I was driving a lot this weekend and suddenly I sped up but then after that the transmission wouldn't downshift to drive or overdrive. It went into limp mode and every time I stopped I had to restart the van to get it to downshift again. Annoying way to get home from 2 hours away.
The CES checklight came on so I pulled the codes. All I can get is code 55, which I think is end of codes. I went and reset the battery to see if that will help, haven't used the car since, as I am here to post to see what's up.
I've done some searching and saw that it could be that solenoid attached to the transmission that everyone's talking about. Does this sound like my woes? The car will shift fine after a restart until i slow to a stop then this happens again.. so i'm tempted to rule out any expensive mechanical failure to the tranny. Any info would help, and thank you.
vsaltv
07-25-2005, 08:26 AM
Well after reconnecting the battery this morning, the car went back into limp mode about a minute after I started driving, it only does when it is in gear and i move towards a stop. The gears at that point don't switch properly and this happens. I thought it would work for a while with reattached battery + engine / trans fluid cold but nope. Do you think that this could still be the solenoid module? Thanks.
gas28man
07-25-2005, 11:06 AM
Sounds like a solenoid pack problem to me. There isn't much else it could be.
Rick
vsaltv
07-25-2005, 11:48 AM
Thanks for the reply gas28man, right now it's currently in the hands of a local cottman shop, and the guy said that 99% it's just something small like the solenoid pack. I'll let everyone know how I make out.
vsaltv
07-25-2005, 02:28 PM
Here's an update. The car's currently at the shop and they called me 2 times. One was to say that they found the problem to be 2 failing speed sensors and he can replace them both for $295. The next time he called he told me that they found a lot of metal filings and very bad transmission fluid, and that this is a sign of the whole transmission ready to fail. He did say that just the $295 repair should get another year or so on the current transmission.
I instructed him to do the original work, and I guess I will have to trade the car in or something within the next year, because to me it's not worth the costs to redo the whole thing.
Does anyone have any thoughts or insight on the situation? Did I do the right thing by not having him rebuild it at this time?
gas28man
07-25-2005, 05:56 PM
Absolutely, you did the right thing.
That metal-filings story is a load of horse-hooey they're selling you to try to get a rebuild out of you. Let them do the sensors, and then go to the nearest quick oil-change place and get a transmission flush and fill. This should cost you in the neighborhood of $80 to $100, and take about 20 minutes of your time. Make sure they use ATF+3 or ATF+4 fluid, and do NOT let them tell you Dexron is just fine, or that any additives will do the job.
You are supposed to do this with this vehicle every 50,000 miles or less. Don't cut corners on it, and your tranny will last the life of the vehicle. Mine lasted to 198,000, and only went bad then because a mechanic put in Dexron. I'm up to 295,000 now on my 96 T & C with the 3.8 L.
Rick
esdragon
08-20-2005, 04:43 PM
so did the sensors work?
vsaltv
08-21-2005, 10:16 AM
Yes, the car has been running ok since then. No trans problems so far knock on wood.
