My only real beef (at this point) with my 08 Nitro XLT is that the torque converter locks in at far too low of a speed under low load conditions, often as low as 28mph, which drops the engine to about 1200rpm.

Everyone at Chrysler insists on telling me that the vehicle is operating as designed ... and while that may be true, I'm trying to get someone to realize that perhaps they made a mistake in how they programmed the transmission on this rig.

IF this tranny were mated with a V-8 engine, the low RPMs at 30mph with the TC locked in would not be an issue. IF the vehicle was about half the size, again, there would probably not be an issue.

The tranny in an 08 with a 3.7L engine has no business locking in the torque converter anywhere under 35mph. (It wants to lock in as low as 28mph.)

Is there something that can be done that Chrysler is overlooking?????

Hi ... me again ...................

I'm really looking for input here. Am I off base in being so dissatisfied with the shift points with my SXT? Am I wrong in thinking Dodge should note this issue as a problem that needs to be addressed?

I was on a somewhat snowy road yesterday, on a hill, doing about 30. The transmission kept trying to lock in the torque converter. It's bad enough for this to happen on dry roads, but when I'm concentrating on a slightly slick road, the LAST thing I need is for my power level to drop to nothing, requiring a jab at the gas pedal to unlock the torque converter!

Opinions please???

chrysler is bowing to the wants of our imperial government wanting better gas mileage. One way to accomplish this, the theory is, is to have it get to high gear as quick as possible.

I have found it a bit nagging at times but I just just he auto stick and make my own shift points.

I am told that superchips is working on a programmer for these cars / trucks. That will give us the ability to choose our own shift style.

I just wish they would get to it already. Supposedly there is issues getting information about the new transmissions from Daimler. We shall see.

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2007 Nitro R/T, Chrome Bug Deflector , In Channel Vent Guards, Stainless Bull Bar and Nerf Bars.

Thanks for the input, buddy!

Question ... is this the Jet chip, or a different (but similar) one? (I'm just learning about these things.)

Will these performance chips actually affect the shift pattern? Do they alter the signal going to the tranny fooling it into shifting differently?

I actually consider the poor shift pattern between 28-35 to be somewhat of a safety issue, along with being a royal annoyance. I cannot hold a consistent speed in that range, especially on any kind of grade, without the torque converter locking in, which of course affects the power output. On slick roads, this is NOT a good thing ... I need to concentrate on the road, and I need the car working WITH me, not AGAINST me.

The tranny shift pattern is really the ONLY thing that I dislike ... no, DETEST about the Nitro. In city driving, it's like a sheep in wolf's clothing!!!

The Jet Chips are not the same and I don't believe they affect shift patterns at all.

The SuperChips programmer attaches to the computer port under the dash and installs a pre programmed routine into the onboard computer to change performance patterns.

Other than waiting for the programmer, the only thing I can that I can think of to prevent the converter lock up would be to keep the trans set in 4th (if its an R/T, or 3rd if not) so that the converter never is allowed to get to top gear and therefore allow the converter to lock.

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2007 Nitro R/T, Chrome Bug Deflector , In Channel Vent Guards, Stainless Bull Bar and Nerf Bars.

Where can I get more info on the SuperChips?

As far as the TC, I have no control over that. I can hold the rig back to 1st or 2nd, and the Tow/Haul setting keeps the OD from engaging, and the Tow/Haul MIGHT push the Torque Converter lock-in speed a little bit, but there is simply no way of just preventing the TC from engaging.

Aargh.

I called them about 5 months ago and they were "working on it". When I pushed that is when they admitted to having problems getting information about the transmissions from DC.

Check out some of their products here.

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2007 Nitro R/T, Chrome Bug Deflector , In Channel Vent Guards, Stainless Bull Bar and Nerf Bars.

Hmmmmmmm.......... nothing for the Nitro ... and the prices are up there!

Just curious ... is the auto stick available in all Nitro models, or only on some?

Also, how well does the auto stick work on the Nitro? I'd heard a complaint somewhere that the auto stick didn't always respond to the driver's desires (as if the computer were overriding the driver's input).

"-)

Yes, but like everything else, you get what you pay for.
I know it is available on the R/T. I suspect it is available on the higher end one as well, I just don't remember the badging levels anymore.

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2007 Nitro R/T, Chrome Bug Deflector , In Channel Vent Guards, Stainless Bull Bar and Nerf Bars.