96 Caravan: 1rst doesn't grab when cold

[prong2002]

I have a 96 Caravan without the electronic transmission or overdrive. At about 100,000 the transmission wasn't changing to 2nd, so I had it rebuilt last year at around this time. Now it is acting up again. I'm still under warranty so I probably have to take it back into the tranny shop in 5 days if necessary. The problem I'm having is that first gear doesn't catch when the car is cold. Problems started happening when this Michigan weather started getting terrible. It is around 20-26 degrees outside when the problem occurs. After the car warms up 1rst gear is fine. Any recommendations on what to do in this scenario?

[eldiablo1100]

what's the condition of the transmission fluid, and when's the last time you changed your transmission fluid?

[neon_rt]

The '96 3-speed auto uses ATF+3 not Dextron/Mercron, that is were I would start. Did the transmission shop use the correct fluid? Also, in cold weather it is recommended to start the engine with the trans in neutral instead of park. The fluid does not circulate in park, but it does in neutral. In cold climate, the fluid can be very thick and it can take a while of circulating before the trans will engage and shift properly. The Mopar ATF+ series fluid has a way better flow in cold temps than other ATFs. IF you had the overdrive trans with the wrong fluid and cold temperature, it may only take one or two really cold starts to break it.

[Mbriggs]

My wife's 98 van is doing the same thing, 25k after a rebuild. Can you tell which fluid was used by color/smell? Are all the fluids red?

Thanks

[neon_rt]

Mopar Fluid has a Color and Smell that is different from Dextron/Mercron. I don't have the skills to describe the differences in a way you could tell. Get a quart of the right stuff (Mopar ATF+) and a quart of Dextron, compare those with a sample from your trans, see which is most similar. You may be able to go to the rebuilder and they can tell you what they put in. If they put Dextron/Mercron in.... they are bad, your transmission will fail no matter what and they know it, they just hope that it doesn't fail before the warranty runs out. If they didn't know it would fail, they are too stupid to be working at a trans shop. There is one exception to the Mopar ATF+ fluid that I know of.
The AMSOIL Synthetic ATF seems to work wonderfully in these transmissions, but it is not certified ATF+3 or +4 by Mopar and will void a factory warranty.

[Mailt4]

The problem is the Seals inside your Drum (Forward)is harden-up for number of reasons (Tans got hot, wrong fluid, bad Seals and so on)
When it cold, Fluid leak pass the Piston and won't apply the clutches, when it warm-up, the Seal is soften and seal the Piston, now it applied the Clutches.
These Trans (A670 or A604 / 3 or 4 speed) require Mopa 7176E, Chrysler ATF+3, these Fluid have formulated with additives to work with Soft Parts in these Units.

[prong2002]

Well I did find out today that the shop does use Mercron. He told me that it was Mercron ATF +3. I have serious doubts about it being the proper fluid. Anyway, they told me the tranny was 2 quarts low. They filled it back up. Afterwards I thought everything was AOK, but after I was getting an electrical problem with my trucks wipers fixed I noticed a big puddle of red fluid directly under the transmission. I'm taking it back to them as soon as I can. If they're open tomorrow I'm taking it in. This is insane I spent $1500 getting this rebuilt and it only lasts a year. I don't know what I'm going to do from here I might just get it running and trade it in.