trans. dipstick says use dexron III in 89 chrysler lebaron

Just about everyone on the net claims using dexron II ATF is hazardous to a
chrysler auto. transmission. Yet right from the get-go chrysler
manufacturers claim that Dexron II is the preferred ATF type for (at least
this one) the 1989 chrysler lebaron. So its no wonder the transmission
shudders and shakes like its going to fall from the car and onto the
pavement. My question is, how much old dexron fluid is allowed to stay in
the transmission? An ounce or two? Or is there a way to get every last
drop of old fluid out?

 

For the 3-speed auto in '89, yes, it's fine, though the current Dexron
fluid is no longer Dexron-II. If you have the 4-speed auto, you MUST use
ATF+, and *NOT* Dexron, regardless of what is stamped on the dipstick
(which could easily have been replaced with a non-original item sometime
in the last 16 years.)

 

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2004/21-004-04.htm

http://www.allpar.com/fix/trans.html
--
HarryS My 2¢
| Just about everyone on the net claims using dexron II ATF is hazardous to
a
| chrysler auto. transmission. Yet right from the get-go chrysler
| manufacturers claim that Dexron II is the preferred ATF type for (at least
| this one) the 1989 chrysler lebaron. So its no wonder the transmission
| shudders and shakes like its going to fall from the car and onto the
| pavement. My question is, how much old dexron fluid is allowed to stay in
| the transmission? An ounce or two? Or is there a way to get every last
| drop of old fluid out?
|

 

That TSB says not to use ATF+4 in the OP's car, right?

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Oops - is my face red. The TSB is written ambiguously - the vehicles
listed in the *table* are *supposed* to have ATF+4 as refill. The
exceptions are given in a sentence - the way it is written, one could
think they meant that all vehicles in the table are *not* to use ATF+4,
but I see vehciles in that list (like LH vehicles) that definitely are
supposed to use it. Who writes those things!?

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

I’ve used dexron III for the past 3k miles in my 97 T&C 3.8 with no
negative effects. No shudder, no shift problems, no slips, no TCC
problems.

 

Wow, three *whole* thousand miles, with no negative effects that you're
aware of yet. That doesn't show that it's OK to use the wrong fluid, but
it does clearly demonstrate that you're excessively rich, excessively
stingy, or (probably) both.

DS

 

That is simply not correct. People say that Dexron is hazardous to the
Chrysler ELECTRONIC 4-SPEED transmissions with computer-modulated lockup
torque convertors. Those didn't even appear until 1989, and then ONLY in
conjunction with the 3.3L v6 engine in selected car lines.

Dexron IS just fine for an 89 Chrysler 3-speed automatic.

You've changed everything but the CV joints, and everyone here has
pointed out that inner CV joints are the #1 candidate for the symptoms
you've described. Why don't you change them before blaming the transmission?

 

Actually, Steve, the A604 electronic 4-speed was available with the 3.0
*and* 3.3 in '89, in *most* Chrysler Corp. vehicles with those engines.
Including minivans. Including Spirits and Acclaims. Including Dynasties
and New Yorkers.

Because he obviously didn't post here for an answer to his question. He
posted here to try and garner support for his own ignorant undiagnosis.

 

My bad, then. I thought the 604 was 3.3 only, and Dynasty/NYer/Imperial
and minivan only for 89.

Or maybe because the engine is now toast (as indicated by another
thread...) ???