tranny whine, torque converter shudder

[chad millett]

I have a 98 vayager with the 3 speed tranny. It whines while the van is running and driving. Also sometimes the torque converter shudders when its enguageing or disenguageing at light throttle.
Im wondering if the tranny is on the way out.
Will a fluid and filter change help?
How about a band adjustment? It does shift a little early up through the gears. Can the home mechanic do this?
If anyone could lead me in a direction to find these answers, please let me know.
Thanks.

[tmenard]

I have a 96 caravan with the 3 speed and it whines as well, it still shifts well and the torque converter is ok as well. To me it sounds like the tranny is on its way out, you can change the filter and fluid and it might help the shifts, but I think the whine is coming from a bearing in the differental. Good luck.

[chad millett]

Is this bearing replaceable without removing the transmission?

[tmenard]

No, the transmission and differental come out together after removing the axels.