1998 Grand Caravan

On Mon, 13 Mar 2006, Olaf wrote:

> I'll have to try that. :-) Although none of the CV I've driven have had
> a 3 position. Must be on the new ones? Mine all had and have P R N OD D
> L, IIRC

Go out and look, and you'll probably find you're misremembering. With a
4-speed automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 3 L. With a 3-speed
automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 2 1.

GM does it differently with a 4-speed: "P R N [D] D 3 2 1", while Ford
usually gives you "P R N (D) 3 1".

On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 16:52:47 -0500, "Daniel J. Stern"
> wrote:

>Go out and look, and you'll probably find you're misremembering. With a
>4-speed automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 3 L. With a 3-speed
>automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 2 1.

For the benefit of those who are new here and/or haven't been
following the various Caravan transmission discussions, which of those
two transmissions tends to have the most maintenance problems, in the
early-to-mid 90's Grand Caravans?

My wife drives a 1989 Caravan. Had the transmission replaced at about
95,000 the second one has about 50,000 on it. I do no maintence on this
transmission other the check the fluid. My wife also drives it harder
than I would. It is my experience that any transmission that makes it
to about 100,000 in Phx, AZ is doing about all it can. I had Ford
C-4's that only went around 75,000. Ford C-6 seem to go a lot longer.

Yes the caravan was never ment to tow anything.



NewMan wrote:
> On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 23:56:58 -0500, wrote:
>
>
>>On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 16:52:47 -0500, "Daniel J. Stern"
> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Go out and look, and you'll probably find you're misremembering. With a
>>>4-speed automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 3 L. With a 3-speed
>>>automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 2 1.
>>
>>For the benefit of those who are new here and/or haven't been
>>following the various Caravan transmission discussions, which of those
>>two transmissions tends to have the most maintenance problems, in the
>>early-to-mid 90's Grand Caravans?
>
>
> IIRC, the 3 speed tranmission is a GOOD tranmission. It has not had
> any particular problems that I recall reading about here. The only
> problem was that most vehicles were not equipped with it!
>
> The 4 speed automatic ( AKA A-604 or 41te in more recent years) is the
> one with the problems. It is also the most common trans found in the
> Caravans. Based on my experience, and what I have read here, I would
> say that earlier models (early to mid 90s) are the ones that had the
> most problems. Newer versions appear to be better, but you must be
> mindful of the high maintenence requirements compared with the older
> tranmissions. In the old days pretty much all you had to do was make
> sure the fluid was topped up, and that was about it. The tranny ran
> until it died, and that was somewhere between 150,000 and 300,000
> MILES. The A-604 is a nasty piece of work by comparision. You should
> change the fluid and filter every one to two years. It is NOT designed
> to do any particular amount of towing, and if not properly maintained
> will die at an early age.
>
> My 94 GC dropped the tranny at approximately 130,000 km, or
> approximately 81,000 miles and it did so before the van was 10 years
> old. It had to be rebuilt twice - once at charge, and once on
> "warranty" before it was rebuilt correctly. Touch wood, I am about
> 30,000 kms into the second rebuild and all seems well.
>
> Prior to owning this vechicle, I had all GMs. My old 68 nova went
> 130,000 miles before the powerglide started to have problems. The
> rebuild cost me $150, and another $150 to re & re. My old 79 malibu
> went in excess of 300,000 kms before I sold it. NEVER had a problem
> with the transmisison - ever. My 88 cutlass cruiser had almost 250,000
> kms on it when I traded it in, again NO tranmission problems of any
> kind.
>
> When you compare those numbers to the A-604, the A-604 has performed
> quite badly. It appears that DC released the design long before it was
> really ready, and has been using the general driving public as part of
> its R&D efforts at our expense. Having said that, this is water under
> the bridge. The newer incarnations of the 41te seem to be generally
> more reliable, and people are now acutely aware of the maintenence
> requirements, so things tend to last longer. Whether the reliability
> is up to snuff, only time will tell.
>
> And, despite all that, I love driving my GC. Mine has the 3.3l engine
> - the total opposite of the trans! It is a rock, but that is another
> story. (just STAY AWAY from the 3.0l engine). It is a great vehicle
> that has - touch wood - never left me stranded.
>

Ron wrote:

> My wife drives a 1989 Caravan. Had the transmission replaced at about
> 95,000 the second one has about 50,000 on it. I do no maintence on this
> transmission other the check the fluid.

Hmmm - you do no maintenance and then make broad statements about life
expectations of transmissions where you live? I don't live in Phoenix,
but I'm thinking that if you would change the fluid and filter once in a
while, you might get better service out of them. Fluid changeouts in
today's trannies are almost a must for higher mileage.


> ...My wife also drives it harder
> than I would. It is my experience that any transmission that makes it
> to about 100,000 in Phx, AZ is doing about all it can. I had Ford
> C-4's that only went around 75,000. Ford C-6 seem to go a lot longer.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')

"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
n.umich.edu...
> On Mon, 13 Mar 2006, Olaf wrote:
>
>> I'll have to try that. :-) Although none of the CV I've driven have had
>> a 3 position. Must be on the new ones? Mine all had and have P R N OD D
>> L, IIRC
>
> Go out and look, and you'll probably find you're misremembering. With a
> 4-speed automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 3 L. With a 3-speed
> automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 2 1.

