chrysler goodwill

they came back and said we had to pay a 500 deductible, and they would cover the other 2500 for the rebuilt transmission. is it going to get any better? should I push for more?

That actually sounds pretty fair, but I don't know your whole story...
How far out of Warranty is it? How many other times did it break?

$500.00 is a lot of money to us older (well, at least me!) guys, but in today's market, it's a brake job!

You could spend $100.00 on a diagnostic, $250.00 on combustion/injector cleaning service and $150.00 in unnecessary parts and you'd have your $500.00...

So I think it's a fair deal, unless you consider that only a dealer would charge you $3000.00 to put in a 41TE!

Slantsixness

sorry, here's the post with the full story:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=222461

I'm pretty sure the transmission is toast. it was bone dry, billowing smoke, and a chunk fell out onto the ground. won't go into gear at all, just grinds.

thanks for your input. does the full story change your opnion any? is it a fair deal?

I have read your whole story but I guess I don't get it. Why do you expect Chrysler or someone else to pony up for your repairs? You bought from a bunch of weasels (same with CalCars) and at least in Illinois, buying "as is" is it! Parts like yours do fail right out of the blue. I know, I own a Jeep and a Caravan. I can't begin to tell you the stuff that falls out of a Jeep Grand Cheorke (whatever it is spelled like) when things go wrong. :D My son drove it 400 miles with the right front Ujoint gone! Couldn't believe the wheel didn't fall off. My Caravan ('99) while a great van, had some wierd problems involving the vent system that cost over $800 to repair. (the only problem with it in 50,000 miles) In all cases, the warranty was long gone and even though I bought the Jeep used from a dealer, I don't expect them to pay for the repairs. I did approach Chrysler on the van problem via the dealer. I ended up trading it in on a new Town and Country. A heck of a deal was offered for my "pain and suffing" (if you will) and the wierdness of the vent problem and the expensive repair for it...so, I'm in another Chrysler product. Still, I see your problem as on of those "oh well.." things that happen. You will never prove whom did what when it come to the transmisson fluid. But, since you got the $500 deal, I think closing one's mouth and taking it is in order. :)

Doesn't matter that I bought it from a bunch of weasels, a transmission that blows up suddenly and unexpectedly at 65K miles is clearly a bad product. a transmission should last 7/90K. DODGE looked at this transmission 2700 miles ago and it was fine- so not normal wear and tear. I expect them to pay for their crappy product. Which they did. :)

If this had happened at 80K, I'd be a little more inclined to label it as one of those "oh well.." things that happen.

Chrysler has always had transmisson problems. You hear about it all the time but not because it is a crappy product, it's because there are so many of them on the road. It's sorta of like MAC people saying; "We never get a virus or need Windows updates..." That's because 98% of the world uses Windows. A bigger target. I have had 3 minivans, since 1993, so has my Uncle (he has had more) and we never had a transmission issue in any of them. My point, the sqeaky wheel gets the grease. I feel that your dealer made a lackadaisical inspection of your van. Show me a dealership, be it GM, Ford, or anyone, that really gives a rats rear about their customers. They smile at you, they give you coffee, they even give you a loaner if you are lucky..but most of the time, they are under staffed, under trained, an the sales department are still weasels..........you get lip service. That's what I think you got in the first place....You should get to know a private mechanic. That is where I take my cars when they have a problem. He tells me what's up, and then the Dealer says something different. So far, the private mechanic has been right 99%. Even when under warranty, I get his opinion first.

Humm the A604 now the 41TE (( nice Idea rename a bad transmission and hope we wouldn't find out about it "a sick-oh-four" )) ... 28 Revisions, 3 fluids ((some dipsticks are wrong )) , countless software updates, Engine power reduced by upto 40% hopeing to make them last the warrenty terms..You honestly Can't say they didn't know about the problems ..... They know the 100K mark maybe the 125K mark is as long as the 41TE will last before a it has a major / hard part failture...

