Broken Tranny

We were driving our van on the weekend and the tranny 'let-go', it felt like the gears were slipping or jumping. We were able to proceed at 10km/h, but no more. I have been told that I need a new tranny from one place, and that I all I need is a couple of solenoids from another place. Any recommendation on this...

1. how hard is it to rebuild these trannys, and how do you test the solenoids/valve body, etc?
2. how do you access the computer fault codes in a 1996 Plymouth Voyageur?

Thanks for any help.

I had a 90 voyager that blew out its tranny. Cost about $600 for a new one. They might have only rebuilt it, I can't remember.

As far as two different places telling you different things, go with the place that sounds honest, which my bet would be the place wanting to replace solenoids.

1. It's not something I would try, but thats just me.

2. You should be able to have a local shop check the codes for no more than 10 bucks, i don't know on your van if it's the cigarette lighter or somewhere else.

It cost us $2,100 to have the trans from our '96 rebuilt at the dealer at 84,000 miles 3 years ago. Was told that I should have been changing fluid every 12 months. I pointed out that the owners manual says in "normal service" (which I still believe applies to us) the transmission fluid never has to be changed. Apparently the good old boys at Chrysler think any kind of driving in Texas qualifies as "severe service". I drain and change 9 quarts of great looking ATF+3 every year now......

Oh yeah. To access the codes... When you pull into your driveway after a trip long enough to properly warm the vehicle and with the engine still running, hold your foot on the brake and drop the trans into each of the gears for a second or two. If the vehicle is inoperable skip that step. Turn the car off and then cycle the ignition key from "off" to "run" (not "start") about six times ending in "run". The check engine light should start blinking. Count the blinks and write down as a series of two digit numbers ending with a 55. Each number corresponds to a trouble code.