I had this 2000 Caravan given to me from the original owner and plan to give it to a young couple I work with if I can get it fixed. It is a base model with a 3 speed transmission that is stamped 100 S.

The trans was rebuilt in 2011 and the van now has 267000 miles. Pulls great, shift fine until it gets warm. Then I have to release the gas pedal (or shift into neutral, then shift back into drive) for it to shift into 3rd gear.

I have removed the pan and filter to change the filter and fluid. The fluid smelled a little burnt and was dark. No shavings around the magnet in the pan.

Another problem (at any temperature) is when I come to a stop, it feels like driving a manual shift and just before the engine dies, the clutch is pulled in and the engine returns to idle speed. I have read that the lockout solenoid is the usual suspect it this case.

Any help woud be appreciated.

Randel

 

I went to the junk yard and found a totaled Caravan and decided to open the transmission. The fluid was nice and red so I decided to take the lock out solenoid. I noticed that the valve body did not have a Cooler Bypass Valve and Seal, but mine does. When I took the solenoid off the junk, it had 3 springs. Mine had only 2. Is 2 or 3 the right number of springs? Maybe when it was rebuilt the shop left out a spring?

 

Check to make sure the kickdown rod from the throttle body is working smoothly. If the rod is binding it will cause it not to shift properly.

 

Thanks Smoke for the reply. The linkage is spot on.

 

It was the trans lockout solenoid. Fixed both problems and now shifts like a champ and the converter releases when coming to a stop. I did a resistance test on both solenoids and they ohmed out the same. The connector did feel like it was not pushed down on the solenoid. Since I had it torn down, I went ahead and replaced the solenoid just in case. Also replac the female connector with one from the yard that was tight. On a side note, there were only 2 springs behind the solenoid assembly. Not sure where the other spring came from. The next time I tear into a 3 speed, I will make a YouTube video because there was nothing for a 31TH.

 

Good to hear you got it fixed.