HELP PLEASE: 96 GD. CARAVAN STUCK IN 2ND GEAR.

B

Bill (2)

Usenet Archive
Joined
Jul 10, 2001
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Hello everyone,

I would really appreciate any info on the following problem we have encountered with our 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan.

Mileage: 81,000
Year: 1996
Engine: 3.3 Liter
Transmission:` 4 speed electronic shift.

Description of problem: Today, my wife was driving about 60 MPH down the highway. She suddenly heard a loud noise, and the tachometer jumped way up (engine racing at high RPM). Then, it appears that since then the transmission is stuck in second gear (limp mode). I thought that maybe it might be a speed sensor, but maybe I'm wrong. I tried the cruise control, and it works, so I'm probably wrong about that,..(anyone?). I looked at the connector of the transmission controller, and everything looks clean. Fluid level is fine. Other instruments seem to be working fine, gauges, heater control, etc.. It seems like the CCD bus communication is fine. There is no check engine light on either. I dont have a scan tool, so I'm not sure if there could be codes stored in the system without the check engine light on that may be able to steer me. This vehicle has been garaged, and kept in nice shape, and is not a "beater vehicle", as they would say. Is there anyone that may have any info on this problem? Thanks very much in advance for any advice.

Sincerely,

Bill
 
81,000 miles? I would guess that is about average. mine went at 129,000 kms.

The care you took in keeping the car in a garage has little to do with a poor design.

From my experience, there are 3 main possibilites:

1) The tranny is totally shot and needs to be rebuilt

2) The solenoid pack may be defective and need to be replaced

3) It could also be a wiring harness issue.

Please, find a competant trans shop - one that will read the trans computer for free. Check with the Better Business Bureau. Talk to local service shops. Many have a list of "preferred suppiers" to sub-contract work to. Many shops don't do their own tranmission work. But they want a GOOD shop to do the work, or THEY get a pissed off customer.

Take the van to the shop, and let the shop give you a diagnosis and an estimate.

I am in Canada, and there is a VERY reputable shop that is a member of CAA/AAA and will rebuild these transmissions for $1495 CDN$ + Tax. When I had my solenoid pack replaced, it was (IIRC) about $350.

Don't be hoodwinked by shops like SCAMCO (AAMMACO) and others that want $4,000 to do a job like this. They are a rip-off.

hth
 
About the previous poster's third point.... I was having problems with my 1990 3.3 litre Grand Voyageur - this after a complete rebuild (yes, about $1400 but it was pretty much worn out). Would go into limp mode
- only way to get out of it was to start up, it would flip into limp mode, I'd shift into neutral, shut the motor off, shart up again and shift into Drive. Most annoying. However, I digress... - the transmission guy and myself discovered that it was a loose or intermittent connector on the front of the transmission so the computer wasn't getting the proper signals. We discovered this while reading the codes and shifting gears while he fiddled with the connector. Once things were crimped together better, it worked fine.

I'd also agree - try to find a small independent transmission person who can do good work for a reasonable rate. But get this person to do some code reading first. That may help identify the problem.

Dave
 
BILL said:
Hello everyone,

I would really appreciate any info on the following problem we have encountered with our 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan.

Mileage: 81,000
Year: 1996
Engine: 3.3 Liter
Transmission:` 4 speed electronic shift.

Description of problem: Today, my wife was driving about 60 MPH down the highway. She suddenly heard a loud noise, and the tachometer jumped way up (engine racing at high RPM). Then, it appears that since then the transmission is stuck in second gear (limp mode). I thought that maybe it might be a speed sensor, but maybe I'm wrong. I tried the cruise control, and it works, so I'm probably wrong about that,..(anyone?). I looked at the connector of the transmission controller, and everything looks clean. Fluid level is fine. Other instruments seem to be working fine, gauges, heater control, etc.. It seems like the CCD bus communication is fine. There is no check engine light on either. I dont have a scan tool, so I'm not sure if there could be codes stored in the system without the check engine light on that may be able to steer me. This vehicle has been garaged, and kept in nice shape, and is not a "beater vehicle", as they would say. Is there anyone that may have any info on this problem? Thanks very much in advance for any advice.

