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Chrysler Minivan Transmission Problems

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

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What is this discussion about? Chrysler Town and Country, Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, Chrysler Grand Voyager, Dodge Grand Caravan, Transmission, Van

#1293 of 1833 Re: 2005 Town and Country 3.8L Transmission fluid change?? [97xpresso] by shipo Mar 03, 2007 (7:38 pm)
Replying to: 97xpresso (Mar 03, 2007 6:36 pm)
#1294 of 1833 Re: 2003 Transmission Problems [superwoody] by superwoody Mar 03, 2007 (9:15 pm)
Replying to: superwoody (Feb 22, 2007 10:28 am) Well I got my van back from the shop, after another $100 deductible and a $500 part (tranny computer control module) I am still experiencing the same slipping/hard/funky shift from 1st to 2nd at low rpms. I notice it ALOT in parking lots or slow traffic at red lights when you are just putting around and it shifts at or around 1600-1800 rpms. I don't think the guys at the dealership are ****ing around with me, they have thrown parts at it every time I've had it in, even though it's under the 7/70 warranty still. The $100 deductible is getting old, they charge it every time it hits their shop floor even if it is for the same problem!! I even called Detroit to customer support just to make sure this was correct and of course it was. Because they are installing "different" parts to TRY and fix it, they consider that a different problem. I love my van, and the conveniences of it BUT this is getting old. It would already be gone if not for the beating I would get for it on trade in. I really wanted to hold out for 2-3 more years to get a 08' used, they are going to have the 180 degree swivel captains chairs in the middle row!!">
#1295 of 1833 Drastic change in gas economy by brucesheffer Mar 05, 2007 (9:00 pm)
99 Town and Country LE extended minivan. Last week I used to get 27 highway and 20 city. Then the transmission started slipping and I took it in for servicing. That resulted in a complete rebuild of the transmission. Now I'm only get 20 and 16. Of course the mechanics are saying that nothing is wrong. What could cause such a drastic change?   I sort of remember that when I bought it the dealer said that the car had two settings one for power and one for economy and I opted for the one for economy. I'm thinking that it was the TCM unit he was talking about, but I don't know.   The engine is a 3.8 high output engine with standard front wheel drive (not AWD).   Anyone have a clue what's going on?   Thanks in advance Replies to this message: shipo (Mar 06, 2007 5:00 am) brucesheffer (Mar 19, 2007 5:48 pm) bsanchez1 (Mar 20, 2007 11:17 am) and 1 more...
#1296 of 1833 Re: Drastic change in gas economy [brucesheffer] by shipo Mar 06, 2007 (5:00 am)
Replying to: brucesheffer (Mar 05, 2007 9:00 pm) Hmmm, I'm not sure where you're getting some of your information, however, I will make a few points, some will line up with what you've said, some won't:   1) I've never heard of a 3.8 liter Long Wheel Base (LWB) Gen3 van getting a consistent 27 mpg highway. Not saying it can't happen upon occasion, but consistently? I'm skeptical. 2) Mileage of 20 and 16 is a tad on the low side, unless we're talking very cold weather and E10 fuel. 3) I've never heard of such a thing as two power settings. Not saying that there aren't two settings, but until proven otherwise, I believe that's a bunch of bilge water. 4) A "3.8 high output engine"? High output compared to what? A 3.3 liter mill? Okay, I'll buy that. However, in the grand scheme of things, while these engines are fairly torque rich, their horsepower per liter output is WAY down the scale. Consider the following, the 3.8 liter engines in my 1998 and your 1999 produce 180 HP and 240 lb-ft of torque, while the smaller 3.0 liter engine of my most recent car produced 225 HP and 214 lb-ft of torque. See the difference? Had my cars' engine been the same displacement as our minivans, it would have put out 285 HP and 271 lb-ft of torque. 5) As for what's going on, hmmm, probably nothing. What with the cold weather we're having up here in New Hamster these days, our 1998 is getting about 20.5 mpg at a fairly consistent 73 mph on E10 fuel (i.e. 10% Ethanol). In the summer time, that same van will get nearly 23 mpg at that same 73 mph on the same fuel. If I slow down to 65, I can get a fairly consistent 26 on really hot days, once again on E10 fuel.   Sorry I couldn't be of more help.   Best Regards, Shipo Replies to this message: brucesheffer (Mar 19, 2007 5:48 pm) bsanchez1 (Mar 20, 2007 11:17 am) shipo (Mar 20, 2007 6:13 pm)
#1297 of 1833 Transmission or what by thepmking Mar 06, 2007 (9:48 am)
