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Chrysler Minivan Transmission Problems

2070 messages,  Last post on Jun 02, 2013 at 12:09 PM

You are in the Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan Forum.

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 90 of 208

#885 of 2070 Re: 1998 Plymouth Voyager transmission failure [paj3] by dustyk

Jul 28, 2005 (7:48 pm)

Replying to: paj3 (Jul 19, 2005 8:53 pm)
You don't say how many miles is on the vehicle nor how many is on the rebuild. You should not have had a problem with the rebuild if it had been a quality job.
 
Whether its worth investing $2500 in to it is dependent on the overall condition and miles. Does it need any other type of mechanical work? Does the total exceed the value of the vehicle?
 
As it stands now no vehicle is worth much with a bad transmission. A $4000 high mileage mini-van with a bad transmission is worth about $500. It may pay to get it fixed.
 
On the other hand it might be worth a second opinion, too. You didn't state the failure symptoms, but a lot of Chrysler transmission problems are not complete failures. A dirty valve body or bad shift solenoids can be fixed for a lot less that $2500. I might recommend another Chrysler or Dodge dealer, however.
 
Good luck,
Dusty

#886 of 2070 94 Town & Country Instrument panel intermittent by lonallen

Aug 01, 2005 (9:29 am)

Recently the instrument panel (digital display) on my wife's 1994 Town
& Country went haywire. Whenever you put a load on the electrical
system (power windows, interior lights, apply the brakes (brake lights
I guess), head lights, etc) the instrument cluster flashes off and then
goes through its power up test and then displays normal. It can get to
where it does this several times a second to the point that you have a
blank display with flashes of lights only in certain segments. If you have the ignition off and open the drivers door the panel powers up and displays the main
information along with the mileage. Once you start the engine it just
goes flashing like a discotec.
Any clues as to the cause of this? I have heard that these digital displays goe bad, but wouldn't that just be the printed circuit board each of the gauges is plugged into? Or is there a controller (BCM) that is responsible for driving the display?
 
Thanks,
 
Lon Allen

#887 of 2070 Re: 94 Town & Country Instrument panel intermittent [lonallen] by badgerfan

Aug 01, 2005 (10:57 am)

Replying to: lonallen (Aug 01, 2005 9:29 am)
Well, this discussion is supposedly only on transmissions, however I will give your question a shot.
 
Have the battery checked out. Even though it still may be starting the car OK, these minivans seem to be very sensitive to low voltage which drives the displays crazy.
 
Could also be a bad voltage regulator or altenator, I suppose. Many auto parts stores will do a free diagnostic of your battery and charging system. I would try that first.

#888 of 2070 1994 Grand Caravan SE OD Stutter by sfuchs

Aug 03, 2005 (3:08 am)

Good evening.
 
I just purchased a 1994 Dodge Caravan SE with 140k. I've looked through 15+ pages and dont see a problem similar to mine.
 
Let it be said that I purchased the vehicle with knowledge of this existing issue, so it's no shock. For $750, it's got a strong motor, good interior, and all accessories work. So I guess I did okay.
 
The meat of my trans problem is as follows: when going steady between 30-40 MPH, the transmission will rapidly slip in/out of overdrive. It feels and sounds almost identical to going over a double set of train tracks.
 
Accelerating, decelerating, or hitting the OD switch all make it stop immediately.
 
My thoughts are solenoids or (hopefully not) the OD clutch.
 
Transmission fluid is clear, clean and smells like a spring garden. (okay not really a spring garden unless you were growning ATF flowers).
 
Anyhow, Outside of that I'm pretty happy with it. I admit I'm rather surprised to read that 100+k is outside the average life expectancy of a DC transmission. I suppose I'm spoiled by German engineering.

#889 of 2070 Actually... by isellhondas

Aug 04, 2005 (10:57 am)

I'll take the reliability of a Chrysler over a German car any day!

