I've got a 98 Grand Caravan SE Sport, with a 3.3L and a DGB tranny code, with 80k on it. I bought it used, so I don't know if everything is OE, but seems to be. Had the fluid & filter flushed on it @ 74k (right after I got it). Haven't had a single problem with it other than the every once in a while & when it's cold the gas gauge drops to "E" then back up to the proper level.

Well my wife was driving it to class tonight going about 70, see's a cop & lets off the gas down to 65, when the van jerks as she gives it some gas, and when she goes to press down on the gas pdl, it just revs...all while she is trying topull off to the side of the highway...oh, and it's not just coasting there's some resistance from the tranny helping to slow her down. When she comes to a stop, she tries every gear & nothing happens. It just lunges a tad and the engine revs up. No CEL, no nothing on the cluster. She turned off the van, then back on again & still no movement. Then, when a NJ DOT rep tried to push the van off the road a little bit more, he couldn't budge an inch when in "N"...tried all the other gears too (and he was a big-owl-dude).

Fluid levels are all good, no leaks, shift linkage works & seems as if it's shifting into all positions correctly.

HELP!!!!!

Is there a cheap way of getting any codes from the CPU without towing it some place? I got one for my VW, but is a different hook up.

Any help would be much appreciated, & if I'm leaving out any important information, let me know.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

Is the ck engine lite on???Your transmission went into limp-in. I would like you to try something before you taking it to a shop. 1st put the shift lever into 2nd gear not overdrive, then drive, if the trans shift from 1st to 2nd without any problems, now move the lever to overdrive and let it shift from 2nd to 3rd or 4th gears. If the trans stop shifting after 2nd gear then you have a broken hub with shaft inside the transmission.

 

The ck engine light is not on & I've tried every gear, but still won’t move an inch. The linkage to the tranny is working & it sounds like it is shifting without any clunks or grinds other than the infamous Dodge clicking when shifting into gear. But I'll try again everything you suggested @ lunch today, because you so kind as to try and help me out.

 

Then the planetry gears are broken, recommend reman trans and flush the cooler and ck flow if you can. should have 1 1/2 qts in 10secs.

 

This sounds exactly like the problem I'm having with my 99 3.8l. When you shift, you can 'hear' the engine load change (as if you shifted while you were holding the brake on) but upon hitting the gas, it simply revs (not freely but seems to have a little load on it) and does not move at all. That part is bad enough but when in gear, park or neutral, you can not roll the van. There is something definately holding things from moving internally. I was on a hill (nose down) and wondered if I could roll it backwards and dislodge whatever was buggering up the internals. I threw a strap on the back and used my truck to give her a pull. Put the van in 'N' (like it would help) and pulled it about 3 feet backwards... sliding the front tires. darn!

Wepulled it onto a flatbed and dropped it in my driveway where I could start pulling it apart. Up on stands, I could spin the wheels (opposite directions) so it seems like the spider gears are not the problem. If I block one wheel and try to rotate the other... nope!

so I pulled the pan and there was enough shrapnel to half fill a ping-pong ball. Among the debris were a few 1/16 x 1/4 inch rods that just scream of a thrust bearing blowing apart. So I'm looking for a replacement. I can get a rebuild (all guts replaced) delivered for less than $1500 and put it in myself but I'm concerned by some ofthe comments by the tranny shops I have called. The seem to always want to replace the solenoid pack and talk about reprogramming something. Wouldn't the control unit re-learn the transmission over time and shift smoother etc without having a garage flash the thing and reprogram it?

I'd love to save the $700 or so and put it in myself but I'm concerned about this electronics issue. Any thoughts?

 

Had that happen on my 98. Had to replace the tranny. Same scenario - changed the fluid regularly and checked it regularly (always pink and clean). About 5k after the trans oilchange (67000miles overall)without warning - bang a noise and when I pulled off and stopped, the car would not move.The planetary gears broke and I hadto purchase a new (rebuilt) tranny. I am taking it easy on the 2005 I have now in hopes of not investing in a new tranny for this one.

[:@]

 

Also in line with Mastertech, I had an apply piston inside the Tranny break. I could hear it shif through the gears and occasionally get a few feet of motion. Planetaries or apply piston, lots of metal and a re-bui;d most likely.

 

yep... planetary gears ate themselves. It wasn't pretty but it's not the worst the tranny shop had seen. Luckily, the damage was contained in the planetary assembly and did not destroy the casing.