1993 Grand Caravan
3.3 Liter Bought it with 153,000Km found out later it had 304,000Km on it when it was sold 6 or 7 months before we bought it now has 234,000Km according to the odometer.
Was out today drove it about 20 some odd miles when I went off the highway onto a side road and when I stepped on it to pick up speed it went into never never land, dropped it into 3rd then 1rst and still nothing then back into D and then a few seconds later it went into limp mode. Works great in 2nd in limp mode if I leave it sit not running for about 5 minutes it will go into drive and will seem to be fine for about 300 - 500 feet, it will start in first then shift to 2nd and before it can get to a 3rd shift point it goes into never never land and then after a few seconds into limp mode.
So does this sound like it needs a fluid and filter change to cure it or could I be looking at some major trouble?
It runs fine otherwise even with close to or just over 400,000Km on it.
Get it scanned. Scantools that can read the transmission fault codes are now very cheap on Ebay - you do need to know what to buy - but I don't think your going to wait a couple weeks with the van not working in order to get one of these. See my post titled "sick
Yes I just found part of that thread and was reading it last night, I am off to a place now that will read it for me, in second gear about an hours drive I think. If you know what they are worth or have a link to what I should look at could you email me off list unless you want everyone to know what should be used.
Ask your tranny guy if he has the tool (Miller CH 5500 flash kit) to do a firmware update on your transmission computer, if he does not, before you have him work on it, drive over to a Chrysler dealership and have them do it. Some trans places will just send your trans computer out to a so-called "refurbisher" for exchange, presumably the refurbisher supplies a replacement computer that is at current firmware rev. My feeling is that if you have a good computer in the vehicle don't pull it out and replace it, instead firmware update it.
This won't fix your current problem but it will prevent the computer from burning up the new transmission. Chrysler put out TSB on this, TSB 18-24-95 that lists the 1993 41TE trans computer has having a problem with harsh 3-4 upshifts. There are also a host of other changes in the firmware from that era. Who knows you might even get the update done for free if you give them a sob story and it's a slow day for them. Depending on the part number of your computer the dealership may have to disconnect a wire going to it after the update.
The scan tool that I have is an OTC Monitor 4000E with the Chrysler CCD adapter. A pic of this is on ebay auction #4559341326 (that particular auction does not have the CCD cable in it) Another pic is auction 4560265956 which does appear to have the CCD cable in it (it's the black rectangular thing in the center) but the seller has deliberately taken the photo so as to blur the writing on the adapter, so you would have to confirm. Actually for you the 4560265956 might be perfect since it appears to only have a 1993 software cartridge with it, and you won't have much bidding competition since most people would want to get a unit that worked through
1995 (since 1995 was the last year for OBD-1)
For the 4000E you need both the Chrysler engine adapter (ebay auction 4560481474) to talk to the engine computer, and the CCD adapter to talk to the transmission.
There is a newer tool called the OTC Monitor 4000 Enhanced. The
4000E and 4000 Enhanced are different. A pic of the 4000 Enhanced is on auction 7984900492 Obviously the 4000 Enhanced would be the preferred tool. I bought my 4000E a couple years ago and have spent probably close to $400 on it and all the cabling and cartridges so far for it. Today I would probably go for a 4000 Enhanced.
The 4000 Enhanced was not as common as the 4000E and there are fewer on the used market, and they are more expensive.
What you want to look for on EBay is one of these that is as close to a complete set as possible. Many times mechanics that get rid of these sell the whole thing to some scavenger who parts it out, then you get a dozen auctions on Ebay for each little cable and connector. Don't buy any of that until after you get your kit. For example a complete set would be on auction 4392148109. (at least the seller claims it is complete)
OTC still will sell you manuals for these if you call them and give them a credit card # so don't pay a huge amount extra for manuals.
Also don't pay extra for a printer. OTC sold a printer that plugged into the cigarette lighter and printed on adding machine tape. After a long time waiting I finally found a printer cable on EBay (no printer) and I plug it into my laptop with a 9-25 pin adapter and print to Hyperterminal under Windows.
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