Rebuilt Transmission problem??
4breezes
05-18-2008, 03:53 PM
'95 Grand Caravan with 3.3 engine, auto transmission (A604 I believe).
In 2006 we replaced the transmission with a factory rebuilt unit (for all the normal reasons). This was done in Maine. The van then sat, used very little, for a year. We drove it from Maine to California in October 2007, without incident.
Now it will, ocassionally, not shift to a higher gear. This happens anywhere from once per month to once per week. I understand this is the classic sign of a failing transmission, but the rebuilt unit is virtually new. When this happens I park the van overnight, and it works as it should the next morning. That's the confusing part of this. It seems to be a random event, and seems to be self-fixing (until it happens again).
What am I looking at here? Should I take this in under warentee? I think it has a 3 year warentee on the rebuilt transmission. What is the procedure to troubleshoot this?
Ken
In 2006 we replaced the transmission with a factory rebuilt unit (for all the normal reasons). This was done in Maine. The van then sat, used very little, for a year. We drove it from Maine to California in October 2007, without incident.
Now it will, ocassionally, not shift to a higher gear. This happens anywhere from once per month to once per week. I understand this is the classic sign of a failing transmission, but the rebuilt unit is virtually new. When this happens I park the van overnight, and it works as it should the next morning. That's the confusing part of this. It seems to be a random event, and seems to be self-fixing (until it happens again).
What am I looking at here? Should I take this in under warentee? I think it has a 3 year warentee on the rebuilt transmission. What is the procedure to troubleshoot this?
Ken
RIP
05-19-2008, 02:21 PM
If you start troubleshooting you could void the warranty. I'd let the warranty work for you. Just make sure the fluid level is normal before you take it in. Try to find out what fluid they put in it when it was installed. Anything but ATF-3 or 4 can cause problems.
One more thing to try. Cycle the key from off to on (not start) X3 leaving it on. Now count the service engine light flashes. These are fault codes stored in the engine computer (PCM). All codes have two digits. Example - code 12 would be flash pause flash, flash. Multiple codes are separated by a longer pause. Should finish with code 55. Something may pop up indicating a sensor problem.
Are you seeing any other symptoms like an erratic speedo or tach, service engine light? When they changed the tranny did they change the torque converter and flush the tranny cooler?
One more thing to try. Cycle the key from off to on (not start) X3 leaving it on. Now count the service engine light flashes. These are fault codes stored in the engine computer (PCM). All codes have two digits. Example - code 12 would be flash pause flash, flash. Multiple codes are separated by a longer pause. Should finish with code 55. Something may pop up indicating a sensor problem.
Are you seeing any other symptoms like an erratic speedo or tach, service engine light? When they changed the tranny did they change the torque converter and flush the tranny cooler?
4breezes
05-19-2008, 03:31 PM
If you start troubleshooting you could void the warranty. I'd let the warranty work for you. Just make sure the fluid level is normal before you take it in. Try to find out what fluid they put in it when it was installed. Anything but ATF-3 or 4 can cause problems.
One more thing to try. Cycle the key from off to on (not start) X3 leaving it on. Now count the service engine light flashes. These are fault codes stored in the engine computer (PCM). All codes have two digits. Example - code 12 would be flash pause flash, flash. Multiple codes are separated by a longer pause. Should finish with code 55. Something may pop up indicating a sensor problem.
Are you seeing any other symptoms like an erratic speedo or tach, service engine light? When they changed the tranny did they change the torque converter and flush the tranny cooler?
I'm not up to active troubleshooting, beyond the easy stuff. I've never worked on this car, so don't know enough about it.
They did use ATF3 or 4 when they filled it. They gave me the rest of the case they bought for the job.
I tried the key-dance again. I got no bad codes. It went straight to 55.
Other symptoms? The speedo and tach are steady as a rock. I see only one other thing which might be connected, might have some effect. I'll explain using this morning as an example.
I drove two miles to a store this morning, and returned. The transmission performed well on the way there. I encountered the problem on the way home. While I was still in the parking lot, probably fifteen seconds after starting the Caravan moving, there was a thump and a slight squeel from the tires. That's the typical start of the problem. Coming home it would not upshift above, I'd guess, 2nd gear. I was moving at 35mph turning just under 3000rpm.
The other, possibly related, problem has to do with the ABS system. The ABS light comes on, usually within a couple blocks of starting the car. It seems to have no drastic effect on the operation of the Caravan. It's certainly an anoyance, though.
This morning the ABS light came on as normal on the way to the store. It did not, however, come on on the way home. It's almost as though that ABS light is necessary in order for the transmission to shift properly. Could there really be a connection? Where would the two systems cross?
