QuestionQUESTION: We were driving along out of town pulled down an exit ramp, stopped and went to move and the 1999 Dodge Grand Caravan wouldn't move forward or reverse. Fluid level was fine, color good, no burnt smell. There were no sounds, everything was working fine.
Any ideas 141000 miles, fluid was fushed and replaced before 70000 miles
ANSWER: Hi Nancy,
The best thing would be to get a readout of the fault codes that are likely stored in the transmission control computer memory. A repair shop should be able to do that for under $40 and give you all the 4-digit code numbers. Those will likely say what the cause is and what sort of repair will fix it. The cost of the readout would usually be credited to whatever repair you authorize them to do. Let me know the numbers and we can compare what you are told with the shop manual's interpretation.
Another approach is to carefully remove and lower the three oil pans, collecting the fluid, and examining each pan for the presence of internal debris. If there is no debris then the more likely repair would have to do with simply removing and cleaning the valve body which can be done without removing the entire transmission. Debris of worn parts in the bottom of the pans, on the other hand, would lead one to do a tear down and rebuild of the trans, replacing the worn parts.
The only other reason for non-motion would be the disconnection of one of the front wheels from the transmission due to a failure of its driveshaft. But absent some obvoius insult that seems very unlikely from the history that you reported.
There is nothing simple that would explain what happened, but there are still several possible explanations which the code readout and pan inspection will ideally tell you exactly what is wrong and what is the best repair to authorize. By the way, the mileage on your transmission is typically in the range where a re-build is in order, but let us not jump to that conclusion.
Roland
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: My husband tried to remove the transmission drain pan where the filter is and couldn't get it to come loose, it seemed like it was permanently attached. He said that it looked like a black RTV was used.
He has a Chrysler DBS III available to use, will this display the codes.
The only thing that we have done before was to replace both speed sensors and the right side drive shaft.
AnswerHi Nancy,
Yes the RTV is probably gripping the pan too tightly so he will need to use a thin blace to cut the material, but remove it as level as possible so as to not spill any debris, if present, which would be of diagnostic significance. A DRB III tool will certainly give us the code numbers we need. Because the drive shaft was replaced I wonder if another shaft is broken. Start it, put it in gear, and observe if the output on either side of the trans is turning while you have the wheels locked up. If so, that would be the reason for not moving.
Roland
PS As before, please 'rate' my answer. Thank you for the previous rating and nomination.
