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Chrysler Minivan Transmission Problems

1833 messages,  Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 3:54 AM

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#1247 of 1833 Re: Tranny Problem Reset [97xpresso] by turtlemaxaroo Jan 29, 2007 (6:32 pm)
Replying to: 97xpresso (Jan 27, 2007 3:10 pm) Thanks for the reply. Appointment is with a "reputable" garage near my home. Tranny was serviced at about 50,000 miles at a dealer. Vehicle currently has about 80,000 miles.
#1248 of 1833 chrysler t&c cold weather tranny problem by wuebker Jan 29, 2007 (8:46 pm)
i am new at this so i hope i do it right. i have a 99 t&c that had a rebuilt tranny put in at 86000 miles. i now have 100500 and when it gets cold out and i dont let the van warm up enough it will not shift. after i let it warm up it runs like it is suppose to. there is no slugging or knocking when i drive it. just a clicking when it is cold and trying to shift. just curious if it is the shift selenoid or what. i noticed a very small leak by the hose going into the tranny cooler. oil is full and looks good. i am kind of stumped but a new selenoid is $190 and dont want to put it in and it not work. any suggestions Replies to this message: shipo (Jan 30, 2007 4:08 am) runner29 (Feb 07, 2007 6:28 am)
#1249 of 1833 Re: chrysler t&c cold weather tranny problem [wuebker] by shipo Jan 30, 2007 (4:08 am)
Replying to: wuebker (Jan 29, 2007 8:46 pm) Hmmm, it kind of sounds like the folks that put your transmission in didn't use the correct fluid, something that isn’t all that uncommon with these transmissions (your 1999 MUST have either ATF+3 or ATF+4, anything else will ruin your tranny). Here in New Hampshire we've had several mornings recently where it was below zero (zero as in zero Fahrenheit) and days that warmed up to a nice balmy four degrees, and other than slightly lethargic shifting when either our 1998 or our 2003 DGC is first started (I don't believe in letting cars warm up, I just start them and drive away while of course taking it easy for the first few miles), the transmission does its job immediately upon start-up.   Where I park at work is literally 100 meters or so from the ramp up to the freeway, as such, when I start'er up for the trip home I just take it real easy getting up to speed. I simply start the car, click on my seat belt and go, keeping the engine below 3,000 rpms at all times. Within a minute and a half from cold start I'm already tooling along at 72 on Cruise Control. Funny thing though, our transmissions seem to have a programmed in logic control that prevents Torque Converter Lock-Up from occurring while the tranny is still cold. In the summer my transmission locks up as soon as the van gets above 45 mph (unless I'm under strong acceleration), while in the dead of winter, I can drive four or five miles at a steady speed before the TC Lock-Up engages.   Best Regards, Shipo
#1250 of 1833 re for cold weather tranny by wuebker Jan 30, 2007 (6:49 pm)
i wonder if i just change the fluid and filter if it will help any? like i said only when it is cold but i never mentioned it had to be sitting outside. if i have it in my garage it is out of wind and works fine. iowa weather need i say more. the torque converter has never locked up or anything. just a cold weather thing. i was planning on trading the van in to the place i have bought several vehicles from but i dont want to sell something broken. of course used cars sit outside in the cold and the problem could persist. i guess it will not hurt to try Replies to this message: shipo (Jan 31, 2007 3:55 am)
#1251 of 1833 Re: re for cold weather tranny [wuebker] by shipo Jan 31, 2007 (3:55 am)
Replying to: wuebker (Jan 30, 2007 6:49 pm) "i wonder if i just change the fluid and filter if it will help any?"   The problem here is that a simple pan drop/filter swap/refill will only get about a quarter of the ATF in there.   "if i have it in my garage it is out of wind and works fine. iowa weather need i say more."   Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt. The only difference between being parked inside vs. outside is that it should get up to operating temperature a little faster if it was inside.   "the torque converter has never locked up or anything."   It hasn't? Not good. Once warmed up, your torque converter should lock up at all steady state speeds above 45 mph when you are in "D" and above 30 mph when you are in "3". If it doesn't do that, then you've got a problem.   Note: the above lock up speeds are for 3.8 liter vans, if you have the 3.3 liter engine it is my understanding that the lock up speed is a few miles per hour higher.   Best Regards, Shipo
#1252 of 1833 Another hard down shifting problem by wannabemech Jan 31, 2007 (7:26 pm)
I have a 2002, 3.8L, T&C ex with 57K. I changed (today) the transmission fluid (ATF+4) and filter and now it down shifts hard when slowing. I've never experienced the problem prior to changing the fluid. There's no problem shifting between gears or upshifting, but it'll give a little jerk when down shifting. Any ideas is greatly appreciated. Replies to this message: shipo (Jan 31, 2007 8:26 pm) wannabemech (Feb 11, 2007 1:07 pm) shipo (Feb 11, 2007 4:37 pm) captainibc (Feb 25, 2007 1:24 pm) shipo (Feb 25, 2007 1:46 pm) and 5 more...
#1253 of 1833 Re: Another hard down shifting problem [wannabemech] by shipo Jan 31, 2007 (8:26 pm)
Replying to: wannabemech (Jan 31, 2007 7:26 pm) Two possibilities: 1) I've heard that this is normal and will take the computer up to two weeks to re-learn your driving patterns. FWIW, I haven't experienced the post filter change hard shifting myself so this is only heresay. 2) It is possible that you have the wrong filter for your transmission, especially so if you bought the filter anywhere else but your dealership parts department.   Best Regards, Shipo Replies to this message: wannabemech (Feb 11, 2007 1:07 pm) shipo (Feb 11, 2007 4:37 pm) captainibc (Feb 25, 2007 1:24 pm) shipo (Feb 25, 2007 1:46 pm) captainibc (Feb 25, 2007 3:51 pm) captainibc (Mar 01, 2007 12:33 pm) and 3 more...
#1255 of 1833 99 T&C weird noise by mudra Feb 06, 2007 (5:27 pm)
I have started noticing a weird vibration/grind on driving the vehicle from a total stop position. It has happened only since yesterday..hopefully not related to the cold weather we are having in NJ. I had my tranny serviced from PepBoys and have driven around 1500 miles since then. Total miles is around 88500. Any advice ? Should I take it back to Pepboys or to the dealer directly ? TIA Replies to this message: 97xpresso (Feb 07, 2007 4:02 am)
#1256 of 1833 Re: 99 T&C weird noise [mudra] by 97xpresso Feb 07, 2007 (4:02 am)
Replying to: mudra (Feb 06, 2007 5:27 pm) You had your transmission serviced where??? (yes I've heard of pep boyz) Does it say on the receipt what fluid they used? I would go for a flush with ATF+4 at the dealer, but it may be too late

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