Junkyard transmission?

[rec.autos.makers.chrysler]

What years of Caravan automatic transmissions are compatible with the 1993 4-speed automatic, the one that needs frequent costly repairs?

Would it make sense to look for a replacement in a junkyard, and hope to find a more recent year, when the transmissions weren't quite as bad? How bad of a wreck can a transmission survive, such that you're likely to find a good one in a wrecked Caravan?

What other vehicles have transmissions compatible with a Caravan's?

 

[Richard]

What years of Caravan automatic transmissions are compatible with the 1993 4-speed automatic, the one that needs frequent costly repairs?

Would it make sense to look for a replacement in a junkyard, and hope to find a more recent year, when the transmissions weren't quite as bad? How bad of a wreck can a transmission survive, such that you're likely to find a good one in a wrecked Caravan?

What other vehicles have transmissions compatible with a Caravan's?

The folks at the junk yard will have a chart with exactly the information you are looking for.

Richard.

 

[Daniel J. Stern]

The folks at the junk yard will have a chart with exactly the information you are looking for.

Not a "chart", it's an interchange manual called Hollander's, and nowtimes it's on computer. Anyone may access Hollander interchange information. Go to www.car-part.com (searchable used auto parts clear across North America), put in your year, make and model and specify the part you're after. Search results will list all directly-interchangeable years, makes and models for that particular part. Results come up sorted in descending-price order; you can choose to sort by other criteria (such as vehicle year) by clicking the column headings. Note that Hollander interchange information does NOT include any indirect interchanges. ANY difference that would require modification or adaptation, no matter how minor, will exclude a part from the list of those that will fit your vehicle. So, interchange information will get you partway or most of the way there, but there may be specialised knowledge along the lines of "Oh yeah, a 2004 transmission will fit your '93, all you have to do is swap the dipstick tube and pan."

 

[kmatheson]

Not a "chart", it's an interchange manual called Hollander's, and nowtimes it's on computer. Anyone may access Hollander interchange information. Go to www.car-part.com (searchable used auto parts clear across North America), put in your year, make and model and specify the part you're after. Search results will list all directly-interchangeable years, makes and models for that particular part. Results come up sorted in descending-price order; you can choose to sort by other criteria (such as vehicle year) by clicking the column headings. Note that Hollander interchange information does NOT include any indirect interchanges. ANY difference that would require modification or adaptation, no matter how minor, will exclude a part from the list of those that will fit your vehicle. So, interchange information will get you partway or most of the way there, but there may be specialised knowledge along the lines of "Oh yeah, a 2004 transmission will fit your '93, all you have to do is swap the dipstick tube and pan."

If you go with a salvage transmission, check to see what kind of warranty they offer. Most warranties will be void if the transmission is opened. Something that is difficult to avoid if you want to put fresh fluid in it after installation.

-Kirk Matheson

 

[NewMan]

That 4-speed is the A604, or the 41te in more recent years.

If you were to find a Caravan from that vintage that had the trans rebuilt, but then got written off in an accident - specifically the van got rear ended or perhaps side swiped, then you mirght have a good shot at getting a trans that is in good shape.

However, anything like that which has been in an accident could have sustained internal damage which is not outwardly apparent. Considering how complicated it is to re & re this trans (as opposed to the old rear wheel drive transmissions) I would think the costs and risks are prohibative unless you are doing the re & re yourself. Even then, you could spend a LOT of time playing around if the trans turns out to be bad.

Also, you have no idea how the previous owner drove the trans! They could have been towing boats, or driving like they were in the Indy
500.

There is a reliable shop near me that rebuilds these transmissions for $1800. That includes a rebuilt torque converter, all the re & re, the correct ATF fluid, teaching the transmission once installed, and a rock solid one year no-quesitons-asked warranty.

If you have the know-how, the tools, and the time then what the heck, tinker to your hearts content. If you need a reliable vehicle in short order and don't have time to keep taking it apart, then look I would look to have your trans rebuilt.

hth

 

[Ted Mittelstaedt]

What years of Caravan automatic transmissions are compatible with the 1993 4-speed automatic, the one that needs frequent costly repairs?

Not many. The early 90's versions of these transes up to 1992 I believe used a mechanical speedo, the 93-95 versions used an electronic speed sensor, and the 96 onwards replaced the mechanical parking level linkage with electronic. There are also a lot of computer considerations, a Chrysler trans manual will have them, and you need to run with a current computer that is flashed to the current level.

Not to sound racist, but around here the Mexicans like these vans and seem to spend a lot of time scavenging for transmissions for them, anything usable that shows up in a wrecking yard gets carted away in short order.

If your 1993 Caravan has a shot transmission the cheapest way to do it is pull the trans out and rebuild it yourself. If you don't have an AWD unit this isn't that bad of a deal. If you do have an AWD unit you should be very confident of being able to rebuild it yourself since the R&R is so complex in that model.

If you get it rebuilt by a rebuilder experienced with these units, he will use all updated parts and from then on it will not need "frequent costly repairs"

If your 1993 has the 3.3L engine it is definitely worth rebuilding assuming the body of the van is in good condition.

Would it make sense to look for a replacement in a junkyard, and hope to find a more recent year, when the transmissions weren't quite as bad?

No.

Ted

 

[philthy]

if u inquire at the junk yard they can look in a interchange book

 

[Henry Bemis]

I got mine at Greenleaf Auto Recycling. I paid extra for the lifetime warranty on my used Voyager tranny. Running now two years and nary a hiccup.