Has anyone experienced a whine from the transmission in the new Caravans? I have a 2014 RT model that exhibits a slight whirring sound when it downshifts between 10 and 15 mph. The van has about 5000 miles on it now. It started making the noise around the 1500 mile mark. I have not had it back to the dealer yet. My previous van, a 2011 Crew with the same drive train did not make this noise. Any ideas about what might be going on?

 

I have a 2012 with 60K mi. I do not have a whine. I do however have a loud clunk when it down shifts in traffic. Take it to the dealer and post back your results.

 

Remove the input sensor and inspect for metal on the sensor, If it does the bearings on the underdrive compounder. But that's a guess.

2nd post. Remove the front tires and re-torque the drive axle nuts at 165 foot pounds.

 

Thanks for the advice. I went to do this as I needed to rotate my tires anyway. I don't have a socket that large. Do you happen to know what size that is?

 

The socket is 1 1/4 in size and use 1/2 inch drive.

 

Thank you. I appreciate the help. I'll pick up the socket and post back with in a couple of weeks.

 

A 32mm socket will also work.

George

 

master tech,

I've seen the torque for the axle nut listed as 118ft-lbs in three separate documents, are they all incorrect, or did Chrysler change the torque spec, or are you just suggesting over-torquing the nut to correct the problem?

When I replaced the wheel bearings on my 2009, I torqued the nuts to 118ft-lbs, should I re-torque them to 165ft-lbs?

George

 

We have a 14 and it has a noticeable whine in more than 1 gear and it is most noticeable between 50 and 60 mph. Been debating whether to have it looked at or live with it and hope eventually it will go away , we have about 7500 miles on it.

 

Have not had a chance to take it back to the dealer. Whine started about 1500 miles and continues at 5800 miles. It does not whine at highway speed but when slowing down. Sounds a lot like an old fashioned gear whine from a manual transmission. It probably starts about 25 mph. It does not happen on acceleration. I do not think that it is going to go away on its own.