I haev not checked on my '94 yet, but my 1990 grand caravan has it: P R N OD
D L.... And the tcc does disengage when the accellerator is released in D.
(But it does still provide pretty good engine braking in D.)



>
> GM does it differently with a 4-speed: "P R N [D] D 3 2 1", while Ford
> usually gives you "P R N (D) 3 1".
>
>

"Olaf" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
> n.umich.edu...
> > On Mon, 13 Mar 2006, Olaf wrote:
> >
> >> I'll have to try that. :-) Although none of the CV I've driven have
had
> >> a 3 position. Must be on the new ones? Mine all had and have P R N OD D
> >> L, IIRC
> >
> > Go out and look, and you'll probably find you're misremembering. With a
> > 4-speed automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 3 L. With a 3-speed
> > automatic, the shift quadrant reads P R N D 2 1.
>
> I haev not checked on my '94 yet, but my 1990 grand caravan has it: P R N
OD
> D L.... And the tcc does disengage when the accellerator is released in
D.

how do you know this ?

scan tool ?


> (But it does still provide pretty good engine braking in D.)
>
>
>
> >
> > GM does it differently with a 4-speed: "P R N [D] D 3 2 1", while Ford
> > usually gives you "P R N (D) 3 1".
> >
> >
>
>

Gary Glaenzer wrote:

>>D L.... And the tcc does disengage when the accellerator is released in
>
> D.
>
> how do you know this ?
>
> scan tool ?

My guess would be "tachometer." If the TCC doesn't disengage, there will
be no drop in RPM when you lift your foot off the gas. Its also obvious
that the RPM will flare high then drop down when you get BACK on the gas
as the TCC locks up shortly afterward.

"Steve" > wrote in message
...
> Gary Glaenzer wrote:
>
>>>D L.... And the tcc does disengage when the accellerator is released in
>>
>> D.
>>
>> how do you know this ?
>>
>> scan tool ?
>
> My guess would be "tachometer."

And you would be correct.

> If the TCC doesn't disengage, there will be no drop in RPM when you lift
> your foot off the gas. Its also obvious that the RPM will flare high then
> drop down when you get BACK on the gas as the TCC locks up shortly
> afterward.
>

Absolutely correct.

My guess is that the gear labels on the newer vans may not be the same as
the older ones. I believe my 1990 is the first year they came out with the
A-604 and 3.3 litter engine.

One thing my 1990 beater does that my 1994 didn't is shift to overdrive no
matter what position the accelerator is in at about 85-90 MPH (well, while
in overdrive of course). If I feel like being really mean to 'er and pushing
it to 100+ I have to put the gearshift in drive to keep 'er from shifting to
OD. (You should see the blue paint fly off then!) My 1994 will always
downshift to 3rd past 70 MPH when the gas is floored.

On Thu, 16 Mar 2006 17:14:30 -0500, "Olaf" >
wrote:

>
>"Steve" > wrote in message
...
>> Gary Glaenzer wrote:
>>
>>>>D L.... And the tcc does disengage when the accellerator is released in
>>>
>>> D.
>>>
>>> how do you know this ?
>>>
>>> scan tool ?
>>
>> My guess would be "tachometer."
>
>And you would be correct.
>
>> If the TCC doesn't disengage, there will be no drop in RPM when you lift
>> your foot off the gas. Its also obvious that the RPM will flare high then
>> drop down when you get BACK on the gas as the TCC locks up shortly
>> afterward.
>>
>
>Absolutely correct.
>
>My guess is that the gear labels on the newer vans may not be the same as
>the older ones. I believe my 1990 is the first year they came out with the
>A-604 and 3.3 litter engine.
>
>One thing my 1990 beater does that my 1994 didn't is shift to overdrive no
>matter what position the accelerator is in at about 85-90 MPH (well, while
>in overdrive of course).

My 1994 had an "O/D OFF" button on the dash.

> If I feel like being really mean to 'er and pushing
>it to 100+ I have to put the gearshift in drive to keep 'er from shifting to
>OD. (You should see the blue paint fly off then!)

My paint got scratched up by the previous owner, but in spite of that,
I have NOT had the problems that I have seen iwht other vans! Damn,
there are some around that I swear you can watch the paint peal off af
they drive in traffic! What the hell happened? Did CHrysler have sone
nasty process problem?? Any recalls for this?

> My 1994 will always
>downshift to 3rd past 70 MPH when the gas is floored.
>

NewMan wrote:

> ...Damn,
> there are some around that I swear you can watch the paint peal off af
> they drive in traffic! What the hell happened? Did CHrysler have sone
> nasty process problem?? Any recalls for this?

In fact I remember seeing a link to a site that discussed secret
warranties, and that ia in fact one of them. Anyone have that link?

There ought to be a special warranty on LH car a.c. evaporators.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')