And the chunk of metal is more then likely from the differntal cover on the top side, sounds like mine, and they will fix it because they don't want you to know the differenal pin could of entered the passanger compartment, and it won't enter the empty space in the compartment either, problems like these are better for them to fix, then face upto to the respective government bodys like the N.H.T.S.A. that they need to do a SAFTEY RECALL of the poorly engineered and poorly built products ............

And as for a haveing a private mechanic look at it, this is a good Idea but they can't tell you that some thing like this is going to happen either,

And your Jeep, I'd do some serious thinking about it before you come to there defence because here's the numbers relateing to there transmissons ..5 deaths and 345 crashes, Some thing to think about while you have it sitting in your driveway with it in PARK, and it shifts it's self into reverse and takes off by it self down the road till it impacts some thing or runs outta gas (( yes this has happened to over 900 jeeps )) And Dodge said they can't get it to happen, but the N.H.T.S.A can do it 3 outta 4 tests (( makes you wonder just how many kids need to get flatted before they get the point threw there heads )) ...........

And alliez if you could give me more info on how you got them to replace your transmission that would be great ... I have a 99 with the same problem as you, And love to fight with dodge especally when they are wrong, and I know some one in the same boat who bought the van thinking it would last a few years and honestly can't afford a $3000 hit .....

And just so people know the A606 or 42le has the same problems as well ....... now I see why they are going with a Mercedes Benz E-Class drivetrain on there LX platform cars ...

And I won't even start with the brake shift interlock safety thats missing, the seatbelts that don't work, the fuel rails that leak, the Door latch defects , the highly flamable ATF4+, no fuel cutoff switch, and bolts that just shear off, like the belt tensioner (( been there done that )) , and there legal actions against the Sanders family. And I won't even start on there relations to Mitisbishi and there use of Slave labor in the past ............... (( I so much as dare Dodge or any dodge employee to comment on this ))

Thanx Creative

[email protected]

And I welcome All and Any comments on this and any thing I have posted on this forum ........

This is what probably happened, your diffrential pin moved and struck the case knocking it through the side, this is a known fault, DC addressed the problem, they now use retaining brackets for the pin at each end. I would pay the deductable and get your new trans.

wow- that is really scary about what probably happened. they only told me differential failure and I didn't want to push too hard on anything but getting them to pay.

they say it should be ready tomorrow. should I ask for the old parts or assume the transmission was truly bad? anything I should look for to make sure the new one is good?

wow- that is really scary about what probably happened. they only told me differential failure and I didn't want to push too hard on anything but getting them to pay.

they say it should be ready tomorrow. should I ask for the old parts or assume the transmission was truly bad? anything I should look for to make sure the new one is good?

Like you said a piece fell to the ground, it was proberly a piece of the case which would render the trans useless....be happy with the $500 they want from you for a new trans, last monday mine went into limp-in ( second gear) mode and needed a new solenoid pack and eatx, total bill with labour $640 cdn = about $512 us. this was on a 2000 GC with 47,000 miles.

I heard that the newer vans have a differnt tranny is this true?? They look differnt but are they made the same on the inside?? I was told that they changed them in the year 2001 and they are sapose to be better thats why they are giving the 7year 70,000 mile warranty.

yes, they changed part number and model of the trans.
It's no different inside.
It's the same.
DC and CC has always had 7-70, you just had to pay for it, or get it with a sales deal, or you got the 3/36. You can even get 7/100 if you want to pay for it...

have you checked out aamco transmissions?

I believe they have a lifetime warranty. and if it ever fails the warranty is there....

I had mine rebuilt at a dodge dealership because I heard it was the best place to get properly fixed. one year later it is leaking all over the place. I am now waiting for it to blow and get that lifetime warranty....

Yes, but we all have one thing in common here. We were all stupid enough to buy a Chrysler product.

Aamco is the biggest ripoff artist out there by the way.

(edited after emtronics corrected his spelling error)

And, with the number of products made, versus the number of failed products, these vans are really not that bad.
Want bad? Go drive a KIA, when you butt hurts from the horrible ride, You'll pay anything, even for a transmission, to not have to drive that in heavy traffic, or all the way to your vacation destination.

