1993 Grand Caravan 3.3 liter Transmission trouble.

Well guys here we go.

1993 Grand Caravan
3.3 Liter
Bought it with 153,000Km
found out later it had 304,000Km on it
when it was sold 6 or 7 months before we bought it
now has 234,000Km according to the odometer.

Was out today drove it about 20 some odd miles when I went off the
highway onto a side road and when I stepped on it to pick up speed it
went into never never land, dropped it into 3rd then 1rst and still
nothing then back into D and then a few seconds later it went into
limp mode.
Works great in 2nd in limp mode
if I leave it sit not running for about 5 minutes it will go into
drive and will seem to be fine for about 300 - 500 feet, it will start
in first then shift to 2nd and before it can get to a 3rd shift point
it goes into never never land and then after a few seconds into limp
mode.

So does this sound like it needs a fluid and filter change to cure it
or could I be looking at some major trouble?

It runs fine otherwise even with close to or just over 400,000Km on
it.

 

Get it scanned. Scantools that can read the transmission fault
codes are now very cheap on Ebay - you do need to know what to buy -
but I don't think your going to wait a couple weeks with the van
not working in order to get one of these. See my post titled "sick
41TE" just a few days ago for a similar problem.

Ted

 

Yes I just found part of that thread and was reading it last night, I
am off to a place now that will read it for me, in second gear about
an hours drive I think.
If you know what they are worth or have a link to what I should look
at could you email me off list unless you want everyone to know what
should be used.

Thanks

Len

 

Don't drive it like that for that distance... you are asking for trouble.

Bob

 

Well I just got back from the tranny shop and he says its internal a
snap wring or something in that area, when it goes to shift into 3rd
it goes out to lunch, says the sensors are all fine. He sees this
problem quite often. about $800 plus tax as long as nothing else is
wrong in there, he does some other things while he is in there, I
forget what else.
I trust the place, one of the only ones around I do trust.

 

Hi Len,

Ask your tranny guy if he has the tool (Miller CH 5500 flash kit)
to do a firmware update on your transmission computer, if he does not,
before you have him work on it, drive over to a Chrysler dealership and
have them do it. Some trans places will just send your trans computer
out to a so-called "refurbisher" for exchange, presumably the
refurbisher
supplies a replacement computer that is at current firmware rev. My
feeling is that if you have a good computer in the vehicle don't
pull it out and replace it, instead firmware update it.

This won't fix your current problem but it will prevent the computer
from burning up the new transmission. Chrysler put out TSB on this,
TSB 18-24-95 that lists the 1993 41TE trans computer has having a
problem with harsh 3-4 upshifts. There are also a host of other
changes in the firmware
from that era. Who knows you might even get the update done for free
if you give them a sob story and it's a slow day for them. Depending
on the part number of your computer the dealership may have to
disconnect
a wire going to it after the update.

The scan tool that I have is an OTC Monitor 4000E with the Chrysler
CCD adapter. A pic of this is on ebay auction #4559341326 (that
particular auction does not have the CCD cable in it) Another pic
is auction 4560265956 which does appear to have the CCD cable in it
(it's the black rectangular thing in the center) but the seller has
deliberately taken the photo so as to blur the writing on the adapter,
so you would have to confirm. Actually for you the 4560265956
might be perfect since it appears to only have a 1993 software
cartridge with it, and you won't have much bidding competition
since most people would want to get a unit that worked through
1995 (since 1995 was the last year for OBD-1)

For the 4000E you need both the Chrysler engine adapter
(ebay auction 4560481474) to talk to the
engine computer, and the CCD adapter to talk to the transmission.

There is a newer tool called the OTC Monitor 4000 Enhanced. The
4000E and 4000 Enhanced are different. A pic of the 4000 Enhanced is
on auction 7984900492 Obviously the 4000 Enhanced would be the
preferred
tool. I bought my 4000E a couple years ago and have spent probably
close to $400 on it and all the cabling and cartridges so far for it.
Today I would probably go for a 4000 Enhanced.

The 4000 Enhanced was not as common as the 4000E and there are fewer
on the used market, and they are more expensive.

What you want to look for on EBay is one of these that is as close to
a complete set as possible. Many times mechanics that get rid of these
sell the whole thing to some scavenger who parts it out, then you
get a dozen auctions on Ebay for each little cable and connector.
Don't buy any of that until after you get your kit. For example a
complete set would be on auction 4392148109. (at least the seller
claims it is complete)

OTC still will sell you manuals for these if you call them and
give them a credit card # so don't pay a huge amount extra for
manuals.

Also don't pay extra for a printer. OTC sold a printer that plugged
into the cigarette lighter and printed on adding machine tape.
After a long time waiting I finally found a printer cable on EBay
(no printer) and I plug it into my laptop with a 9-25 pin adapter
and print to Hyperterminal under Windows.