Chrysler Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial, Chrysler 1973 Diagnostics Manual

I have seen more Torqueflites torn apart for no good reason than I care to count. A guy pulls the pan, finds some clutch material, and orders a rebuild kit. Half the time the real problem was a low fluid level or a misadjusted kickdown linkage. That is why this 16-page factory Diagnostics Manual from Chrysler was put together. It is for Chrysler Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial, Chrysler vehicles fitted with the Torqueflite automatic transmission, and it came straight from the 1973 MTSC – Master Technicians Service Conference. No aftermarket guesswork. You get the same procedures the dealership mechanics used.

You want to know what happens when you skip the preliminary checks? Page 1 of this manual tells you to inspect the dipstick indications and linkage settings before you ever take it for a road test. Page 10 gives you pressure-testing numbers that separate a worn pump from a stuck valve body. That is the difference between a twenty-minute adjustment and a weekend teardown.

Inside the Chrysler Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial, Chrysler 1973 Diagnostics Manual

The table of contents is short and surgical: Before Road Testing, Dipstick Indications, Linkage Settings, Road Testing, Pressure Testing, Operating System Tests, Control System Tests. Every section has a purpose. The factory knew that a transmission complaint could be a simple fluid condition or a deep internal failure. They wrote the procedure so you work from the outside in, not the other way around. A special note on page 2 warns that the hydraulic circuit illustrations use a different color coding than the service manuals – a detail third-party reprints often drop.

Road Testing: The Diagnostic Foundation

Skip the road test and you are flying blind. This manual walks you through what to feel for during each shift – part throttle, full throttle, kickdown, coasting. It tells you what a normal 1-2 shift feels like versus a delayed engagement. The road test section on page 7 is not a paragraph of general advice; it is a step-by-step procedure with specific conditions to check. Pull the shift lever, watch the tach, note the speed. If you have a 1973 Dodge Dart with a slipping second gear, this section tells you whether to look at the front clutch or the rear servo.

Pressure Testing – Why One Reading Beats a Tear-Down

Page 10 is where you park the car, hook up a pressure gauge, and read the numbers. The manual lists test port locations and expected pressure ranges for each gear position. A low reading in reverse but normal in Drive points to a specific leak path. You do not need to pull the transmission to find it. I have watched guys spend three hours removing a Torqueflite only to find a missing O-ring on the separator plate. This manual would have shown them the pressure drop on the bench before they touched a wrench.

Who Should Buy This Manual?

Home garage enthusiasts who own a 1973 Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, or Imperial with an automatic transmission. If you are tired of paying a shop to diagnose a problem you can fix with a linkage adjustment or a filter change, this is your document. Professional mechanics working on older Mopars will also want it on the tablet next to the lift. The 16-page size means you can print it out and keep it in a binder without taking up a shelf. I use it when a car comes in with a complaint like “won’t shift into third” – the diagnostic flow is laid out so you confirm the problem in twenty minutes.

OEM vs Aftermarket: What You’re Getting

Aftermarket “reproduction” manuals often omit the special notes and color differentiation that the factory included to prevent confusion. This file is a direct scan of the original 1973 MTSC reference book. You get the same paper the Chrysler field engineers handed out. No redrawn diagrams, no reworded procedures. The Diagnostics Manual title on the cover is proof that this is the training material, not a condensed version. Every page, from the dipstick indications to the control system tests, matches the factory original. Trust me, when a transmission is on the line, you want the exact spec, not a paraphrase.

For more complete vehicle coverage, see the Chrysler Dodge Service Manual – 2338 Page OEM Shop Manual”>Chrysler Dodge Service Manual – 2338 Page OEM Shop Manual. If you need radio wiring or speaker troubleshooting, grab the Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Radio Sound System Troubleshooting”>Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Radio Sound System Troubleshooting. And right alongside this file, the Chrysler Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial Troubleshooting Manual – 16 Pages”>Chrysler Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial Troubleshooting Manual – 16 Pages covers the same year range for other systems.

This manual focuses on pre-On-board Diagnostics (OBD)”>On-board Diagnostics (OBD) cars, so the testing is all hydraulic and mechanical – no scan tool required. If you are working on a Manual Transmission”>Manual Transmission, you need a different book. For Torqueflite diagnosis, this is the one.

The best tool you can own is the right information before you start. Buy the factory data once, use it for every 1973 Mopar that rolls through your shop or driveway. Download the Factory Manual and keep it handy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this manual apply to all 1973 Chrysler models with automatic transmissions?

Yes. Plymouth, Dodge, Imperial, and Chrysler vehicles equipped with the Torqueflite A-727 or A-904 are covered. The procedures apply across the board.

I have an aftermarket manual that covers transmission diagnosis – why buy this one?

Aftermarket manuals often omit the special notes from the factory. For example, page 2 of this original document cautions that hydraulic circuit diagrams use a different color scheme than the service manuals – a detail that can cause confusion if you are following both sources. More importantly, the pressure test specs and linkage adjustment values are directly from Chrysler’s engineering department. I have seen aftermarket manuals quote the wrong line pressure for a 1973 Imperial because they used data from a later model year. This manual is the source document, not a copy of a copy. It also includes the MTSC conference notes that explain why each test exists – context you will not find in a generic repair book.