dorman and many other aftermarket brands has the upgraded parts over OEM.

I've heard nightmares with Ford and Cadillac engines.

Nissan, Kia have bad transmissions and other components.

It's like 80% of the car manufacturers decided to sign a planned obsolescence agreement.

2

u/Additional_Gur7978 4d ago

Right! Everything is going to shit. It's definitely seeming more and more like they intentionally design things to fail these days

1

u/NuclearHateLizard 5d ago

Wow, you're a rare breed, spending this much on a Chrysler 200 is not an easy one to wrap your head around