Tranny trouble for '89 Caravan

[JalopyJolly]

My 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.0L V6 won't go into high gear. Transmission shops want $1400 to do a rebuild. I've heard the problem could be minor, such as connection issues. I don't know where the connections are, have never removed a tranny w/CV shafts, but I want to get this up and going again. I have a 1987 Caravan to trade complete for a transmission. Any suggestions??

Hello to all out there. This is my newbie post.

[tempfixit]

Originally Posted by JalopyJolly

My 1989 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.0L V6 won't go into high gear. Transmission shops want $1400 to do a rebuild. I've heard the problem could be minor, such as connection issues. I don't know where the connections are, have never removed a tranny w/CV shafts, but I want to get this up and going again. I have a 1987 Caravan to trade complete for a transmission. Any suggestions??

Hello to all out there. This is my newbie post.

Welcome,

3spd or 4spd tranny (PRND3L)

How many miles, last fluid and filter change?

[JalopyJolly]

I think it's a three-speed, with overdrive. Actually the vehicle has been sitting for a couple years. It runs good, but I stopped using it when the transmission stopped shifting to high gear for freeway driving. The odometer is almost to 139,000.

Oh that's my '89. I might also mention it's a Grand Caravan SE. I can't remember when I changed the fluid or filter in the transmission. I don't think I ever have done that. I do believe the fluid level is up to the mark. Heck, maybe it's been three years since I ran around in the van. I rebuilt another vehicle, engine and all, so I never got around to repairing the Caravan.

If that answers your questions, good. If you wanted the information from the '87 Caravan, just ask me once more and I'll post that. I saw this vehicle sitting in someone's driveway and I asked about it. They told me it belonged to a lady and they were just storing the vehicle. They wanted to be rid of it and offered it to me. I got it hoping the transmission would fit my '89, but it won't. The transmission in the '87 has been newly rebuilt, but the 4 cylinder engine needs a new head gasket. It ran a couple miles over to here, but I too have let it sit for about another year. I might rebuild it too, but I thought I'd rather fix my own '89 and use it again.