Did they change the torque converter? Don't know. I would have thought that was part of the new/rebuilt transmission. Did they flush the transmission cooler? Again, I don't know. I would have thought any reasonably competent mechanic would know to do that.
That ABS light certainly seems coincedental, but I have no idea whether or how they two systems might be connected or how they might effect each other.
Any ideas?
One more thing to try. Cycle the key from off to on (not start) X3 leaving it on. Now count the service engine light flashes. These are fault codes stored in the engine computer (PCM). All codes have two digits. Example - code 12 would be flash pause flash, flash. Multiple codes are separated by a longer pause. Should finish with code 55. Something may pop up indicating a sensor problem.
Are you seeing any other symptoms like an erratic speedo or tach, service engine light? When they changed the tranny did they change the torque converter and flush the tranny cooler?
I'm not up to active troubleshooting, beyond the easy stuff. I've never worked on this car, so don't know enough about it.
They did use ATF3 or 4 when they filled it. They gave me the rest of the case they bought for the job.
I tried the key-dance again. I got no bad codes. It went straight to 55.
Other symptoms? The speedo and tach are steady as a rock. I see only one other thing which might be connected, might have some effect. I'll explain using this morning as an example.
I drove two miles to a store this morning, and returned. The transmission performed well on the way there. I encountered the problem on the way home. While I was still in the parking lot, probably fifteen seconds after starting the Caravan moving, there was a thump and a slight squeel from the tires. That's the typical start of the problem. Coming home it would not upshift above, I'd guess, 2nd gear. I was moving at 35mph turning just under 3000rpm.
The other, possibly related, problem has to do with the ABS system. The ABS light comes on, usually within a couple blocks of starting the car. It seems to have no drastic effect on the operation of the Caravan. It's certainly an anoyance, though.
This morning the ABS light came on as normal on the way to the store. It did not, however, come on on the way home. It's almost as though that ABS light is necessary in order for the transmission to shift properly. Could there really be a connection? Where would the two systems cross?
Did they change the torque converter? Don't know. I would have thought that was part of the new/rebuilt transmission. Did they flush the transmission cooler? Again, I don't know. I would have thought any reasonably competent mechanic would know to do that.
That ABS light certainly seems coincedental, but I have no idea whether or how they two systems might be connected or how they might effect each other.
Any ideas?
RIP
05-19-2008, 04:42 PM
"Did they change the torque converter? Don't know. I would have thought that was part of the new/rebuilt transmission. Did they flush the transmission cooler? Again, I don't know. I would have thought any reasonably competent mechanic would know to do that."
That's the problem, based on reading stories posted by many on several forums over the last 4 years, there are many incompetent mechanics out there. That's not to say they are all bad.
I asked about the torque converter (TC) change and cooler flush because I've read stories of tranny changes resulting in additional tranny changes. The story goes like this. The first tranny has a catastrophic internal failure, metal particles wound up in the TC and the cooler. Neither are changed or flushed. Within weeks, to everyone's surprise, the tranny fails yet again. In one case a guy went through 3 trannys in 6 months before the TC was changed and the cooler flushed. These steps are automatic for competent shops. Some skip it to save a buck or...increase business.
The ABS and tranny issue doesn't seem related but someone could easily tell you different. When the tranny won't shift out of second it's probably in what's called the "limp mode". The Transmission Control Module (TCM) has detected a fault and is holding the tranny in second gear in an effort to save what's saveable. It may have saved a code readable with an advanced tranny scanner module.
I have a feeling it's beyond this but you could try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes to reset the computers. Beyond that I would make sure the fluid is full and head for the shop the warranty falls under. Keep in touch.
That's the problem, based on reading stories posted by many on several forums over the last 4 years, there are many incompetent mechanics out there. That's not to say they are all bad.
I asked about the torque converter (TC) change and cooler flush because I've read stories of tranny changes resulting in additional tranny changes. The story goes like this. The first tranny has a catastrophic internal failure, metal particles wound up in the TC and the cooler. Neither are changed or flushed. Within weeks, to everyone's surprise, the tranny fails yet again. In one case a guy went through 3 trannys in 6 months before the TC was changed and the cooler flushed. These steps are automatic for competent shops. Some skip it to save a buck or...increase business.
The ABS and tranny issue doesn't seem related but someone could easily tell you different. When the tranny won't shift out of second it's probably in what's called the "limp mode". The Transmission Control Module (TCM) has detected a fault and is holding the tranny in second gear in an effort to save what's saveable. It may have saved a code readable with an advanced tranny scanner module.
I have a feeling it's beyond this but you could try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes to reset the computers. Beyond that I would make sure the fluid is full and head for the shop the warranty falls under. Keep in touch.
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