voyager 3rd gear problems

2nd gear is the "limp home" mode that the transmission computer reverts to when it is in "fail safe" mode. You need to determine why it is in that mode. Many times it is one of the speed sensors that has failed so that the computer cannot tell either the engine rotations/speed, or the drive shaft/wheel rotation/speed. If your speedometer is still working (driven by the output speed sensor), then this might indict the "input" speed sensor (there are actually two), which is a $30 part here in the US at the dealer. If it is not the speed sensor, then it could be a plugged trans filter (you do not provide mileage or maintenance history), or more likely, you may have a costly rebuild ahead of you.

Either take a chance and replace the sensor (a few minute job) or take it to a competent place to get the trans computer scanned for codes to determine the source of the problem. Good luck.

Bob

If this is a 3 speed transmission it wont have those sensors. Owner does not specify year of the vehicle or if it is a speed or 4 speed trans

Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

I think you should check the prices of used minivans in the used car lots and in the classified adverts in the paper before you spend any money on this van. You should know what the replacement cost would be since these symptoms usually indicate fairly expensive repairs and it is likely it would be cheaper to buy a replacement vehicle and sell yours to a breaking yard.

In any case the first thing is you said your loosing coolant, well coolant doesen't just disappear it is going somewhere. Is it pouring out on to the street? If not, and if the coolant level is going down, then the coolant is either going into the oil pan and contaminating the oil or it is going out the exhaust pipe.

Usually overheating in conjunction with coolant loss, and no visible leaks under the hood or under the engine, means the head gasket is blown and your coolant is going into the combustion chambers. It also means exhaust is going into the coolant which creates air pockets which kill your coolant flow. You also can easily have coolant going into the oil, where it will destroy your rod and main bearings.

This, in conjunction with a transmission rebuild, is almost certainly going to cost more than a really nice used minivan.

Ted

hi all the mileage is just under 130,000 the transmission fluid was changed recently and the car was manufactured in 1997 the car service history is not present with the car but was running perfectly before the gear problems and as for the coolant the steam from the radiator is coming out of the filler cap and also losing some from underneath the car hope this helps the engine still runs as good as when i briught it thanks tim

I'm pretty sure the 97 with 3.3L had the electronic transmission so the advice from another poster regarding the input speed sensor is on target - if replacing that sensor doesen't fix it, the transmission likely needs to be rebuilt. In the US it's about a $1,500.00 USD bill. Have the local Chrysler dealership scan the transmission with their scantool just to make sure that the transmission computer is OK and to make sure it's not some other easily fixed sensor, then take the output of that to a transmission rebuilder who you trust.

More info here:

For positive confirmation it is a 41TE, what is the shift pattern on the gear selector?

OK, so your radiator cap is bad, replace it.

Well, this is better than a head gasket leak, but you definitely do NOT want to run the car until you get this fixed. Coolant leaks can sometimes be hard to find. Your going to have to jack up the van and get underneath it and spend a long time looking. Check all of the hoses carefully for cracks, and check the radiator for a split seam. Sometimes you have to fill the radiator up with water and run the engine until the leak starts flowing to find the leak.

The 3.3L was a solid engine which usually would give

200+ thousand miles if taken care of. But a cooling system leak is nothing to fool with, and if left uncorrected it will destroy even the best engine design out there.

Ted

hi the shift pattern is P,R,N,D,3,L ill get the sensor checked then let you know thanks tim

From the shifter pattern, you have the electronic 4-speed transmission. Either get the computer scanned to learn the root cause and make a determination on the next step, or if you are feeling lucky, simply replace the input speed sensor (assuming your speedometer is still working) yourself and save the diagnostic fee. This is the sensor that tells the transmission computer the engine's RPM. The computer uses this together with the vehicle speed (output speed sensor) to determine the proper gear to use. Without one or the other inputs, it reverts to the fail safe second gear.

Bob

hi the shift pattern is P,R,N,D,3,L ill get the sensor checked then let you know thanks tim

hi mate ive just looked under the car and there is a leak so ill look into getting the hoses checked and the system tested

As a thought, if your van has the rear heat and/or A/C the metal heater coolant lines tend to rust through and leak.