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Chrysler Minivan Transmission Problems

2067 messages,  Last post on May 12, 2013 at 11:00 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


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Messages Page 142 of 207

#1409 of 2067 Re: How are the 2007 transmissions? [ondaman] by shipo

Aug 16, 2007 (9:15 am)

Replying to: ondaman (Aug 15, 2007 8:24 pm)
"I wonder if the 2007 Chrysler Town & Country SWB (3.3L V6 170HP) has the same transmission quality issues."
 
I'm not sure which issues you are referring to. Starting in 2001 Chrysler revised the transmission a bit and started sending them out the door with external transmission oil coolers (the Gen 3s relied upon an oil cooler in the radiator only), and a lifetime fill of the new fully synthetic ATF+4 transmission fluid. Since the Gen 4s debuted I've heard of a few sporadic transmission failures, but nothing like the older generations.
 
Like I said before, the unit in our 3.8 liter 2003 DGC ES has 95,000 mile on it and still runs as well as the day it came from the factory. That said, the transmission in our 1998 3.8 liter DGC Sport managed to go 108,999 miles with just regular fluid and filter changes and never had a hiccup. At 109,000 it literally gernaded going down a freeway ramp and managed to limp another fifteen feet before it fully croaked in the middle of an intersection. The good news here is that the new factory reman transmission in that van is built to the 2000 model year spec which also uses ATF+4 fluid, and I have little doubt that the van will see the quarter of a million mile mark without any further transmission problems. Only 101,000 miles to go.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1410 of 2067 Re: How are the 2007 transmissions? [shipo] by superwoody

Aug 16, 2007 (9:42 am)

Replying to: shipo (Aug 16, 2007 9:15 am)
"I'm not sure which issues you are referring to. Starting in 2001 Chrysler revised the transmission a bit and started sending them out the door with external transmission oil coolers (the Gen 3s relied upon an oil cooler in the radiator only), and a lifetime fill of the new fully synthetic ATF+4 transmission fluid. Since the Gen 4s debuted I've heard of a few sporadic transmission failures, but nothing like the older generations."
 
Maybe it's because I've been a victim but it seems a lot more common than just "a few sporadic transmission failures" in my opinion. From what I have read here and other places, the 3.3 engine/tranny combo doesn't seem to have the same frequency of problems as the 3.8 but I don't have any statistics to prove or disprove that so do your own research.
 
I personally have had an SWB 3.3 van and really really liked it. It has plenty of power for the SWB and seems to get much better MPG than the 3.8 I have now. I would not hesitate to purchase another Chrysler/Dodge new right now (In fact I just purchased a PT CRUISER this week ) because of the unlimited warranty they are including. Plus now is a good time to get a 07 van since the new body just came out. Although I personally like the current body better. I think Chrysler/Dodge is going to over board with the "boxy" look IMO

#1411 of 2067 Re: How are the 2007 transmissions? [shipo] by ondaman

Aug 16, 2007 (9:48 am)

Replying to: shipo (Aug 16, 2007 9:15 am)
Yes Shipo, same as what you described in your 1998 3.8 liter DGC Sport, my 1998 Voyager's transmission also went down at 113k mi (with regular fluid and filter changes every 1.5 yrs. Transmission grinds while shifting, van will not move). I had it repaired with 3yr/36k mi warranty. Hopefully would last another 100k

#1412 of 2067 Re: How are the 2007 transmissions? [superwoody] by shipo

Aug 16, 2007 (10:25 am)

Replying to: superwoody (Aug 16, 2007 9:42 am)
"I would not hesitate to purchase another Chrysler/Dodge new right now (In fact I just purchased a PT CRUISER this week because of the unlimited warranty they are including."
 
Good point. I'd forgotten about the lifetime warranty for the original owner. If I was in the market for a new van (I'm not as I'm betting that we have an easy quarter of a million combined mile left in our two current vans), I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 2007 model, even if the transmissions were found to be totally flaky.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1413 of 2067 Re: How are the 2007 transmissions? [shipo] by xwesx

Aug 16, 2007 (1:45 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Aug 16, 2007 10:25 am)
Hmmm.... but how valuable is a "lifetime" warranty from Chrysler at this point?

