van 'clunks' please help!?!?!?!

[krb7951]

I have a 2002 caravan, while slowing down, at about 50 k/hr it ‘clunks’ and feels like someone rear ended me. Thinking it’s a trani. problem. Has anyone else had this happen to them??!? Also…can anyone tell me the ‘key dance’ to down load the codes…(any help is much appreciated, thxs)

[GTP Dad]

Does this happen when you hit or let off the brakes? This may be a brake problem or a CV joint issue not necessarily a problem with the transmission. To do the key dance, turn the key on and off three times on the third time leave the key on and the codes will flash on the check engine light. I suggest that you have the car scanned with a scanner since this is an OBDII computer. The scanner will provide you with the exact code not a generic one provided by the light.

[krb7951]

Thanks GTP
I thought about that and with the gear shift ‘locked’ in 2nd I can drive up to 70k/hr and back down without the ‘clunk’ (fast, slow, hard, soft, it doesn’t matter) it seems to happen while the tranny is shifting down into 2nd. Thanks for the advice on the codes I will have the van scanned.

[Stretch58]

Good advice above as to the scanning the car for codes. Also, draining and filling with fresh Chrysler fluid would be a lot cheaper than going straight to a trannie change. The dealer can also do a diagnosis of the trannie using his scanner, hopefully you got an honest one. It does sound like some kind of a problem getting out of OD, converter clutch release etc. New fluid has solved a lot of problems though. I would use the real stuff.