[5th Gen : 08+]: 2017 Shifting Questions
#1
2017 Shifting Questions
So we bought a 2017 Dodge Caravan SE Plus end of July. We are very happy with our purchase thus far. It currently has 1300 miles on it. Beginning of August we took it on a camping trip where we had it fully loaded with kids and gear. It ran GREAT no complaints at all.
Yesterday we went up into the mountains again for the day, and on some inclines I noticed the vehicle having a VERY hard time shifting and the transmission was heating up well past what I would consider comfortable. It usually is right at the half way mark. Sometime will go a tiny bit over or a tiny bit under. But yesterday it was at the 3/4 mark and going above it. I had to to force it into gears. We haven't experienced this before.
We are wanting to add a hitch to the vehicle and tow a grand total of about 2500 pound tent trailer when fully loaded. But after what I experienced yesterday I am second guessing that decision.
Should I just consider this a one off? Not really sure how to duplicate this issue with a dealer or what to do at this point. We love our van but I am getting concerned now.
Yesterday we went up into the mountains again for the day, and on some inclines I noticed the vehicle having a VERY hard time shifting and the transmission was heating up well past what I would consider comfortable. It usually is right at the half way mark. Sometime will go a tiny bit over or a tiny bit under. But yesterday it was at the 3/4 mark and going above it. I had to to force it into gears. We haven't experienced this before.
We are wanting to add a hitch to the vehicle and tow a grand total of about 2500 pound tent trailer when fully loaded. But after what I experienced yesterday I am second guessing that decision.
Should I just consider this a one off? Not really sure how to duplicate this issue with a dealer or what to do at this point. We love our van but I am getting concerned now.
#2
Eco mode
Was there a chance the vehicle was in eco mode? My 2011 has it and I never use it because I've noticed it forces the tranny to work alot harder instead of downshifting and using more power like you'd expect.
Ps. I've overloaded my van interior with around 2000 lbs of cargo a couple times and it handled better then expected so a trailer should handle no problem.
Hope this helps!
Ps. I've overloaded my van interior with around 2000 lbs of cargo a couple times and it handled better then expected so a trailer should handle no problem.
Hope this helps!
#3
#4
Yesterday we went up into the mountains again for the day, and on some inclines I noticed the vehicle having a VERY hard time shifting and the transmission was heating up well past what I would consider comfortable. It usually is right at the half way mark. Sometime will go a tiny bit over or a tiny bit under. But yesterday it was at the 3/4 mark and going above it.
#5
So we bought a 2017 Dodge Caravan SE Plus end of July. We are very happy with our purchase thus far. It currently has 1300 miles on it. Beginning of August we took it on a camping trip where we had it fully loaded with kids and gear. It ran GREAT no complaints at all.
Yesterday we went up into the mountains again for the day, and on some inclines I noticed the vehicle having a VERY hard time shifting and the transmission was heating up well past what I would consider comfortable. It usually is right at the half way mark. Sometime will go a tiny bit over or a tiny bit under. But yesterday it was at the 3/4 mark and going above it. I had to to force it into gears. We haven't experienced this before.
We are wanting to add a hitch to the vehicle and tow a grand total of about 2500 pound tent trailer when fully loaded. But after what I experienced yesterday I am second guessing that decision.
Should I just consider this a one off? Not really sure how to duplicate this issue with a dealer or what to do at this point. We love our van but I am getting concerned now.
Yesterday we went up into the mountains again for the day, and on some inclines I noticed the vehicle having a VERY hard time shifting and the transmission was heating up well past what I would consider comfortable. It usually is right at the half way mark. Sometime will go a tiny bit over or a tiny bit under. But yesterday it was at the 3/4 mark and going above it. I had to to force it into gears. We haven't experienced this before.
We are wanting to add a hitch to the vehicle and tow a grand total of about 2500 pound tent trailer when fully loaded. But after what I experienced yesterday I am second guessing that decision.
Should I just consider this a one off? Not really sure how to duplicate this issue with a dealer or what to do at this point. We love our van but I am getting concerned now.
The van has been known with this issue of bad transmission gear switching when driving on the hill (delays, high RPMs, etc) for few years. We rented it twice before buying it. When you approach a hill switch from the cruise-control to a regular driving using your foot on the pedal. There wouldn't be such jumps in the RPM as during the auto-model. Chrysler techs don't give a flying... to this issue that has been reported several years ago by thousands of customers
#6
Was there a chance the vehicle was in eco mode? My 2011 has it and I never use it because I've noticed it forces the tranny to work alot harder instead of downshifting and using more power like you'd expect.
Ps. I've overloaded my van interior with around 2000 lbs of cargo a couple times and it handled better then expected so a trailer should handle no problem.
Hope this helps!
Ps. I've overloaded my van interior with around 2000 lbs of cargo a couple times and it handled better then expected so a trailer should handle no problem.
Hope this helps!
#7
Trending Topics
#8
Well, it really depends on the market.
Every car/van manufacturer in the world has a line of diesel motors to chose from. Toyota, Ford, VW (those are well known for their CO test results ). You name it.... Even a basic Ford Focus offers 4 gas engines and 2 diesel engines to choose from if you buy it in Europe. You can custom-made there any car. Your choice of engine, tranny, interior and exterior color, type of the radio, etc.
Going back to your original question. My Caravan has 3.6L gas engine. If you'll look at the config for the European market, where this van comes under the brand "Lancia" (as no one knows Dodge in Europe) - you'll find that a standard engine for it is 2.8L diesel
BTW
Did you know that more than 50% of all new cars sold in Germany in 2005 were diesels and this number is going up since then?
Every car/van manufacturer in the world has a line of diesel motors to chose from. Toyota, Ford, VW (those are well known for their CO test results ). You name it.... Even a basic Ford Focus offers 4 gas engines and 2 diesel engines to choose from if you buy it in Europe. You can custom-made there any car. Your choice of engine, tranny, interior and exterior color, type of the radio, etc.
Going back to your original question. My Caravan has 3.6L gas engine. If you'll look at the config for the European market, where this van comes under the brand "Lancia" (as no one knows Dodge in Europe) - you'll find that a standard engine for it is 2.8L diesel
BTW
Did you know that more than 50% of all new cars sold in Germany in 2005 were diesels and this number is going up since then?
Last edited by Caravan2017; 10-10-2017 at 10:00 PM.