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#1
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1994 Caravan & Transmission
HI All,
I have a '94 Caravan. What's started to happen is, in the mornings, when I start out, I live on a relatively steep hill and have to climb it. The transmission seems fine going up the hill, but at the top, when I stop, the engine stutters and almost stalls as the transmission seems to "kick back in'. It sort of seems like it's winding down and it kicks in almost as if she'd been disengaged completely. I hope this make sense. Prior to this, it would stay in one gear - either first or second and it wouldn't shift until I let it warm up, then turned it off and restarted it. Is my transmission going up? What kind of things can actually go wrong with a tranny? Can any cause what I described? Help. Please send good news! Babs |
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#2
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"Barbara" > wrote in message ... > HI All, > > I have a '94 Caravan. Do you have the 41TE (A-604) 4 speed electronic transmission? Does your gear selector indicator show a "PRND3L"? > > What's started to happen is, in the mornings, when I start out, I live on a > relatively steep hill and have to climb it. The transmission seems fine > going up the hill, but at the top, when I stop, the engine stutters and > almost stalls as the transmission seems to "kick back in'. It sort of seems > like it's winding down and it kicks in almost as if she'd been disengaged > completely. I hope this make sense. If I understand what you're describing, it sounds like the "bump shift" problem some of them have when coming to a stop and downshifting from 2nd to lst. We have a '92 Grand Voyager that does this and sometimes it's actually violent - feels like something siezed up for a microsecond). > > Prior to this, it would stay in one gear - either first or second and it > wouldn't shift until I let it warm up, then turned it off and restarted it. You must have the 41TE transmission. It sounds like it's going into "limp in" mode. This tranny is fully electronic and run by a computer (the Transmission Control Module). It is constantly monitoring the tranny for trouble. When it detects something not right, it will set a trouble code in its memory for troubleshooting purposes so a technician will have an idea of what's wrong. If it thinks the problem is serious it will put the transmission into limp-in (or limp-home) mode. This cuts off electrical power to the transmission and only allows it to operate in Park, Reverse, Neutral and 2nd gear. This is what you experienced. It detected a problem and put it into limp-in mode - no forward shifting - only 2nd gear. When you shut it off and re-started it, it decided that the problem no longer existed (intermittent problem) and once again allowed it into normal operating mode. This problem could be something as simple as a sensor (input or output speed sensor, etc.), a bad wire conection that's intermitent, or a serious problem that will eventually result in major transmission repair or overhaul. You need the dealer or a good independent shop to retrieve the trouble codes from the transmission to see what's going on. The 41TE (A604) tranny has a very checkered history , especially in the early years. |
#3
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"Barbara" > wrote in message ... > HI All, > > I have a '94 Caravan. Do you have the 41TE (A-604) 4 speed electronic transmission? Does your gear selector indicator show a "PRND3L"? > > What's started to happen is, in the mornings, when I start out, I live on a > relatively steep hill and have to climb it. The transmission seems fine > going up the hill, but at the top, when I stop, the engine stutters and > almost stalls as the transmission seems to "kick back in'. It sort of seems > like it's winding down and it kicks in almost as if she'd been disengaged > completely. I hope this make sense. If I understand what you're describing, it sounds like the "bump shift" problem some of them have when coming to a stop and downshifting from 2nd to lst. We have a '92 Grand Voyager that does this and sometimes it's actually violent - feels like something siezed up for a microsecond). > > Prior to this, it would stay in one gear - either first or second and it > wouldn't shift until I let it warm up, then turned it off and restarted it. You must have the 41TE transmission. It sounds like it's going into "limp in" mode. This tranny is fully electronic and run by a computer (the Transmission Control Module). It is constantly monitoring the tranny for trouble. When it detects something not right, it will set a trouble code in its memory for troubleshooting purposes so a technician will have an idea of what's wrong. If it thinks the problem is serious it will put the transmission into limp-in (or limp-home) mode. This cuts off electrical power to the transmission and only allows it to operate in Park, Reverse, Neutral and 2nd gear. This is what you experienced. It detected a problem and put it into limp-in mode - no forward shifting - only 2nd gear. When you shut it off and re-started it, it decided that the problem no longer existed (intermittent problem) and once again allowed it into normal operating mode. This problem could be something as simple as a sensor (input or output speed sensor, etc.), a bad wire conection that's intermitent, or a serious problem that will eventually result in major transmission repair or overhaul. You need the dealer or a good independent shop to retrieve the trouble codes from the transmission to see what's going on. The 41TE (A604) tranny has a very checkered history , especially in the early years. |
