Long story so bear with me..
Ok, I bought a VERY clean, nice 2004 dodge stratus sedan with the 2.4 DOHC engine, auto trans. Only has 109k on it. I bought it with a harsh 4-3 downshift at 30 mph. I have researched this problem on the web for a week now and seems there are 2 things that could be doing this. ok, Most research points to this service bulletin #21-006-03 REV. A. The other thing could be a front pump losing prime but they say that usually sets trans codes. Mine is not setting any codes and shifts flawless everywhere besides the harsh 4-3 downshift at 30 MPH. So, obviously the first thing i want to try is the bulletin, which is a software program update. SO, i go to the nearest dodge dealer and drive up to the service lane and the guy asks what i need. I handed him a copy of the bulletin and told him i wanted to get the software update and he asked why, i told him i have a harsh 4-3 downshift at 30 mph, exactly what the bulletin addresses. So i jumps in the car and plugs this little black box up and starts the car. The little box records the info from the car. Then he gets out and goes to his computer and plugs up the box to it. He says 'Its showing everything in the car is already up to date'. Im thinking thats not right because theres supposed to be a sticker under the hood showing this update has been done if it has been done. But anyways, his computer is showing a list of TSB's and this is one is not listed so he said maybe mine wasnt one of them needing it. I knew that was bull because the bulletin lists my car along with older and newer ones and other models, like jeeps etc..so i told him everyone ive talked to about this problem said to get the software update done first before anything else because it may very well take care of the problem. So he then goes and talks to the tech and then comes back and says they will do it but dont have time today and schedules me an appointment to come back in 2 weeks as they are very busy and he needs the car all day so he can get to it. Then i asked him if the updated program was already in the car or not, and he said yeas but it could be corrupted, blah blah, etc and they will redo it and see if that fixes it..SO, i dont know what to think. Shouldnt they be able to actually plug the scanner up and see what the latest version is in the car? I dont know whether to believe him that the bulletin has already been done or if he just said it was because they were so busy and couldnt get to it.. I just highly doubt its been done. I really think it is the problem and this would fix it seeing as there are no other problems with it. From what ive read, usually if its the front pump, that it will ALSO have a delayed engagement problem along with the harsh 4-3 downshift, and i dont have the delayed engagement problem, so..

If he checked what the part# is in the PCM/TCM writes that down and inputs it into tech tools it will show whether or not it has the latest software.

He had this little box on a keychain and plugged it into the car, started it up for a second, shut it off and unplugged the box. Then walked over to his desk and plugged that little box into his computer..

Did the trans fluid get changed?Had a few at the shop that the wrong fluid was used with fluid filter change.Trannys were good before and real bad especially on down shift after.New correct fluid and filter and all was good.Its been a few years but we always had to hook up the scanner to check updates etc.Rocky

Not sure if it has been changed because i just bought it, but they say the ATF4 has a machine oil type smell, and this does have that smell, so i believe its the correct fluid. The fluid does look like its been changed as it looks too good to have 109,000 miles on it, but it does smell like its the correct type..

ok, at the cadillac dealer i work at, we have an independent programming company we use that comes out to do any other makes of cars besides GM. They were there today helping a friend of mine. His 2001 caravan wouldnt pass emissions because it had a PCM fault code he couldnt get rid of. So he got a salvage yard PCM and they came out and programmed it and it fixed his problem. SO, i told them about my dilamma and asked them if they could do updates like this. They said yes no problem, they have the DRB3 and the correct stuff to do any make out there. So im bringing the car in tomorrow and they are coming to do it. He did say he would first see if it already has that bulletin software update in it. Now, how do they know if it is or is not already in it? The bulletin doesnt list a software number or anything..

The reader they use is updated with the newest software changes which includes TSBs and it will just tell them the date of the latest version of the software in your computer. Same as the Dodge house. Why did you think the dealership wouldn't be able to tell what version you were running? The reader the dealer hooked up does the same thing as you're outside guy. Looks to me like whoever sold you the car knew it had an issues that a software update wouldn't fix and dumped the car rather than pay a repair bill.

