Theory Of Operation
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 Dodge Magnum, 2006 Dodge Charger, and 2006 Chrysler 300. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The major cause of heat build up in the transmission is torque converter slip. With the transmission in the AutoStick® mode, the torque converter can slip during aggressive driving or heavy loading conditions such as trailer towing or driving up steep grades. In the non autostick mode, internal controller logic prevents the transmission from overheating by managing the shift and EMCC schedule. In the autostick mode, when the transmission or engine temperature approaches an overheat condition, the manual shift overheat DTC sets and the autostick mode is temporarily suspended until the temperature returns to normal.