Hello, I just purchased a 2000 Chrysler Town & Country with a 3.3 engine. The transmission was just rebuilt about 3000 miles ago. I only have 1st gear, no reverse. When it "shifts" to 2nd it's like it goes into neutral. Sometimes I can put it in neutral and back into drive and I'll have 1st gear again, sometimes nothing! No gears at all!!! If that happens I can shut off the engine and restart the van and I'll have 1st gear again-every time. I also tried revving the engine in reverse to see if it would engage at all and it wouldn't, but the engine would kinda bog down and misfire whenever I did it(and it doesn't do that in neutral!) Like I said, recently rebuilt so the fluid is pristine still. Can somebody give me an Idea as to what may have went out? Thank you very much!!!

 

take it back to the rebuilder if warranty sounds like the tranny may need to be redone

 

I bought a 1996 GC with 3.3 and 41TE trans. I bought it knowing it had trans issues. My symptoms are EXACTLY what you describe...to the tee! I am in the process to installing a low mileage 03 trans that I picked up cheap.

Ive been told by others on this forum that it is probably a basket case. But, mine has 116k on it. Sounds like its a bum rebuild. So many crappy tranny shops out there.

PLEASE post if you find an answer to the problem!!

Thanks

 

The shop that rebuilt it weaseled out of honoring the warranty because of change of ownership of the van. The guy I got it from pretty much got screwed, he bought it with a fresh rebuild and sold it to me for peanuts because of the bad tranny. I'm hoping to find a solution that doesn't involve a trans swap but I bought it expecting such. Anyone else got Ideas???

 

You will find that if you pull the shifter into 1st..the van will drive in first ok. That's if you need to move it or something. Mine also make some strange noises when shifting into reverse. Not loud noises but, gurgly, fluidy kinds of noises.

Someone told me that the planetary gears were prolly shot.

Anybody?? MasterTech...ideas??

 

I would have to open the transmission and inspect for the problem, I would only be guessing at this time. Could be planetary.

 

Well, if I have to find a donor vehicle to get a trans out of, what years are compatible? And does the engine have to be a 3.3 or will one from a 3.0 or 3.8 work? Thanks again!

 

The trans has to be the 4spd o'drive auto. 41TE. Any van from 1996-2005 (or maybe newer) will work. If you get a tranny from a 96 or 97 you have to make some changes. Flexplate and some electrical connectors. So stick with one 98 or newer. 3.0, 3.3, 3.8 won't matter as long as the 3.0 van has the 4spd trans. I believe all 3.3's and 3.8's have the 4spd. Its called an A604 or 41TE trans. They are the same.

I'm putting and 03 tranny in my 96 GC right now. Got it for 400.00 Try partstop.com They are a wrecking yard in CA, they ship country wide and have a good rep!

 

Thank you for the info!!

 

Another site you can check:
http://car-part.com/
Put in your zip for local parts or leave blank for country wide search.