chrysler goodwill

[alliez]

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?

[slantsixness]

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

[alliez]

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

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.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?

[Emtronics]

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. 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.

[alliez]

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.

[Emtronics]

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.

[Creative]

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 ........

[Ghostman]

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.

[alliez]

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?

[Ghostman]

Originally Posted by alliez

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.

[homefree]

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.

[slantsixness]

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...

[caravan]

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....

[Emtronics]

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.

[slantsixness]

(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.