#1414 of 2067 Re: How are the 2007 transmissions? [xwesx] by shipo

Aug 16, 2007 (2:08 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Aug 16, 2007 1:45 pm)
Are you implying that there won't be a Chrysler sometime in the near future? For my part, I see them getting more successful, not less.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1415 of 2067 Re: How are the 2007 transmissions? [shipo] by xwesx

Aug 16, 2007 (2:20 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Aug 16, 2007 2:08 pm)
No, I expect the company, in one form or another, to be around for a while yet. It is the continuity of the company's past programs between iterations that I think could be an issue. Especially for those owners who actually keep their vehicles for long periods of time. Granted, most owners do not (what is the average, about 3 years?), so it is likely not a costly program to implement for the company and yet it offers a wonderful "peace of mind" fringe benefit.
 
Time will tell, so no sense in me going too far off topic. My apologies - that post was one of those "snicker responses." I need to check my impulse regulator.

#1416 of 2067 Do I really need a new transmission? by buylo

Aug 19, 2007 (12:43 pm)

The engine warning light came on in my 2001 T&C (95,000 miles) over a month ago and stayed on. The van acted fine.
 
Two weeks ago I got water in my gas tank at a station out of town, and just after leaving the station the van died.
 
A mechanic there drained the tank and cleared the code.
 
The engine warning light came right back on and the van has been misfiring or shakey. Took it to my 5 Star dealer, who said the codes show I need a new transmission due to failing torque converter ($3800 cost/van is valued at about $5500).
 
Took the car to my local mechanic who said 8 codes showed up, and thought the computer might be sending codes in error because of the bad gas. The mechanic cleared the codes.
 
Engine light came back on with TCC malfunction code and 2 Trans Controller codes. Mechanic drained transmission, put lube stuff in, said there were no metal shavings or signs of transmissions troubles.
 
Engine light came back on and my van loses power, even over 40 or 50MPH. Still shakey, misfiring like it's going to die, but doesn't.
 
I thought I knew when a Chrysler transmission was going bad, as this is my thrid Chrysler mini van, and would be my fourth transmission replaced if I do this one. But this isn't behaving like the other three at all when they started failing.
 
Could it be a computer problem? Any ideas or anyone else with this problem?

#1417 of 2067 Re: Do I really need a new transmission? [buylo] by shipo

Aug 19, 2007 (12:58 pm)

Replying to: buylo (Aug 19, 2007 12:43 pm)
I think the transmission is a red herring. Nothing in what you wrote would lead me to think you have a transmission problem. That said, the "lube stuff" that your mechanic put in your transmission might just cause your transmission to fail, these transmissions are EXTREMELY sensitive to what is in them. Said another way, get that crap out of there as soon as you can.
 
As for your misfiring problem, it seems the be ignition, fuel or engine related, however, what the exact problem is I cannot say without a closer look. Regarding the water that you got in your fuel; how do you know you got water and not something else? I ask because your symptoms seem to mimic a problem an acquaintance of mine had when he got Diesel fuel. In his case he ultimately needed a new engine as the Diesel fuel literally ruined his engine.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#1418 of 2067 Re: Do I really need a new transmission? [shipo] by buylo

Aug 19, 2007 (1:38 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Aug 19, 2007 12:58 pm)
Thanks for your reply shipo.
 
The out of town mechanic was sure it was water in the tank, he said he could see it floating on top of the gas.
 
I'm pretty intimate with the symptoms of Chrysler Mini Vans since I've owned three.
 
My instinct tells me it is an engine problem, too. My husband seems to think it's a computer problem, but he's definitely not a mechanic either.
 
The local mechanic, who has actually always been really good with our cars, says if it continues to act up it may eventually need a transmission. But the misfiring and shaking was going on before he ever did anything to the trans.
 
Could you suggest how I should get this diagnosed? The 5 Star dealer will just want to put a new transmission in it.
 
I may just trade it in, but I really want the time to look around. I'm afraid it might be like one of my other vans, which by the time I decided to put a second trans in it, on the way to the dealer, the trans and the engine blew, and the car was then worthless.
 
Thanks again for your reply.

Messages Page 142 of 207

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