I have written about the '95 GC SE that I got recently before but I noticed a strange (to me) behavior that I had never heard of before. On an 86 mile round trip that I do twice a week I usually set the speed/cruise control for
54MPH (55 speed limit) and I noticed that when I was going down a hill and the speed hit 60 that the trans downshifted to help keep my speed down. I had never been in a vehicle before that did this that I was aware of and the '92 Dynasty with the same engine and trans (3.3) didn't do it so it kind of surprised me a little and caused me to do a search and find the section of text I copied and pasted from the allpar site below about new features and driveline changes for '95. Anyway this feature just shows that although some people don't seem to like it much having an electronically controlled transaxle does have its perks as I can remember having to either step on the brakes (which cancels the cruise) or manually downshift going down some hills in other vehicles to keep my speed down. BTW so far by setting it at 54 and maintaining my tire pressures I have a 21MPG average per the mini trip computer. Not sure how accurate it is yet but it seems to be fairly in line with how much gas I have used. This is despite the CEL/MIL being on with an EGR code because I need a new EGR valve assembly as moisture got in the electrical connector and corroded away one of the pins. (The Dynasty didn't have EGR)41TE Electronic 4-speed Overdrive Automatic - LeBaron Convertible, minivans: An automatic speed control overspeed reduction feature has been added to the transmission control software. It helps maintain vehicle speed at the selected set point when descending a grade. The TCM (transmission control module) first senses that the speed control is set. If the set speed is exceeded by more than 4 mph (6.5 km/hr) and the throttle is closed, the TCM causes the transaxle to downshift to Third gear. Subsequent to the downshift, the automatic speed control continues its normal operation. To assure that an upshift is appropriate after the set speed is reached, the TCM waits until the throttle is opened at least 8 degrees by the speed control system before upshifting to Overdrive again. If the driver applies the brakes, canceling automatic speed control operation with the transaxle still in Third gear, the TCM maintains this gear until the driver opens the throttle at least 8 degrees to avoid an inappropriate upshift. The upshift is also delayed for 0.5 seconds after reaching the 8 degree throttle opening in anticipation that the driver might open the throttle enough to require Third gear, thus avoiding unnecessary and disturbing cycling of the transmission. If the automatic speed control RESUME feature is used after braking, the upshift is delayed until the set speed is achieved to reduce cycling and provide better response.
Additional refinements continue on the 41TE electronic four-speed automatic transaxle. For 1995, software changes provide smoother 2-1 low speed, heavy throttle downshifts. Kick-down shifts after a coast- down in Third are also refined.