My Caravan (85,000 miles/18mpg) transmissions shudders under light acceleration between 30-40 mph. If I accelerate harder, the shudder stops.

I've had the fluid flushed with ATF+4 because of the shudder, and is full. It was serviced at regular intervals.

My transmission shop has looked at it twice, and cannot identify a problem using their instruments and experience. They can only suggest a transmission oil change (flush done elsewhere) or some additives. It is pointless to do the first, and I'm suspicious about the second.

Is this just an awful design flaw, or am I heading towards a failure/rebuild?

 

Do you have the 41te 4 speed transmission? PCM may need a reflash or relearn. Were the CVI values in spec? If yes then I would suspect something related to the torque converter.

Here's one related TSB: http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/do...cc_shudder.pdf

 

The transmission shop could not find a problem, and cleared the PCM. They checked the CVI specs, that showed very little wear.

They gave me a free additive, Lubegard that they thought may help. Could it be an engine problem?

 

Its most likely a torque converter shudder. You maybe feeling the shudder after transmission goes into lock up. The fix is a torque converter and front pump. Does it feel like you are driving a steel grade?

 

I thought that it was the torque converter, but the transmission shop says that it isn't as the shudder occurs at a lower speed before the torque converter goes into lockup.

I'm not sure what it meant by steel grade, but it does feel like I'm driving over a rippled road some of the time between 30-40 mph. When it reaches "lock up" speed I don't experience any shudder issues.

Is the cost of a new/rebuilt front pump/torque converter actually a rebuilt transmission? I suspect it is, as the labor costs of getting to it and installing the parts are probably the same, as just swapping it for a rebuilt one?

Thanks for your help.

 

Yes the steel grade would be the same type of feeling. And these transmissions will go into lock up in any forward gears. Yes even 1st. Best thing to do is hook up a scanner and go on a road test and watch the scanner when the transmission goes into PTCC to TCC lock ups.

 

I didn't know that it had a lock in each gear. Thank you.

What's the expected cost of a torque converter and pump repair versus a rebuilt transmission?

 

The cost will different from shop to shop. Unless you are doing the labor.

 

NO, the job will be done at a shop. What do you expect the dollar cost of installing a rebuilt transmission, versus the shop installing another, or repairing the pump and converter.

I'm looking for numbers, as the problem is getting worse and I need to budget a repair or replace. Thanks.

 

It could be from 2500.00 to 3500.00 dollars. Thats just a guess.