Sorry about the spelling, finger slipped. Shoot me. I agree with what you posted but I voiced that same opinion on another thread and was shot down. I also said; "Hey! If you have millions of them out there, then you will hear about the bad ones the loudest." Still, when it comes to those KIA's and that other junk, Honday (I know, not spelled right, but on purpose this time) well I guess you're right again.

P.S. I fixed it. The spelling error, that is.

unfortunately there are multiple posts by alliez concerning this whole shindig, and I don't have time to look through all of them everyday.

I'll keep my darn Chrysler minivans 'til they tell me I can't dirve them anymore. They were the first, the best, and still are, regardless of Consumer Reports' sniveling and total anti-Chrysler sentiment (i don't know how the PT ended up a "best buy" last year though....).
Ever notice that everybody's always happy to report all the defects and life-threatening hazards with these minivans (the latest is the seatbelts, again...) and virtually nothing about how you can drive one from DC to Key West and enjoy every single comfortable minute of the ride.... and not a minute of trouble the whole way either, for the last 7 years in a row.

Why do so many people put the transmissions in them when they go bad?
WE LIKE THEM.

I'll keep my darn Chrysler minivans 'til they tell me I can't dirve them anymore. They were the first, the best, and still are, regardless of Consumer Reports' sniveling and total anti-Chrysler sentiment (i don't know how the PT ended up a "best buy" last year though....).

Thats great So long as you don't end up like alot of 41TE owners do, I don't have a complaint about there standard tranny YET....


Ever notice that everybody's always happy to report all the defects and life-threatening hazards with these minivans (the latest is the seatbelts, again...) and virtually nothing about how you can drive one from DC to Key West and enjoy every single comfortable minute of the ride.... and not a minute of trouble the whole way either, for the last 7 years in a row.

Well if people didn't point out about the life threating hazards of these and other cars/vans/trucks the auto manufacture would do nothing to fix it.... Maybe you'd like to explain that to a few kids about why they can't see there parents any more, (( or Visa-versa )) Cause some big boss at the DamilerChrysler think's $0.28 USD is to much for a double latching mechanisim on there doors ...... Some thing to think about when your kids fall out, was that whole Quarter and three pennies, two much to ask of them ???¿¿¿ And the Seat belts ?? Ya they don't work with out a peice of expanded foam ((( Another cost saving of only what $1.80 )) ... But you know if you throw in a pair or Ricarro seats in Kia you can drive from the DC to Key west, in comfort with out leaving your differnetal on the ground behind you, knowing your seat belts work and wondering if the kids might fall out the door or not (((( And yes dodge used duct tape to hold there doors shut during testing so that goes to show they know where the problems are ...To bad RED GREEN can't fix mine and other trannies with a bit of duct tape .. 3M to the rescue )))) And other simple thing's like Nitral o rings on there fuel injectors ((( just goto any burn ward if you think this is not a problem, they'll fill you in on what a few liters of fuel burning can do to some one ))) Oh what was that a cost saveing of about $3 .....

Funny how your life in the eyes of dodge is adding up to what $5.08 .....((( And what's even worse is 99.999997% of people would easyly pay this much and more to live )))

I payed more then that for the LED sign pointing out problems in this and other dodge products ........


Why do so many people put the transmissions in them when they go bad?
WE LIKE THEM.

Well it's not like you can just drop in a TH350R and expect it to work they are build for the 41TE and only the 41TE ........ And there are people out there that get lied to by there auto dealer, looking to make a quick sale, and they know there will be another tranny sale in what 3 to 5 years so thats a extra $1000 + in labor for them ..((( And yes they can wait that long to make a sale ))) ... Oh and there's people that can't afford another newer van ....

Oh and there's people like me who just won't give up till dodge pays for there mistakes, Not because "WE LIKE THEM" but because "WE BELEIVE ONE SHOULD PAY FOR THERE MISTAKES" and the funny thing is, so do the courts and dodge has lost several claims.................

