96 voyager trans slips when cold

My transmission is slipping only when its cold outside? only does it once then its ok, anyone have any suggestions on what to do?

My transmission is slipping only when its cold outside? only does it once then its ok, anyone have any suggestions on what to do?


Check the fluid level per your owners manual or the writing on the dipstick. I think it is checked HOT in Park? Try a fluid and filter change and/or a flush.

Check the fluid level per your owners manual or the writing on the dipstick. I think it is checked HOT in Park? Try a fluid and filter change and/or a flush.

Hi Steve,fluid is up when hot, colour/smell is good, trans has around 30,000KMS on it,its a rebuild from chrysler.

Does this forum have a used for sale section?

Hi Steve,fluid is up when hot, colour/smell is good, trans has around 30,000KMS on it,its a rebuild from chrysler.

Does this forum have a used for sale section?


Sounds like it's just draining back fluid from the torque convertor, have you tried warming it up with the tranny in neutral? I'm not sure about a for sale section.:uhoh:

Sounds like it's just draining back fluid from the torque convertor, have you tried warming it up with the tranny in neutral? I'm not sure about a for sale section.:uhoh:


I will give it a try tomorrow morning.Why do I warm it up in neutral? Curious

I will give it a try tomorrow morning.Why do I warm it up in neutral? Curious
I'm not sure if your tranny has a pump in it that pumps fluid in neutral, i can't keep up with all the models and their specs, but the idea is if it can pump in neutral it will fill the torque convertor, etc and you should not have the initial slip. This works on some trannys, not sure on yours?

Had the same problem with my 98 4 speed. Warming in nuetral helped some, changing the fluid stopped the problem. I think that the fluid was a little low also. Funny thing was when I was changing the fluid using the cooling line method, it pumped even in park. I wasn't expecting that!

I'm not sure if your tranny has a pump in it that pumps fluid in neutral, i can't keep up with all the models and their specs, but the idea is if it can pump in neutral it will fill the torque convertor, etc and you should not have the initial slip. This works on some trannys, not sure on yours?

Steve;
Day 1 checked the trans oil hot,the level was good.

Day 2 I gave the van 5 minutes to warm up (cold weather) and it did slip it did not slip backing out of the drive way or going around the corner.It only slips when I take off from the corner stop sign under load and or take off in a hurry kind of thing,the slipping lasts about two seconds under load and it goes away,once I cross the street it goes away and will not come back until the van sits for a day? This I find strange? I went to change the oil and the dealer said it wasnt time for it according to the mileage.

Had the same problem with my 98 4 speed. Warming in nuetral helped some, changing the fluid stopped the problem. I think that the fluid was a little low also. Funny thing was when I was changing the fluid using the cooling line method, it pumped even in park. I wasn't expecting that!

I would like to know more about this cooling line method, can you tell me more? Thanks

Here is the thread that I used. Post if you need anything else.
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I have a 96 Dodge Caravan 3.0 L. and had the same problem. Even though ATF +3 is for Chrysler Vehicles, it is not exactly the same as the manufacture's Tranny fluid. You can buy an additive for sticky transmissions that shudder.....but the better way is to purge your entire system and put in the manufacture's fluid.

The tranny shop told me it would cost me a minimum of $1800 to fix problem...

.....the reason it not going into gear and shifting properly is because of sticky pistons in the transmission. These pistons apply pressure to bands, but if they are sticky (from incorrect fluid) pressure is not transferred evenly, as RPMs increase and fluid pressure increases, the pistons suddendly move and SLAM the bands into action.(not good)

I bought the proper fluid from dodge and purged the system, it cost me around $80. The van has been shifting perfectly for over two years now.

To purge the system you should have two other people helping you.

pull the bottom transmission fluid coollant line off the radiator and place it into a large container which has marks on it so the first person can keep track of how much fluid has come out of the system.

Second person has a large funnel and pours in the fluid at the same time to keep up with the fluid that is being pumped (purged) out.

Third person must start and stop the vehicle. If too much fluid is being pumped out, they must stop the vehicle and when the second person catches up, the third person starts the vehicle to pump out some more old fluid.

This is a cheap way of getting all of the old fluid out of the torque converter and transmission without manually pulling out the transmission.

If all goes well, it is not a messy job at all, but I would deffinately recomend you use a large peice of plastic polly for underneath the car.

Here is the thread that I used. Post if you need anything else.
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I have a 96 Dodge Caravan 3.0 L. and had the same problem. Even though ATF +3 is for Chrysler Vehicles, it is not exactly the same as the manufacture's Tranny fluid... You can buy an additive for sticky transmissions that shudder.....but the better way is to purge your entire system and put in the manufacture's fluid.That's interesting because I just dropped the pan and purged 4 quarts while changing out the A/T filter and gasket. My dealer told me that Valvoline ATF+3 was just what Chrysler ordered for its 41TE 4-speed automatic transmissions in their 1996 Grand Caravans. Was my dealer wrong about this?

I should have deleted that part of the thread I referenced. ATF+3 is correct, and it is recommended not to use any additives.