A friend of mine is having trouble with her van. It’s a 97 Plymouth Voyager SE (manufacturer date of 11/96) with 163781 miles on a 3.3. Her description of the problem follows.

The van has been running funny in the morning, (very mild Memphis Tn climate) like it is too cold to shift. Once it gets going then it doesn't seem to do that again. Last Monday it was fine all day, actually ran great until I parked it in the garage. I went to leave again and the van would not go into reverse, it would only move forward. It would not go into neutral either. After having a tow truck literally drag the van backwards out of the garage (front wheels locked up) it will not go forward anymore. The shifter on the column will go through the gears but the van will not react. Acts like it’s in Park.

Some research makes me think we should try replacing the Neutral Safety Switch and/or the Speed Sensor Switch. I don’t think the tranny is junk, just something isn’t getting a signal or something. Any thoughts on this are welcome.

Thanks, Dan

 

Will the van move in neutral with the key on engine off? Try disconnecting the solenoid pack and will the van move?

 

I will verify this but I'm pretty sure she said it looked like the tow truck driver tried putting it in Neutral before dragging it out of the garage but the it wouldn't move. I will check on this though.

I'm not certain what you mean about disconnecting the solenoid pack. Do you mean the PRNDL and Neutral safety switches?

Thanks for the reply.

 

It does roll in neutral when the key is turned to start, engine off. I was wondering about maybe the Shift Cable being broke or messed up or something?

 

When the engine is running the hydralic pressure is fighting will two set of clutch packs inside the transmission.

 

What'd be your next move? What about that selinoid pack you mentioned?