#890 of 2070 Re: 94 Town & Country Instrument panel intermittent [lonallen] by dustyk

Aug 04, 2005 (5:05 pm)

Replying to: lonallen (Aug 01, 2005 9:29 am)
I've seen weak and failing batteries cause the craziest things on Chrysler products, so Baderfan suggestion is right-on.
 
Another sometimes problem on your year's mini-van is the Central Timer Module (CTM) going bad.
 
Best regards,
Dusty

#891 of 2070 Re: 1994 Grand Caravan SE OD Stutter [sfuchs] by dustyk

Aug 04, 2005 (7:43 pm)

Replying to: sfuchs (Aug 03, 2005 3:08 am)
The 41TE transmissions typically go better than 100,000 miles in average service, with a majority going 150K or more before serious repairs are required. Many go 200,000 with good routine maintenance.
 
Check the underside of the hood for the presence of a decal indicating a Transmission Control Module (TCM) flash. For the years '93-'95, there should be at least two if the previous owners had this vehicle serviced for torque converter shudder. Chrysler issued several flash updates for these years all related to shift anomalies and torque converter engagement problems.
 
If your vehicle was flashed and this vehicle has been driven for some time with this condition, there unfortunately is a good chance that the torque converter clutch is badly worn. There are other things that should be considered, however. Despite the apparent condition, the ATF could be degraded (oxidized) or contaminated with a quantity of Dexron-Mercon. Dexron-Mercon in a Chrysler transmission will cause the same symptom. If you haven't done this, I would recommend a transmission filter change and a fluid flush. The anti-drain back valve should be removed and flushed, or replaced at the same time. In addition, the battery should be disconnected for at least two minutes and reconnected. This will force the TCM through a retrain with the new fluid.
 
Most of the time this symptom is caused by an intermittent EMCC TCC signal that causes partial engagement of the solenoid. The torque converter solenoid could be weak or there could be a bad (intermittent) electrical connection at the solenoid. This is very, very common. The governor piston could be worn (they mushroom at the end from actuation) or the under drive clutch could be bad. The TCM could be bad, also.
 
Strange at it may seem, ignition components can cause this very same symptom, either spark plug wires or distributor cap and rotor, and worn spark plugs.
 
Best regards,
Dusty

#892 of 2070 Re: 94 Town & Country Instrument panel intermittent [dustyk] by lonallen

Aug 07, 2005 (8:43 am)

Replying to: dustyk (Aug 04, 2005 5:05 pm)
Thanks for the help. Do you know where the CTM is located on the 1994 T&C? What I have noticed since my original post that the display is good when you open the drivers door (it powers up to display the mileage), but after it either times out or the ignition is turned on it displays nothing. Sounds like whatever relay switches it over to the ignition circuit is bad. I would expect that this might be in the CTM.
 
Lon Allen

#893 of 2070 Re: 94 Town & Country Instrument panel intermittent [badgerfan] by lonallen

Aug 07, 2005 (8:45 am)

Replying to: badgerfan (Aug 01, 2005 10:57 am)
My appologies. I had a difficult time figuring out where on this board to post this message. Even worse, I had a difficult time figuring out where my post ended up. Sorry...

#894 of 2070 baffling problem by davez525

Aug 10, 2005 (4:02 pm)

I dont know if this is the trans or not but, after driving freeway speeds for approx 10-15 minutes (70+mph) the car wants to pull slightly to the right....almost like it has a mind of its own but moments later the pull ceases.
 
At the same time, it shimmes unless I add throttle at which time it smooths out.
 
During the shimmy, I tried a quick stop & it shimmies from side to side like having a "bent wheel" effect untill a full stop.
 
If I stop & go in reverse for a quick moment & resume on my way, the problem is cleared & gone for street driving until of course, I drive at freeway speeds again.
 
So far Ive suspected the Trans, the steering or maybe the right axle which, has a broken boot at the wheel side.....btw, its a 1990 Voyager LE with LOTS of miles...it does need front end bushings as per a visit to the alingnment shop...
 
Thanx in advance for any clues you may have..
 
Dave.

Messages Page 90 of 208

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