I have a 1998 Caravan with a 3.3V6 and the 41TE transaxle and about 178k miles on the van, but the transmission was replaced about 5 years ago by AAMCO. 2 years ago I made a trip from Missouri to southern Texas and towed a small U-Haul trailer home. A few months later I started noticing it wouldn’t shift properly. I’d have to stop on the side of the road, turn it off, wait a minute or two, start it up and it would function properly again for several weeks or a month or more. I began to notice that it happened more regularly when the van had been sitting and idling for a while. After I pick my wife up from work, we drive 10 miles or so on one highway, then have to slow down to get on a second highway. It is usually after slowing down and making the 270 degree turn that it fails to up shift. Other times it would fail as we entered a highway if we had to stop before hand.
There was a fault code displayed, although I do not remember exactly what it was. I went by a transmission shop and was told that if it was this code, I needed a new transmission, that probably the torque converter had begun to come apart and the particles were blocking the solenoids. Thus the assumption that turning the van off allowed the pressure to dissipate and the particles to fall back down.
So I finally decided to change the fluid and filter. The filter looked pretty good, but the magnet had the common “Afro” on it. Drove it for several months before it began acting up again. We took it to the lake, and on the way home, it went into what I now know is the Limp Mode, only this time it began lurching and acting like the engine was not connected to anything. I guess that would be slippage. So I parked it and began doing my research. How I got to this site.
That was almost 2 months ago. I have started the van several times since then, and moved it twice to a different spot in the yard, and it seemed to operate fine. But that is not driving at speed. So now I am looking for options. Tomorrow if I can stand the heat, I’ll go out and check the electrical connections, and make sure they are clean and clear. I do not have a code reader, and to date have not been successful in getting it to display codes for me. Auto Zone has a reader they use for free, but they are 30 miles away, and I’m a little reluctant to drive that far right now. And not sure they will display ALL the codes. Any ideas on that, or what reader is best to purchase?
I’m thinking that I should start by changing the fluid and filter again, making sure I use ATF+4. I also think I need to either rebuild or replace the solenoid pack. I’m wondering if I should also try to have the transmission flushed. One place I read said yes, it’s a good idea, another place said, never do it, so I’m not sure. Is there a way to get additional fluid out of the casing while it is still in the vehicle, beyond what just flows out when you pull the pan?
I’m pretty good with cars, and I’ve owned Caravans since 1987, but I’ve never done anything with the transmission beyond changing a CV boot or a transaxle. I’d rather not have to deal with it, but am determined to do what ever it takes. And with the proper preparation, I can do this.
My other vehicle is a 1997 Grand Voyager, also with a 3.3 and it has 210k on it. We put right at 100 miles a day on one or the other.
Thanks for any advice you might have, and sorry it’s so long, but hope I included everything you need.
There was a fault code displayed, although I do not remember exactly what it was. I went by a transmission shop and was told that if it was this code, I needed a new transmission, that probably the torque converter had begun to come apart and the particles were blocking the solenoids. Thus the assumption that turning the van off allowed the pressure to dissipate and the particles to fall back down.
So I finally decided to change the fluid and filter. The filter looked pretty good, but the magnet had the common “Afro” on it. Drove it for several months before it began acting up again. We took it to the lake, and on the way home, it went into what I now know is the Limp Mode, only this time it began lurching and acting like the engine was not connected to anything. I guess that would be slippage. So I parked it and began doing my research. How I got to this site.
That was almost 2 months ago. I have started the van several times since then, and moved it twice to a different spot in the yard, and it seemed to operate fine. But that is not driving at speed. So now I am looking for options. Tomorrow if I can stand the heat, I’ll go out and check the electrical connections, and make sure they are clean and clear. I do not have a code reader, and to date have not been successful in getting it to display codes for me. Auto Zone has a reader they use for free, but they are 30 miles away, and I’m a little reluctant to drive that far right now. And not sure they will display ALL the codes. Any ideas on that, or what reader is best to purchase?
I’m thinking that I should start by changing the fluid and filter again, making sure I use ATF+4. I also think I need to either rebuild or replace the solenoid pack. I’m wondering if I should also try to have the transmission flushed. One place I read said yes, it’s a good idea, another place said, never do it, so I’m not sure. Is there a way to get additional fluid out of the casing while it is still in the vehicle, beyond what just flows out when you pull the pan?
I’m pretty good with cars, and I’ve owned Caravans since 1987, but I’ve never done anything with the transmission beyond changing a CV boot or a transaxle. I’d rather not have to deal with it, but am determined to do what ever it takes. And with the proper preparation, I can do this.
My other vehicle is a 1997 Grand Voyager, also with a 3.3 and it has 210k on it. We put right at 100 miles a day on one or the other.
Thanks for any advice you might have, and sorry it’s so long, but hope I included everything you need.
