92 Caravan, no Reverse, D works 15 seconds

[fixitman111]

Hi,

Was driving on the freeway when the transmission quit working. As if it just became "disengaged". Once on the shoulder found it would go into all gears physically but would not move the vehicle. (didnt even feel the vehicle try to move in any gear, no feel of engagement)
Sat there for awhile waiting for a friend, he checked tranny fluid, was a tad low, (at bottom of the stick) topped it off (with ATF+4) Tried it again, this time drive worked, barely ...it would drive for about 10 seconds then "slip back out".
Unhooked the battery for a couple minutes and that did not change the symptoms.
About half hour earlier in the trip, the front A/C blower cut out briefly then came back on by itself. I dont know if the two are related or not.....
What would be my route of troubleshooting or things to check? Ive read some about these trannies but dont see reverse not working as one of the "typical" problems mentioned.

Also, after it quits running in drive for 10 seconds, I shut it off, turn it back on and Im good for another 10 seconds or so.
3.3L motor

P.S. Anyone know of any tranny mods for the caravans? Manual would be really cool, or even an auto that doesnt use the computer and solenoid paks.

Thank you

[coalminer]

Originally Posted by fixitman111

Hi,

Was driving on the freeway when the transmission quit working. As if it just became "disengaged". Once on the shoulder found it would go into all gears physically but would not move the vehicle. (didnt even feel the vehicle try to move in any gear, no feel of engagement)
Sat there for awhile waiting for a friend, he checked tranny fluid, was a tad low, (at bottom of the stick) topped it off (with ATF+4) Tried it again, this time drive worked, barely ...it would drive for about 10 seconds then "slip back out".
Unhooked the battery for a couple minutes and that did not change the symptoms.
About half hour earlier in the trip, the front A/C blower cut out briefly then came back on by itself. I dont know if the two are related or not.....
What would be my route of troubleshooting or things to check? Ive read some about these trannies but dont see reverse not working as one of the "typical" problems mentioned.

Also, after it quits running in drive for 10 seconds, I shut it off, turn it back on and Im good for another 10 seconds or so.
3.3L motor

P.S. Anyone know of any tranny mods for the caravans? Manual would be really cool, or even an auto that doesnt use the computer and solenoid paks.

Thank you

I have replaced a 4 speed trans with a 3 speed in a 95, it is not hard to do, but you need to replace the entire wiring harness under the hood (not as hard as it sounds) If you can find one in the junk yard that a 3 speed, undo the bulkhead connector which is under the winshield washer tank, and detach all of the wires as they go both ways under the hood. I dont know if the engine computer was the same or not, but I just switched mine. The only other thing you need off of the 3 speed motor is the kickdown linkage that goes from the throttle body down to the transmission. The axles are the same, the shifter cable is the same and the location of the cooling lines are so close to what they are on the 4 speed that they will attach without problems. My van is a 3.0, I dont know if the same holds true for a 2.5 or a 3.3, did they put a 3 speed in a 3.3?

[fixitman111]

Anyone have some thoughts on what might be the problem with this tranny?

Anyone know where the ground strap is physically located for the tranny computer?