AboutRoland Finston Expertise I specialize in Chrysler Corp. front wheel drive cars and minivans for the years 1982-2005 based upon my 50-year DIY experience and factory shop manuals. I don't have expertise/manuals for Jeeps, Trucks, Imports. Today on vacation, I will not take questions at any time, nor answer you within 1/2 hour. If I am shown as "maxed out" try again, in an hour, as I may be answering another question or otherwise busy. There are answers to ten thousand Chrysler questions at your finger tips: put a few key words in the "find" box (above) or click on "view past answers".
I've encountered some problems with my transmission (dodge Grand Caravan 3.8 AWD year 2000).
I've already exchange transmissin oil twice (once with filter) Oil was dirty and brownish but smells normally -(not burned).
I've exchanged Solenoid Pack (brand new)
I've checked by OBDII reader - but no transmission error codes (question: is it possible to check and read codes by standard OBDII reader codes from transmission? or it is possible only by DRBII)
My main problem is:
When I start my car in the morning (engine is cold and aslo transmission oil is cold; ambient temp. 15 Deg Celcius)
Engine works fine, idle approx 900~700rpm.
And after changing from PtoR or NtoD or NtoR (and all other combination when cold - engine stops idle - dies,
-Then I start again engine try to put gear once again sometimes is good and I can drive - no problems all day(until next morning)
- or sometimes I must afer changing gear to D or R quickly release brake - car is driving going forward or reverse.
If in last case if I push brake pedal just after releasing brake pedal Engine will stop idle. But I if I push brake pedal after 100m of driving it will be no problem all day long)
I was visiting couple mechanics (they dont have DRBII or DRBIII scanning tool) - first diagnosis Solenoid Pack (it's echanged now).
Now they telling me Converter.
But This is guessing not diagnosis.
Please support me with some clues or good advices.
Thanks in Advance.
Answer Hi Krzysztof,
The trans fault codes should be accessible by any good OBD-II reader. The behavior you describe would appear to relate to the torque converter clutch control. There is a code 1740 that would corroborate that problem. The issue with it could be in the valve body of the electronic transaxle where there is a switch valve, a control valve and a regulator valve all three related to the torque converter clutch. As the valve body can be removed and serviced without having to take out the transmission from the vehicle my inclination would be to inquire of a qualified shop whether they believe that the symptom could be due to an issue within the valve body or not, and if so what is the cost and likelihood of that repairing the problem; and if not, then that implies an issue inside the torque converter proper and the cost/likelihood of that repair. So if there is such a shop I would engage them in a discussion about servicing those valves in the valve body as the first approach.
Roland
