We, a family of 5, have a '98 Gr Caravan Sport 3.3L. It is on it's 3rd transmission and we are having problems once again, a few months out of warranty. Van has 151K on it and has assorted other problems, like body rot, a need for tires, crazy insane wipers, etc.

But the transmission is skipping. Badly. Seems to only be only while going into first at least at the moment. We have an inclined (slight, nothing real major) driveway. Half way up it, it's like we are in neutral again. So we will glide back down a bit, stop. The proceed to move the transmission stick up and down a bit while "reving" then engine and eventually we get the 'thunk' and can go again. It may take us two or three times to get out of the driveway. Then, for the most part, it is ok. It does not seem to skip when in motion, or at highway speed, etc. Sometimes off a stop light or stop sign we repeat the problem.

Dealer said, the solenoid is "saturated" and needs to be replaced, plus a flush of the system, etc. Don't have the money, just don't have it.

Is there anything I can do with that solenoid that might buy me a couple of months? A friend has a '97 caravan with a 3.3L and he said I was welcome to the solenoid. Can I pull the solenoid from a '97 and put it in my '98 and expect it to be any better? I guess I would be happy with any "better" end result... but have no idea what is involved with switching that part out.

So I guess I would appreciate anyones input on my predicament- which is causing me a lack of sleep at the moment. Thanks.

 

you can swap out all the parts u want but i highly doubt youll see any improvement saturated solenoid never heard that one before sounds like total bs to me. i suspect there's a problem with the low/rev clutch piston. shifting the lever manual has no effect what so ever with your problem need to know when u have the problem going forward does it do it in reverse to? once you get going u say no problems how about when u shut off the van and start it again in a short time still have theproblem?

 

Ck the cooler line hose clamps, they maybe loose at the trans and radiator. Yes the solenoid pack do leak and i have seen it.

 

i didn't see where they were saying it was leaking? maybe the whole prob is low fluid level being on an incline would make that prob worse

 

Yes, also happens in reverse. Actually since I posted it seems to be happening more frequently so I guess I wouldn't say once we get going we have no problems. Getting out of the inclined driveway is a problem every time... after that it tends to happen off a stop sign, etc... but I don't feel it skip when it is at highway speed or anything like that... it is definitely when coming off a a stop.

 

That is the term the dealer also used, in addition to saying it was "saturated" they also referred to it as "leaking".

What am i looking for in terms of the cooler lines... just that the hose clamps are tight at the radiator and where they connect to the transmission?

Maybe you are on to something because we did notice in last month or so that the coolant overflow was always empty. I would fill it to the min level and within a couple of days it would be empty again. Never saw any of it coming out anywhere though. The van temperature was always fine too?

 

oh boy you seem to have several issues. are you or are you not leaking transmission fluid? have you checked fluid level? your coolant is a big issue also but theres only one possible connection between the transmission problem and the loss of coolant and that would be a bad radiator which could let coolant into the trans and this would be a major problem. but first things first trans sounds like your problem is internal in the trans more likely than in the solenoid pack or electrical however to truely determine this problem it would need more professional analysis by someone that has tools and knowledge because if i tell you any more someone will slam me on what tools you need and they are not realistic for average joe to own.

 

When I checked the fluid level before I took it to the dealer it was not low and it was reddish in color.

 

snyperj
Let cover just the basic, low coolant. Have a pressure tester on the radiator and have the radiator full, put the radiator under pressure. Then find your leak. On the transmission, ck the fluid level in neutral not park. That because park will show thats its full, but is really low one to two qts. Yes the solenoid pack will work on your transmission, just make sure you have new gasket. If you have a leak which is the same as saturated because you don't know where the leak is. If the fluid low that will cause a loss of prime code along with other codes too. So do ck for codes when you can, maybe autozone. If you don't have any leaks, you could still have a bad pump. any question just drop a pm.

 

pumps pretty much never go bad on a 41te trans. check trans level in park or neutral it doesn't matter both are doing the same thing internally but in park it's much safer. idk where your getting the reading is different in neutral vs park because the manual valve is in the exact same position in neutral and in park and in both positions the l/r clutch is applied in park and in neutral. there are 2 gaskets for the solenoid pack if it has the big rubber cover and a steel plate under the pack. it is crucial to torque the 3 bolts attaching the solenoid pack. but that question wasnt answered about solenoid pack being saturated? does that mean leaks? anyway all the prbs u described really points at in internal failure but not haveing all the right diagnosis tools is a major handycap. a scanner and pressure gauge set would be really benificial. if i knew ur location, i could get u fixed right in person