I have a 2000 grand caravan sport with a 3.3L flex fuel engine. for the past few years in the winter when it is cold outside, below +20*, the transmission will slip into neutral after you put it in drive. you are able to drive for about a foot or two and then it will go to neutral even with the gear leaver in drive. you have to put it in park and shift it back in forth between park and drive a few times before it will go back to drive. when it does go back into drive the van will jerk and then you can go on your way. sometimes it will do this about a dozen times in one trip. when it does this i check the transmission fluid and add some if needed. it only does this in the winter and when it is cold outside. i live in ohio. the rest of the year it runs good and does not do it. any help.

 

When was the last time it was serviced with new ATF and filter?

 

Drain the converter also !! Adjust the bands if there are anchors . Lovvorn

 

Good advise, But the 3.3 engine has a 41TE transmission. Its fully electronic. Its doesn't have bands to adjust. Its not the same has you and I work on in the old days. The only transmission that has bands for the minivans is the 3 speed 31TH. Those were in the 2.4 and 3.0L engines. There is one other information for cold weather problems with transmissions. Let the transmission fluid warm up before driving. Or wrap the transmission with a heating blanket when sitting overnight and see if that helps.

 

My 03 3.8 Grand Caravan developed the same problem yesterday morning as well as this morning, with temps just above freezing.

My concern is, this isn't normal...is it repairable or just a sign of impending doom?

The van has 187K highway miles, but has been running just fine up until this happened.

Thanks