[bill buttermore]

I have a good trans from a '98 3.8 caravan and an opportunity to pick up a clean 2000 caravan with a 3.3 and a bad trans for a good price. Can I use the '98 trans in the '00 if I change out the gears? I can remove engines and transmissions and have rebuilt engines but have not rebuilt automatic transmisisons other than replacing filters, solenoids and seals.

 

[valiant67]

No, the gearing really won't be the issue. The big issue will be differences in electrical connectors (particularly the TRS) between the two years,

 

[bill buttermore]

Thanks for the quick reply, Mark. You just saved me a hassle, I think. I'll just let this one go to someone else.

 

[bill buttermore]

Well, gee - the guy offered to sell it to me for $300 - I just couldn't say no. So, is it possible to change out the electrical connections from the bad '00 3.3 trans to the good '98 3.8 trans, or should I just look for a good 3.3 trans on car-part.com?

Here is my newest project:

 

[moparroy]

you might get lucky - the Transtar catelogue lists late 98 and up as the same:

410E Sensor, MLPS Range and Neutral Safety (Round Pins) (A604)............................... 1 96-E98 92410C 4659559AC​

410E Sensor, MLPS Range and Neutral Safety (Spades) (A604)..................................... 1 L98-Up 92410D 4659676AC

If they are different I wonder if you could not just swap the range sensors off the valve body (may require the shaft with it) - or swap the whole valvebody from one to the other assuming that is not the problem on the bad one.

Input and output sensors are the same and solenoid replacement part also the same

Check out Transtar1.com

I took a planet set out of a 2002 and put it in my 1995 41LE last year - runs great.

 

[bill buttermore]

Thanks, Roy. I chickened out and purchased a used trans for the '00. I noticed when I performed a search on car-part.com that only 2000 model year came back. I was told by the seller (confirming Mark's comment) that the electronics package on the 2000 is unique to that year and that is why. The '98 trans is still useful to me as a spare for our daily driver.

 

[bill buttermore]

AARGH! I got the replacement trans installed today and found that the TRS (I think) connector - the ten pin connector nearest the wheel well would not match up. The replacement trans has round male pins, the old one, and my female connector are for blade type pins. The guy who sold it to me is gonna clip the connector and take a look at the wires to see if maybe I could just splice in the connector. It looks like I could not change out the trans ends without removing at least the valve bodies. Sigh......

 

[bill buttermore]

Update: Went to a local pick n' pull yard and pulled a round pin connector from a '96 minivan. Spliced the wires in pin for pin - all but two wire colors were the same in my 2000. Rather than cut the flat pin connector, I stripped back a little bit of insulation on each lead and soldered the ends of the round pin connector. Now, I can connect older or newer transmissions easily. After some initial codes set before the trans was completely full of fluid, and a couple of days with the limp-mode lights shown in Park, the replacement trans seems to be working normally.

Thanks for the help.

 

[moparroy]

Thanks, Roy. I chickened out and purchased a used trans for the '00. I noticed when I performed a search on car-part.com that only 2000 model year came back. I was told by the seller (confirming Mark's comment) that the electronics package on the 2000 is unique to that year and that is why. The '98 trans is still useful to me as a spare for our daily driver.

What is unique on the 2000 is probably just the TCM electronics - that could be programming or could be how it communicates with the PCM I would think. I doubt it affects the mechanical or hydraulics of the transmission but I could be wrong. Glad it worked out for you.