Not the transmission again!!!

I had the transmission done about 3 years ago. I just had the van in for service a month ago. The master cylinder was bad. While it was in I had a new belt installed, an idle roller, a tie rod end and an oil change done.
Today my wife was at the a light and the old familiar wine started. The van bucked a little and would not shift out of low. She pulled into a nearby parking lot and called me. By the time I got to the van and test drove it, it seemed to run OK. I got part way home and could see the tac jump. I pulled over and let the van sit. I got back to it about 3 hours later and It seemed to run fine again. Before I got home it had started to slip and just before I pulled in my driveway it would not shift out of first.
I checked the transmission fluid, nice red color and no burnt smell. It seemed to be thinner than I remember. It just dripped of the stick. Even when the transmission was cold. It also looked like it was well over the hot line. I have not needed to add transmission fluid in a while. I have checked it and I don't ever remember it being that high.

Would the mechanic have added transmission fluid for any of the above repairs? Maybe as part of the oil change.
If he did add the wrong transmission fluid would the van have run for a month before symptoms showed up?
Is my transmission shot, again!?!?!?
98 Grand Voyager 3.3L

However it got there, too much fluid is as bad as low fluid. Follow the procedures in the manual and check the level again. Make sure the fluid it hot. If there's more than a 1/4 inch past the high hot mark, you'll have to drain fluid out. How? Either pump or siphon it out the dip stick or disconnect a cooler line on the front of the tranny. Are you getting a Service Engine Light (SEL)? Either way, I would go to AutoZone and have them read whatever error codes may be stored in the computer. It's free.

If someone just topped it off with the wrong fluid I wouldn't worry about it. If they changed out a couple quarts, I would get it replaced with the correct fluid. If there's any doubt change the fluid and filter. Use only ATF-3 or 4. Keep in mind a normal fluid filter change only changes about 1/3rd of the fluid. Request a complete fluid change. If you want to try it in your driveway Allpar.com has an article on how to pump all the fluid out the cooler lines.

Is the tranny shot again? Maybe but, you have to make sure it's not something electrical before you go that far. An error code will be a big help. I've read many if not most tranny issues are electrical.

If it comes down to a tranny change, make sure the shop flushes the fluid cooler in the bottom of the radiator and changes the torque converter (TC). There's just about always metal debrie produced when a tranny goes. These particles get trapped in the cooler and the TC. The new tranny could eat the particles and you're right back where you started. I've read this happens more often than you think it could.

Are you seeing any other symptoms like an erratic speedo or tach, skippping or hesitating at speed (besides your downshift)? When your tranny downshifts it's going into "Limp Mode". It's designed to do that when error is detected. However, it shifts to second gear in this mode. Are you sure it's going to first gear?

Thanks for the reply RIP
I finely got in touch with the mechanic that rebuilt my transmission a few years ago. He said it was likely a clogged filter. The real issue is what clogged it.
I asked him about flushing the fluid and he said to do it right and get all the old fluid out you really need to pull the pan. He also mentioned rotating a piece with a bolt (like the one for the oil pan) downward and drain the rest of the fluid.

I asked him about adding the wrong fluid and he said the same as you. That shouldn't make any difference unless there was allot of fluid removed first.

I will take the van to the shop tonight. The closest AutoZone is too far away. I have to drive a few miles and shut it off for 10 minutes and go another few miles. The Transmission place is close enough so that I can make it without too many stops.

This guy is one of those mechanics you can trust but he only does transmissions.

After I thought a bit, I am not positive about it being stuck in first or second.
Things happened suddenly. The wife was driving it so I can't be 100% sure when problems started or if there were any issues before this started.

My advice is clean the 2 spped senors first and then check the Solenoid pack. Go to a decent tranny shop, you may heve to go to 2 or 3 places to have them check this.

I seems electrical as I am sceptical the transmssion went in 3 years.

Hey RIP, I read the How To on Allpar.com about flushing the transmission. I have an 02 Grand Caravan Sport, 2wd, 3.3l. I notice his caravan was much older. Do you know if this would be the same method with my year? Sounds very simple, disconnect the return line and start it up etc...... I have heard of other methods that are very different and a little more complicated. I wont go into detail but I need to do this.....Thanks

OK, I got the van to the garage by turning the key back one click (shutting off the engine) and coasting a bit. When the van was restarted it would run normally for two or three minutes and then I'd need to turn the key back one click. There are lots of hills so I got it there with out any problems. BE SURE YOUR VAN DOESN'T LOCK THE STEERING BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING LIKE THIS!!.

I had a fluid and filter change and the van seems to be running OK.
I have noticed some ruff shifting. It has only happened a few times and It seems this happens when the van wants to go into overdrive. Some other odd behavior I've noticed, it seems like my tac is lower than usual so it takes less pedal to get to 55 mph. It may be my imagination because I my wife usually drives the Van and I haven't in a while. I may contact the mechanic if this continues.
I'll keep everyone up to date as to what happens next.

OK, I got the van to the garage by turning the key back one click (shutting off the engine) and coasting a bit. When the van was restarted it would run normally for two or three minutes and then I'd need to turn the key back one click. There are lots of hills so I got it there with out any problems. BE SURE YOUR VAN DOESN'T LOCK THE STEERING BEFORE TRYING ANYTHING LIKE THIS!!.

I had a fluid and filter change and the van seems to be running OK.
I have noticed some ruff shifting. It has only happened a few times and It seems this happens when the van wants to go into overdrive. Some other odd behavior I've noticed, it seems like my tac is lower than usual so it takes less pedal to get to 55 mph. It may be my imagination because I my wife usually drives the Van and I haven't in a while. I may contact the mechanic if this continues.
I'll keep everyone up to date as to what happens next.

I've been through 2 trannies and if you're having rough shifts in and out of OD you're probably looking at another rebuild or swap. Both my original and first rebuild (with only 24K miles on it) acted the same way. Talk to your rebuilder, but since I know you don't want to get stuck somewhere you should probably get the tranny rebuilt again with new hard parts or swapped for one that is guaranteed for some reasonable time/miles.

You have to determine whether the van is worth another $2000 in repairs...keeping in mind a GC or TC isn't worth squat with a blown tranny if you try to sell it.

IE: they got all of us by the short hairs. :(

My advice is clean the 2 spped senors first and then check the Solenoid pack. Go to a decent tranny shop, you may heve to go to 2 or 3 places to have them check this.

I seems electrical as I am sceptical the transmssion went in 3 years.
What do you mean by cleaning the sensors? The connectors or remove the sensors and clean them? Thanks

Is this for a 92?