2001 Grand Caravan Sport

For a few days, I have felt a slight thunk (more like a tap) in my steering wheel, a little more prominent while turning. I was driving home tonight and there was a sudden loud, hard thunk, and the van slowed to only 15mph no matter how much I pressed the gas. I started uphill, and it came to a stop. Drive, reverse, and 3 revved the engine smoothly, but there was no forward response (as if in neutral). I put the van in neutral and pushed it out of the intersection and waited for a tow. The tow guy hooked up to the flatbed and started pulling the van on, but the front wheels locked completely. In order to get the van off the flatbed at the mechanic, he had to rock the bed back and forth as if shaking the van off the back.

So, loud thunk, the "go" gears act like neutral, the front wheels locked completely (back were fine). I suppose it's the transmission, but I am VERY limited in my knowledge of vehicles. I was told it could also be the universal joint.

Does it sound like transmission to you folks, or is the U-joint a reasonable guess? What is the cost (ballpark) to fix either of these issues?

 

It could be the shift linkage or the solenoid pack.

When was the last time you changed the transmission fluid?

 

Kingsley - it could be a lot of things, but U-joints are not on the list! You have CV (constant velocity) joints in the drive axles; even if you have an AWD model.
Sounds more like the spider gears or main shaft pin in the differential since the wheels are locked. Keep us updated.