Some thing to think about if you have a problem with this or other common defects, Take it up thru small claims, and look for some major class action suits (( There peeling paint is one example And dodge LOST ......))


Creative ....................................

[email protected]

I ran one of those to nearly 200,000 miles without any problems with the 4 speed automatic.

I ran one for 93,000 with no problems other than a water pump....my second one ran with 75,000 with no problems other than an oxygen sensor and a vent motor lever that broke which prompted me to trade it anyway for a new '04.....

Creative,

You mithpel things wen ur agnry.

I've NEVER had to spend ONE THIN DIME, or a quarter and 3 pennies for ANYTHING safety related on any of my vans. And they were ALL fixed, correctly by different dealers.
This is my third van (604/41TE) and this one's at 115K, with not one glitch from the trans, and the last two went to 150K and 210K before I sold them, and still no trans trouble (both were 604's).
Mind you, I do know these trans' are crap. but I've had more trouble with "other peoples vans", and intrepids than on any of my vans.

You think DC is the only one, and has the most problems? court cases? Think again.
Even down to the peeling paint.... and I've had 3 vehicles repainted for free by CC. 1 van 1 truck, 1 car. (It was my bad idea to have them all the same color.:))

Also:
You've obviously never driven a KIA 'Sardina' minivan.
go test drive one. Really.

Slantsixness

After reading numerous post on the issue of failing transmissions on these vans, I'm wondering if a high percentage of these vans are used under heavy conditions such as towing heavy trailers? I'm no transmission expert but I'm wondering if poor saps like me might avoid future transmission problems a bit longer by avoiding conditions that seem to wear them out prematurely.

I just changed the transmission fluid and filter on my 98 Grand Caravan and didn't notice any metal debris but you do get a fine wear material in the bottom of the pan and on the magnet. This wasn't really hard to do and it's so cheap, I might do it once a year. I did use the RTV Hi-Temp sealant instead of the gasket being careful not to use too much and it's not leaking. I also let it dry overnight before filling the van back up with the ATF-3.

good luck!

mnwalleye

Lead-foot soccer mom's and dad's.

I don't think... well, if people do it's pretty stupid, but you can't tow much with these vans at all, and I wouldn't recommend even trying it....
... but maybe that would explain why so many people are having these trans problems. I do know that abusive driving (as in the opposite of careful) will kill these vans...

I don't like the RTV, at whatever temp...
If anybody's listening, the ATF+3 is REALLY F@#$ING IMPORTANT. Don't use ANYTHING else.

I have heard that these transmisions have seleniod paks that go bad. A cheap fix thats mistaken for more serious problems. Also many owners /mechanics use the wrong trans fluid. Dextron use to be the universal fluid for everything NOT SO ANYMORE! I have a 99 Voyager trans leaks in sub freezing temperature I just add to it like checking the oil.

Yes, the solenoid packs go bad, but it's the ATF+3 that breaks down that causes the packs to sludge up. Still the solenoid packs are commonly mis-diagnosed and the whole trans is rebuilt instead. Smetimes, they don't replace the solenoid pack and some poor schmuck drives off with a $2K rebuilt tranny that still has the same problem!

:)

Would the new ATF+4 be better? Thats the new reformulated Chrysler Fluid isnt it?

Is the +4 for FWD transmissions? I guess so, but I was under the impression it was for the RWD trans's.

I haven't heard much about +4, maybe somebody here can enlighten us all, but, nonetheless, I'll keep using +3 until I find out differently (and run out of it!).:)

I've read that the +4 is much more protective, but isn't compatible with the seals on some trannies. I want to know more about the "flammable" comment by Creative regarding +4.

BTW: just to make you all feel better, the trannies on the Honda Odysseys are falling out like green recruits on a 110 degree marching pad. And, they cost approx $5K to rebuild. So much for Honda reliability and ultra high resale prices.

Ya know....I asked my mechanic about that flammable tranny fluid in Chrysler's. He said; "So? They are ALL flammable!"