Sincerely,

Bill
Click to expand...

My '96 did something very similar at about the same mileage as yours. The overdrive gear/shaft broke in the transmission. A friend who is a Dodge transmission mechanic repaired (rebuilt) it. He said this is a common problem with that model. The new gear/shaft assembly is redesigned.
 
I have it at the transmission shop right now, left over the weekend. They have a code for a shift solenoid. The expert on this is out of town until Monday, when more can be determined.

Thanks,

Bill
 
It's in 2nd gear because the computer put it there. Lucky you! You can actually find out what happened if you just take it somewhere with a scan tool.
 
BILL said:
Hello everyone,

I would really appreciate any info on the following problem we have encountered with our 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan.

Mileage: 81,000
Year: 1996
Engine: 3.3 Liter
Transmission:` 4 speed electronic shift.

Description of problem: Today, my wife was driving about 60 MPH down the highway. She suddenly heard a loud noise, and the tachometer jumped way up (engine racing at high RPM). Then, it appears that since then the transmission is stuck in second gear (limp mode). I thought that maybe it might be a speed sensor, but maybe I'm wrong. I tried the cruise control, and it works, so I'm probably wrong about that,..(anyone?). I looked at the connector of the transmission controller, and everything looks clean. Fluid level is fine. Other instruments seem to be working fine, gauges, heater control, etc.. It seems like the CCD bus communication is fine. There is no check engine light on either. I dont have a scan tool, so I'm not sure if there could be codes stored in the system without the check engine light on that may be able to steer me. This vehicle has been garaged, and kept in nice shape, and is not a "beater vehicle", as they would say. Is there anyone that may have any info on this problem? Thanks very much in advance for any advice.

Sincerely,

Bill
Click to expand...

I have just developed the same problem (97GR.Voy.3.3 auto) but mine shifts when it is cold but does not shift when it heats up. The check engine light came on at the same time as this happened. I found a vacuum line that had come off and replaced it but this didn't help. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Cheers Wally.
 
There are a number of sensors in the transmission that the TCM needs to coordinate shifts. If any one of these fail, it will enter into limp mode. My '90 Voyager did the same thing, and the turbine speed sensor was the cause.
I have just developed the same problem (97GR.Voy.3.3 auto) but mine shifts when it is cold but does not shift when it heats up. The check engine light came on at the same time as this happened. I found a vacuum line that had come off and replaced it but this didn't help. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Cheers Wally.
Click to expand...
 
Gyzmologist said:
There are a number of sensors in the transmission that the TCM needs to coordinate shifts. If any one of these fail, it will enter into limp mode. My '90 Voyager did the same thing, and the turbine speed sensor was the cause.
Click to expand...

There are only two such sensors that I know of. The "turbine speed sensor" is more commonly referred to as the input speed sensor. The other one is the output speed sensor.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')
 
There are also pressure sensors, two from what I can remember, probably used by the TCM to recalibrate itself (at least, that's how I would have done it). Not sure what the symptom would be if one of these died, but limp mode seems likely.

Bill said:
There are only two such sensors that I know of. The "turbine speed sensor" is more commonly referred to as the input speed sensor. The other one is the output speed sensor.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my address with the letter 'x')
Click to expand...
 
Gyzmologist said:
There are also pressure sensors, two from what I can remember, probably used by the TCM to recalibrate itself (at least, that's how I would have done it). Not sure what the symptom would be if one of these died, but limp mode seems likely.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the replies. It was the shift solenoid which I replaced on Sun. and it even reset the check engine light itself. It was a little hard to get at and needed a 27mm socket to remove the neutral switch so as to access the 3rd bolt on the SS.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest threads

Back
Top