Not at all, they sold it to me cheap because of the problem and i am willing to fix it, but just wanted to make sure the bulletin wont fix it first.. Now, when the scanner shows the software version, does that mean this particular update was done or just certain ones? For instance, if i take a car to the dealer for a certain update, do they update everything or just that certain one?

Normally everything is updated because they just install the newest program. I think that is one reason to return any nonstock program like diablo or hypertech back to stock because the dealer installed program over writes them and the tuner ends up locked out.

you hook up scanner to the vehicle, it scans all the modules. if there is an update for a specific system, a message will show that an update is available.(this is using mopar equipment, aftermarket tools won't tell you this)

If the dealer runs the vin number,the vehicle history can be checked and all dealer service will show up. if The module has been updated, there will be a service record of it.

There is a quick learn that can be run. there's NO telling when that was done, doesn't hurt to run it. you need a scan tool to do it though.

Anyways, they came and checked and it did not have the updated software, so they installed it but didnt fix the problem, and now it is harsh when shifting it into drive from park. So im going to take it to the tranny shop and see what they say.. Any ideas now what it might be? Could it be something simple like a solenoid or is it more than likely something big and expensive?

First of all you probably have a trans issue that's not software related.
Second, the scan tool used for your car uses the DRB. Or the Witech in emulator mode. If it was newer it would have the can bus system that uses Witech and shows the network topology and any updates for all the modules on the network.
With the DRB, you have to look up every module part number it tech tools for updates.
Just to clear that up.

They should have looked at the CVI counts as usually with the 4-3 downshift bump the underdrive clutch CVI should be higher then normal. It usually runs up because the pump dont have a good prime and when you start the car cold and put it in drive it will run the underdrive CVI up if it does not go right in gear from low pump pressure. And that will cause the trans controller to apply the underdrive clutch faster (hit harder) and it is the underdrive clutch that comes back on when there is a 4-3 downshift. I could do Quicklearn on some and it sometimes would help for a bit but if the harsh downshift came back 9 out of 10 times I had to put a pump in the trans and reset the CVI's (Quicklearn). Tell the trans shop you want to know what the CVI counts are and ask if the underdive clutch CVI is high but if the Dealer did a Quicklearn it should have reset the CVI so if you dont drive it much it may not show as high but if its still is hitting hard it might still show a high CVI count on underdrive. Ron

Ya, the software update didnt help. Do you have any clues of what inside the trans would cause this? It does just like the bulletin says, harsh 4-3 downshift at 30 mph, thats why i really thought that would take care of it..

try to do a relearn,sometimes after a fluid change you get a harsh downshift.The relearn usually fixes the harsh shift.

Ron, How expensive of a job is it to replace the front pump? It doesnt act like its that though because it doesnt have a delayed engagement problem, just the harsh 4-3 downshift at 30 mph...

Well you have to R & R the trans to replace the pump. There was some TSB's out about the pump problem on some years but we had that problem on many years even some years the TSB dont mention. Ron

Well, its fixed!!! I dropped it off at the transmission shop last night. They called me about 11 this morning and said its ready come and get it, no charge! I asked what the heck was wrong, they said it had a code 1684 in it, which means the battery had been disconnected at some point, so it needed a quicklearn, so they did that and it fixed it! It does great now. I thought that when that compant did the software update that they would have done that quicklearn, but they didnt. So she is good to go now!!
Now, please explain this quicklearn to me. As far as later model daily drivers, ive always had GM cars, and you can disconnect the battery as many times as you want on the GM cars and they will re-learn everything by themselves without causing crazy shifting or anything..SO, whats the deal with chrysler, why do you have to quicklearn it? why cant the cars relearn on their own like the GM cars? Are their electronics not as advanced as GM stuff or ??? Just want to learn so fill me in..
Thanks all!!

They do relearn it just takes longer. Quick learn is a shortcut.

How much longer? I drove it probably 200 miles or more and that harsh downshift never improved..until the quicklearn..