Took the Caravan for an inspection about 3 days ago. Got home, parked it in driveway and haven't touched it since. Sat for 2 days, no problems. Its been extremely cold the past 2 days and snowed the day before yesterday. Have not started the van since coming home from the inspection.

Things are thawing out around here. Today the temperature hit 47 deg for the first time after being in the teens and twenties for the past few days. I was shoveling snow in my driveway the other day and the van was fine. Come out today, about 47 deg and there is transmission fluid all over the ground. Look under van and it is dripping. Open hood, take out trans dip stick and can see trans fluid almost 3/4 of the way up the fill tube.

Is this because of the thaw? Should I be overly concerned? Had a trans service done on the van by the dealership about 5 mouths ago and seemed fine. Though I might have checked the level back then but can't remember. Anyways, without getting A$$ raped at a shop what can I do to make sure things are O.K.?

 

Occams razor applies here. Take it back

 

By "inspection", do you mean a state safety inspection, or something else where anyone might have added fluid? First thing you need to do is check the level and fluid quality. Follow the owners manual instructions for doing the cold check. Also wipe away all fluid you can see, both on top and underneath. If the level is within the cold marks and the fluid doesn't smell burnt, drive it for 1/2 hour or so, but staying close to home. Get out and check frequently that everything is still ok. If at any point during this testing you see fluid drip, head for home and find out if the fluid is coming from the fill tube, or somewhere else underneath.

 

Yes, state safety inspection. I fluid level seems lower today then it was yesterday. Still a bit higher then the high mark. I started the van and switch from rev to park to drive a couple times and it went down but still a bit high. I'm going to drive it like you recommended and see where it settles out. Had been driving it fine for weeks and weeks, all of a sudden we get snow and now the thing was overflowing out the fill tube. Very strange.

 

For sure. Trannys don't overfill themselves, so something is going on with yours. And the temps that you mentioned wouldn't even come close to affecting tranny fluid. This is a real reach, but is there anyone you can think of who might want to get back at you by putting something into the fluid? Or mayby some kid looking to have some "fun"? I can't imagine any possible way to get what you've described except for something being poured down the tube (and maybe also spilled in the process). Does the fluid on the stick look red/pink, and stink like tranny fluid? In any case, being above the cold max line now isn't good, and it should really be pulled out to at least be at or below max. When you drive it, be very alert for anything that doesn't sound or feel right.