I own a 1995 Dodge Grand Caravan. Just the other day My husband and I were driving with our family in our van and the RPMs Stopped shifting. so we were doing 45-55 mph and the RPMs were up to 4-5,000. How come it wouldn't shift? Is the transmission going. Please Help Me!!![]

 

Chrysler "limp" mode. You're stuck with only second gear. Your transmission controller sensed a tranny fault and gave you this mode to get home... Good luck

 

I'had a similar occurence and it turned out to be the input turbine speed sensor.It sits on the top of the transmission and you can change it yourself.
Remove the battery and the battery tray,the fan should come out next.Once you have some room to work you grab a one inch wrench and remove the old useless sensor and reinstall the brand new upgraded part.I bought one at a Chrysler dealer for $21 (I think) but was quoted a $49 price at a different Chrysler dealer so shop around.The time to complete this job was about one hour and is easily completed in your driveway with minimal metric tools.
This repair cleared up the problem permanently but if you reset the fault by shutting off the engine and restarting,it will drive normally,for awhile.

 

Speedsensors are a common fault code, but i wouldn't just start changing parts without knowing where the failure lies. For example, I currently am recieving an output speed sensor fault ( which has been changed 4x in 45kmiles (2x by stealership)) I took my last 2 sensors and had them checked (Can't throw anything away...lol) . Both checked out fine. Van is now at an electric specialist to find wiring or TMC fault. Without pulling codes, I wouldn't just start swapping parts. Battery disconnect will get you out of limp mode til fault arises again, but with so many other reasons these junk trannies go "limp" I don't risk further damage without knowing which fault sent me there... Here's anothere example Solenoid pack will give a code.... swap out the pack and problem goes away for a while. Most common reason for the solenoid pack failing (stealerships don't tell you) is metal flake will plug prescreen filters. Metal through a tranny is normal through wear and tear, but enough metal to plug these is not normal and usually a sign of something else going wrong. Played the solenoid game through a dealership once too, now I'm much too familiar with these trannies and how they operate to let it happen again. Sorry for my tirade, but just swapping out parts might short term bandaiid a problem, but will it fix them?

 

Thank You for you quick response. I am not familiar with any vehicle. I am just hoping that I don't need to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars to fix the transmission. If there was an easy, simple, cheap way to fix it I would love to know about it. In your opinion do you think I need a whole new transmission? [8D]

 

Here is probably the best thing for you to do. Go to an Autozone or similar parts place and let them scan the codes for your van. I doubt you need a new tranny. If it comes back as either input or output speed sensors, first thing I would do is pull out the culprit and visually look at it. Both are really just glorified magnets, and usually failure in them is due to fine amounts of metal hindering their accurate reading and can be wiped off and re-installed. But before any conclusions are jumped to ,pull the codes.,. Actually on your 95 you can pull some of the codes. Turn the key on and off 3x (without starting the van) and then watch the check engine light and it will blink out codes. Blink pause blink blink for example is code 12... 55 is the end of codes... Try that for starters and let us know what you get and we'll try to help from there. How many miles are on the motor/tranny? Color aqnd condition of tranny fluid (red is good....brownish and burn't smelling is not so good) Let me know

 

Thank you SOOO... much for your advise. First of all I found out that my van is a 94 dodge grand caravan. I don't think that should make much of a difference. I tried what you said and tried to pull the codes from the van by turning the ignition 3x without actually turning on the engine. I didn't get any codes though. I did however drive it to the doctors today for an appointment and it was acting like nothing even happened to it [sm=dontgetit.gif] . It shifted gears like normal and it didn't act different at all. I still plan on going to Autozone or Napa to have it tested to find out if there is an actual problem. I will let you know what they tell me or if anything changes ok. Thanks again.

 

Just out of curiosity, did it start working fine on it's own or had someone done a battery disconnect to clear the codes? Reason I'm asking is on my 91GC when the Solenoid pack was going bad, a lot of the time after sitting it would run normally. Even though it wasn't in limp mode and no ck engine light it would still have a code stored for the solenoids (unless I did a battery disconnect and erased them). I'm very interested to find out what you find out. Good Luck

 

I didn't do anything to it, Neither did my husband. The day it happened we drove it back home and it sat for maybe 4 days of NO driving at all. The 3rd day is when I tried to pull the codes and got nothing. The only thing I got was a check engine light. That is not abnormal though. Since we bought the vehicle from a aquaintence/friend, 2 years ago the Check Engine light has come on occasionally and the previous owner said there was no problem with the engine and she actually had it checked out. This was the first time that either of us(husband and I) noticed the problem since owning it. The 4th day is when I actually started the van for the first time since the problem. That is why I was wondering what happened. I have been driving it since yesterday (of and on). and I have had NO problem since. When I turned the key 3X I didn't notice anything like codes or numbers. Only the normal lights that come on automaticly when ever you attempt to start the van. I haven't yet taken it to napa or Autozone so when I do I will let you know what they say.

 

I have been fighting with the transmission shop now for 2 months. Just had a rebuilt transmission put in....then put in again....and now the third time. Still same problem. Does not seem to happen at any time but I have a 90 dodge grand caravan se. The transmission just for no apparant reason gets stuck in second gear. Stop turn the ignition off and then back on and works fine. Today it happened as soon as I hopped in and started it then drove away. The second time, I hopped in it started it, backed up and stopped while in drive and checked some paperwork, then you felt the van kinda roll or lunge and then it was stuck in second. Not only am I very frustrated with the transmission shop, I am tired of losing this van for weeks at a time. Any suggestions on this one?