I have recently replaced the driver CV axle on this 95 caravan and learned quite a bit about the trans and front end.. I could use some help as I stopped all the leaks from pan and solenoid and both cvs but still have significant drip from the bell housing at the flange. I did attempt to remove the trans 12 hours into it could not get it past the driver side wheelwell after following exact removal instructions in the manual I have. I was feeling good up to the point where the trans spline shaft just would not clear the torque converter. I could not see any leak from torque converter, does this mean it has to be main oil pump seal on the center of the shaft to transaxle? and then how do I get it to clear the engine and the wheel well wall I was tempted to cut four inches from the metal but found out how hard it was to grind off. I would like help before attempting the oil pump shaft seal. Any one out there do this one before on this historically troubled trans? All of my brothers (5) sold their vans because of this leak at 60k mine has taken 130k to achieve because I changed the fluid and filters 3x I'll bet.

 

Trans spline shaft? Do you mean the Axle Shaft? if so, you have to remove it from the vehicle before attempting to remove the transmission.

 

I have already removed both CVs , with the dropping of the transaxle completely detached all hoses all bolts I was able to manipulate enough to see a shaft that appeared to be part of the transaxle entered through the torque converter toward the engine. Is this the shaft you referred to as axle shaft? or did you refer to the right and left cv's? As you can tell I have not worked with a transaxle but have removed and worked on rear wheel drives and they seem much easier. The shaft that I thought was part of the trans just not able to clear the edge of converter as I moved the trans toward well of driver side and moved engine up down side to side on only one motor mount and a support above. If you can tell me the method to remove this shaft before removal of transmission I could use help or refer me to location to read about and maybe see illustrations.

 

Ummm are you leaving the converter attached to the engine/flexplate????? the torque converter must be unbolted from the engine and removed with the trans as a unit. That's also true for RWD.

 

Bingo that must be the problem, How do you unbolt the converter from the flexplate I do not have the steps to do that on the instructions to remove transxle, are there any illustrated guide or instructions you can tell me to do this? I can barely see the donut dark shaped torque converter the separation between the bell housing and torque converter. I have tried to ask the local mechanics to describe the converter relation to the trans and engine, they just tell function not how attached to 3.3l engine. Is it bolted or is mine just "frozen" on due to age? How and when to remove the converter in the trans removal process, I know I am darn close as I can get three inches between bell housing edge and the converter spacing before progress halts due to driver side of engine up against the engine compartment side of wheel well, at the same time the spline shaft inside the trans will not clear the torque converter by about one inch from what I see with a good lite illumination inside bell housing.

 

btw it is front wheel only no rear wheel assist as on some with this trans.

 

I know its Front Wheel only, and not AWD, "As you can tell I have not worked with a transaxle but have removed and worked on rear wheel drives and they seem much easier"... FWD and RWD connnect the torque converter to the engine in the EXACT same way (ford, gm, chrysler, honda, toyota, etc etc etc) there are some bolts that attach the converter to the flexplate. it should be totally obvious that when you removed the inspection cover before you started to pull the trans, you can see on of them (you need to turn the engine to access each bolt... exactly as doing rear drive). This transmission is far easier to r&r than a v-8 4x4 dakota!!! I can r&r them in under 2hrs. OH, and every shop manual that I checked states step by step proceedures for removal including removing torque converter bolts. And, since you've been yanking and forcing the trans off the converter, you may have damaged the converter, flexplate, pump, pump seal.... so be careful before you go shoving it back together. IDK why you're going thru all this effort for a small leak. fluid would be a lot cheaper

 

Thanks for the information on removal of torque converter. I was trying to remove all fluid loss so my garage and other places would remain free of the spent red trans fluid....I like a clean garage and environment and was trying to help even at my expense. It started with very small fluid loss about three years ago but with a 4500 mile trip from coast to coast last December it increased. I thought a quart lost every three weeks was no little loss for my wife to try to keep fluid up and not destroy the trans with low level fluid, I love the van. I have actually had it back together to drive it for 400miles now two trips for airport shuttle of relatives during the holidays, I did not get rough with it during my failed attempt to change the oil pump seal and will reattempt removal in a week with your insight. I did not try to remove the torque converter the first time around but will for sure on the second. Could you tell me which manual you had access to I am resourceful and will try to obtain access as to read..