#4
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On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 13:38:27 -0500, Barbara wrote:
> HI All, > > I have a '94 Caravan. > > What's started to happen is, in the mornings, when I start out, I live on a > relatively steep hill and have to climb it. The transmission seems fine > going up the hill, but at the top, when I stop, the engine stutters and > almost stalls as the transmission seems to "kick back in'. It sort of seems > like it's winding down and it kicks in almost as if she'd been disengaged > completely. I hope this make sense. > > Prior to this, it would stay in one gear - either first or second and it > wouldn't shift until I let it warm up, then turned it off and restarted it. > > Is my transmission going up? > > What kind of things can actually go wrong with a tranny? Can any cause what > I described? > > Help. Please send good news! > > Babs I had this happen with my 94 LHS. I drive the highway to work, and when I got to the end of the ramp the tranny would clunk into gear. I was talking to a mechanic friend and he suggested something made by Blaster for trannies. Said it looked like Marvel Mystery Oil. I couldn't find it, but I did find something called Sea-Foam for trannies. It looked like Marvel Mystery Oil (a thin, red oil, if you don't know) Added a bottle to the tranny at lunch time and by the time I got back to work (3 mile) the tranny was runing smooth as silk and the bump-shift was gone! All the tranny problems seemd to go away! Also, DO NOT fill your tranny with anything other than ATF+3, and DON'T have it flushed. Just do the normal drain and fill with ATF+3. We have lost 2 trannies where I work due to flushing! When I called and asked at the local lube place, I asked them if they used ATF+3, and he told me they use Dextron/Mercon with the proper 'modifiers'. Nope! Won't do it! Using anything other than ATF+3 is the best way to kill a Chrysler tranny, and the reason they have such a bad rep. It's not because of Chrysler, it's because of people not reading the manual and filling it with what's on the rack. |
#5
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I went to a local parts house and machine shop to get ATF for my '90
Caravan, which leaked. I was aware of the +3 ATF that Chrysler 604's were to use and the (experienced) person behind the counter looked it up in her books and said that "if it was a '91 or newer it was to use the +3 fluid," but mine was to use the regular stuff. I found that surprising, but I do know that the 604's had MANY upgrades in the years following their introduction, possibly the reason for the change in ATF requirement around that time. In other words, it doesn't appear to be necessarially so that all 604's are to use the +3 ATF. I don't know if using the +3 in an early 604 trans which calls for Dexron/Mercon will hurt it--I wouldn't think so. But then why wouldn't the reputable parts house's book just say to use +3 in all 604's regardless of year? (I've since sold the van, but this would appear to be a VERY important topic for discussion). :-) |
#6
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#7
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Mine was a '90, but I get the point about fwd compatible.
I've been reading these posts for about a month or two so I'm relatively new here but hadn't seen it discussed. |
#8
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#9
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So, which ATF should I use? And, if I've had the wrong type in, does this
mean my transmission is now shot or can I save it? Here's what happened since my first post. I took it to a mechanic, (Charing Cross Automotive in Baltimore). I explained in as much detail as I could what was happening. The next day, they called and said pick up the van, no charge. I asked what the problem was and the mechanic said, you're transmission is going up - drive it until it drops. Two nights ago, my brother in law who works at the same shop, (he's not a mechanic), sent word through his wife to my wife that the mechanic took the van for a ride - didn't feel it slip at all - and so according to what I had said during the initial interview, assumed the transmission is going up. He sent me home with that. What do you guys think? I can't afford another vehicle right now at all. Should I try a "transmission" place? Babs "aarcuda69062" > wrote in message ... > In article >, > (James Goforth) wrote: > >> Mine was a '90, > > Oooops, should have said 90 > >> but I get the point about fwd compatible. >> I've been reading these posts for about a month or two so I'm >> relatively new here but hadn't seen it discussed. > > More traffic in rec.autos.makers.chrysler |
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