First of all, new member here and would like to thank you guys in advance for any insight, information, and hospitality I receive from you.

Now to my problem. I have a 1999 dodge caravan sport with around 169k miles on it. I bought it used, with a slipping transmission. Best way to describe the slipping is when you first start it for the day, I put it in drive and the transmission either doesnt engage, or if it does, it seems to drop out of gear after I pick up a little speed. I almost have to rev the motor up and hold it around 2 grand to get it to kick back into gear, sometimes it feels like its stuck in second gear. After driving it around for a few minutes, the transmission works fine. No more dropping out of gear, no more stuck in second gear. It will revert back to the problems listed if it sits overnight.

I have read about limp mode and I really beleive that is what is happening, but why? What are some of the culprits? I am not sure what transmission I have, but I beleive it is a 41ae or a 41ae, it is a 4 speed auto.

I have also changed the transmission fluid and filter, and it seemed to help for a bit but started going back to the way it was, but not nearly as bad.

I will end up doing most of the mechanical work myself and thought about rebuilding it but would like to have some more information.

Thanks

 

Welcome to DF
I would have the transmission scan for codes, and post the codes and the CVI readings. This way i or some of our other members can help. And if you wanted to repair the transmission yourself. I do have a pdf file on transmissions. You didn't say if the van was an all wheel drive. Your transmission is a 41TE.

 

Hey thanks for the welcome!

The van is just FWD. I had read somewhere that the check engine light needs to be on in order for the codes to be pulled for the transmission? Or a piggyback needs to be installed to record the codes as they come up? Is that the case? If so the check engine light hasnt come on since I change the tranny fluid and filter. If I am not mistaken, I dont think any other vehicle I have owned didnt have some way of storing the codes as they occured, and they could be pulled with or without the check engine light illuminated.

I looked under the new user section, under the post labeled commonly abbreviated terms and didnt see cvi listed there. And a quick google look didnt really give me any clue either. Could you give me the full wording? I can look up the rest.

Thanks again.

 

Not really. Some transmission codes can be stored and not turn the ck engine lite on. Just remember, you will get a P0700 code for the transmission from the engine controller. But you need to get the rest of the codes from the TCM. CVI( Clutch Volume Index )