QuestionQUESTION: I have a 1994 Grand Caravan ES with the 41TE, four speed transaxle that had the transaxle replaced under Dodge warrantee at 62,000 miles in 2001. I now have 123,000 miles, and as I backed out of the driveway and put it into drive, the car went forward for about 10 feet and then slipped out of gear. I moved the shift lever to park and then back to drive and it went back into gear but I soon realized that it was in limp mode. I drove to work, parked the car and when I left work the car was fine, shifted normally and not in limp mode. I drove to a transmission shop, they scanned it and told me that it had a fault in first gear and only showed one occurrence. They said to keep driving it and see if it happens again. I want to give this car to my son who will drive 80 miles (round trip) a day for college and want to know if it will be reliable.
What do you think of the reliability on these transmissions?
Do they need to be replaced every 60,000 miles?
A number of friends with Grand Caravans tell me to plan on replacing the transmission every 60 - 80,000 miles, as that is what has happened to them. I serviced the transmission with 5 quarts Castrol synthetic multiblend ATF+3 with a filter at 106,000 miles in 2006 (both the front axles were replaced at the same time) and would do another transmission oil & filter if there could be longer life left on the transmission. However, I would rather replace the transmission now, before I turn the keys over to my son if it is likely he will get stranded if the transmission is at the end of its life. What do you think?
ANSWER: Hi Greg,
I would believe that the trans will give you many more miles before a failure that requires re-build. The code 51 analysis table in the manual says there are many other possibilities than a cause that requires rebuild. Even so, it will likely default to limp-in rather than stranded mode should it come to that. The other possible causes for the 51 code involve either input or output speed sensor, the wiring to those sensors, three wire circuits from the trans to the transcontroller, or the transcontroller itself. Several of those will, if true, present a second code at that time and so can be pursued before the rebuild approach. So I would sit tight for now.
Roland
PS I assume that you checked the fluid level in the trans. If not, do so but don't overfill it.
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QUESTION: Roland, thanks for the quick reply. I will hold off on replacing the transmission or having it rebuilt. I will do another transmission fluid change along with a filter. In discussion with friends, they have said that transmission fluid eventually overheats and breaks down and that is the cause of most transmission failures. They go on to say that most modern cars do not have enough cooling capacity on the transmission fluid for a long transmission life (auto companies can keep costs down by undersizing ) and that I should add another transmission cooler. They say many cars have the option to buy a "towing package "and what you're getting is this additional transmission cooler along with the beefier radiator. Even though I do not tow anything with this Caravan, do think it could be a good investment to add an auxiliary transmission cooler?
Also, I've been told that when I do a transmission oil change, more than half of the capacity is still in the torque converter which does not get changed. The Caravan service manual says 4 quarts for a change, and 9.1 quarts for an overhaul change. Is it better to go into a dealer/shop and pay for all 9.1 quarts to be changed?
I have heard some bad stories of transmission power flushes on higher mileage cars.
Can a DIY'er just change the 4 quarts and filter every 30,000 miles and be fine?
AnswerHi Gregg,
I don't know the cost/benefit considerations of an auxiliary transmission cooler unit. I am uncertain about whether you have a transmission cooler as part of the cooling system radiator or not. Do you notice three pairs of hoses up front (coolant, refrigerant, transmission fluid)? If so, then you have the basic trans cooler. If your fluid smells burnt now, or you noticed in the past that it has changed color and smelled burnt quickly after partial drain (4 qt) then either additional cooling or more frequesnt partial drain would be worth considering. Certainly smelling/looking at the dipstick on a regular basis and using that to guide the maintenance would be a baseline approach. I know of the powerflush method and it is an acceptable practice according to the manual to get a full change out, but I have not heard about any down-side to doing it.
So probably the best way to go would be to consider your previous experience, and monitor the fluid by smell/appearance, and thus stay on top of the situation. That might be better than setting an arbitrary maintenance based on mileage. Rather check the fluid and let that be your guide.
Roland