My dad has a 2000 plymouth voyager the guages all went out a cpl. weeks ago we found out that the batery needed replacing. Everything was fine for a cpl. days then the transmission started to downshift for no reason. His driving is mostly around the city limits he is 78 years old and doesn't travel much. I drove the van and it does have a hard downshift almost like it is trying to die. We removed the battery cable over night and it worked fine for a drive or two across town then started the same thing again. Is this a transmission problem or a censor or electrical problem please any suggestions would be appreciated. Replies to this message: shipo (Mar 06, 2007 7:52 pm)
#1298 of 1833 Re: Transmission or what [thepmking] by shipo Mar 06, 2007 (7:52 pm)
Replying to: thepmking (Mar 06, 2007 9:48 am) Were I in your shoes, I'd take it to the dealer and have the TCM reset. Relax, this doesn't sound like much of a problem.   Best Regards, Shipo
#1299 of 1833 ATF+3 vs ATF+4 by tsu670 Mar 07, 2007 (6:20 pm)
Here's a question. Can ATF+4 synthetic transmission fluid be used on DC minivan transmissions where ATF+3 was originally installed? Can the two be mixed, as when the transmission is serviced with a new filter and only about 4 1/2 quarts of fluid are replaced?   I'm asking because the place where I bought ATF+3 a couple of years ago doesn't sell it anymore; just ATF+4. Replies to this message: flavife (Mar 08, 2007 5:00 am) tsu670 (Mar 11, 2007 6:06 pm) shipo (Mar 11, 2007 7:02 pm) and 4 more...
#1300 of 1833 Re: ATF+3 vs ATF+4 [tsu670] by flavife Mar 08, 2007 (5:00 am)
Replying to: tsu670 (Mar 07, 2007 6:20 pm) Like you, I discovered that my dealer no longer sells ATF+3 so I purchased 9 quarts of ATF+4, drained the fluid and poured in 4.5 quarts of ATF+4. About 2 weeks later (1000 miles) I drained the fluid mix, changed the filter and poured in 4.5 quarts of ATF+4 and my 99 Caravan is running fine with 107,000 miles on it. Please note the smell of the ATF+4 is like burnt fluid and it appears to be thicker consistency so I would drive more gently on a real cold morning until it warms up. You can visit the Allpar forum which has information of the Chrylser transmissions. The ATF+4 is what Chrysler has the dealers use. Walmart is now selling the MOPAR ATF+4 fluid for about $4.50/qt. I only use Mopar transmission filters.   Frank Replies to this message: tsu670 (Mar 11, 2007 6:06 pm) shipo (Mar 11, 2007 7:02 pm) tsu670 (Mar 12, 2007 9:22 am) and 3 more...
#1301 of 1833 Jasper, anyone? by crybick Mar 08, 2007 (11:16 pm)
I drive a 1997 Grand Caravan ES with 3.8 that has 177,000 miles on the clock. It's a shame that the build quality of the van is actually not that bad, and the reliability has been decent, excepting the transmission. Transmission number five was just installed on Monday.   Almost three years ago my mother backed the van out of the garage when it made an awful noise and came to a stop. She got about 134,000 miles out of the original. Her shop (she has a great, honest shop and one particular mechanic that always works on her cars) recommended a Jasper transmission because it had a 3 year warranty and at the time Chrysler only offered...I think it was a one-year warranty? This was April 2004. She paid about $3000 for the Jasper and installation. Since then, the transmission has been replaced three more times.   No. 2 got to where it wouldn't shift in the mornings when it was cold (I go to school at Mississippi State University, and it's just not that cold in Starkville), and apparently it would shift once or twice while the primer pump (something like that) was working, then when it went off it wouldn't shift again until the transmission had warmed up. I'd get to the end of my street and the van would behave like it was in neutral, and the engine would rev and eventually the tranny would catch (this could happen at 3000 rpm, which must've been very hard on it).   No. 3 was replaced because the van couldn't stay in overdrive and would hunt between 3rd and 4th gear.   No. 4 failed Monday before last apparently due to overheating. There was some sort of blockage that prevented the fluid from circulating well and the transmission burned up.   With 177,000 on the clock, I can honestly say that my mother has gotten her money's worth out of the van (ordered direct from the factory, delivered with only 7 miles on the odo Halloween of 1996), but it's a shame that a vehicle that drives great, rides well, has so much interior space, looks great, and has some clever engineering is hamstrung by such poor transmission reliablity.   Transmission numbers 2, 3, and 4 were all replaced for free, but the warranty ends in April. Has anyone else had experience, positive or negative, with a rebuilt Jasper? I can't say I'm impressed, and I baby this vehicle.   Thanks, Cliff
#1302 of 1833 By the way by crybick Mar 08, 2007 (11:29 pm)
I read earlier that someone had mentioned the planetary gearing in his transmission failing, and another poster said that he'd never heard of it before.   From Jasper's website on the 41TE page:   6. For 3.3 and 3.8 applications, to handle the torque of larger V6 engines, we install a heavier planet and larger transfer shaft.   Original planets and stock transfer shafts were known to break under heavy loads. Replies to this message: shipo (Mar 09, 2007 3:51 am)

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