1996 T&C Transmission HELP needed

Our van transmission has decided to quit working completely in reverse. In
drive it will only work in first gear and when it goes to change to second
it completely stops working and engine freewheels. Shifting into any gear
after that does not work. The only way to get the car to move again is to
turn it off and restart it. I had to drive it home at less than 10 mph the
other day and keep the RPM's below 1500. When in first gear it sounds
normal, you can also hear the solenoid engage when putting it into drive.
You cannot hear any solenoid engage when putting it into reverse. Low and 3
act the same way as drive.
Connected OBD scanner and there was no codes. Is there a separate connector
fot the transmission computer? I only hooked it up to the main one below the
steering column.
Any ideas? Solenoid pack need replacement? ATF +3 is definitely in this
tranny.

 

You have a broken "hard part" in the transmission lingo. For an example of
what
might have broken, take a look at this:

http://www.freebsd-corp-net-guide.com/94tcpics/project.html

specifically pictures fig52.jpg and fig53.jpg In fact that gear is likely
what
is broken because it is used in all shift positions except 1st gear, and
it's
a known weak point.

The transmission often won't throw a code when something inside of it snaps.
In any case I didn't think the tans codes are available on a pure OBD-II
scanner
I thought you needed a scanner that was more sophisticated than the $100
ones from the auto parts store.

The loss of reverse gear is the giveaway here. If the trans gearing was
intact
you would have reverse.

By the way, if you do decide to get it rebuilt, there's some good info worth
reading on http://www.allpar.com/fix/trans.html And most importantly, when
calling around to the transmission shops, ask what fluid they use for this
transmission (make sure to get a tech, not the dumb broad at the front
counter)
and if they don't say ATF+4 then don't use them, and tell them why.

Ted

 

Thanks.
I am going to either order the ATSG manual and do the rebuild myself or buy
a rebuilt one from O Reilly's or somewhere that carries a good warranty. I
have never rebuilt one before but it sure would be a good experience. I
really have never liked any shops working on any of my vehicles.