Late Model Transaxle

[Moparmatt]

The tranny on my Mom's 2000 Chrysler Town and Country seems to be on the fritz. It slips between 10 and 20 mph, and between 30 and 40 mph, it downshifts and upshifts erratically, causing the RPM to jump around. If I remember correctly, Aamco said that the diagnostic showed low O/D pressure. They say that the tranny will need to be rebuilt.

The car went to the dealer today for a flush and fill, to make sure that there was ATF +4 in there, not Dexron or Mercon, which might have been added during any recent oil and tranny fluid change.

It was swapped out, and now the problems are worse. Anywhere from 1 to 3 thousand for a rebuild. What can be done to rectify the situation, or should the car be sold?

[Plum6Pak]

OUCH!!! That's awful to have to spend that much to get the tranny repaired. Have you thought about finding  a used one at a salvage yard? They probably wouldn't want a quarter of what you would pay the dealer. I replaced a manual transaxle in an older Caravan and it was a bugger but it was cheap and worked real nice when done. Just a thought.

[Chryco Psycho]

the problem with trannys is no average person understands trhem fully so it is easy to get taken, it is good that you tryed the flush& filter first
 odds are you won`t find one at a wrecker , most will have the same issue unless the vehicle was hit , 3000 seems to be about average for the newer OD auto trannys unfortunatly , one of the big reasons why I always buy standards

[DodgeFreak]

Where are you located Matt?? I know our junkyard has some vans in them...and most of the vans are hit..so the trannies should be good and will be backed with a warrenty...what about adjusting the bands any??

[heminut]

Before you have the tranny rebuilt, dump a quart of Trans-X in it. If it doesn't work you're only out a few bucks. I had a shifting problem with my 94 Dodge Caravan, and the computer kept putting it into 'Limp' mode. (Runs in second gear only, no upshift or downshift.) I was told it was an internal preassure leak that was common with these trannies. I put a quart of Trans-X in it and drove it for another 1 1/2 years before I had to do something with it.

[Moparmatt]

Well, I put in a small bottle of Aamco LXE, similar to Trans-X: nothing.

It would work find when left in "3", but now it locks into limp mode when put in "3".

My parents have decided on an <ugh> 2005 Toyota Sienna LE.

I NEED HELP FAST!!! I read that Chrysler would do rebuilds, billed back to D-C, if the problem was that the 41TE/A-604 transaxle locked into limp mode. Would it count if it went into limp in "3"?
How about if problems similar were mentioned in Chrysler bulletins?  Thanks.

[DodgeFreak]

call a dealer up or something..find out from them..