1999 Chrysler T&C tranny question

Hi, I recently brought my 1999 Chrysler T&C AWD minivan (120K miles) in to
the dealer for routine servicing. When the mechanic dropped the tranny pan,
he found a lot of metal at the pan magnet, which appears to be the remains
of a failed (possibly skinny radial) bearing. No burned fluid tho. He is
recommending a ($2000) rebuild, depite the fact that the transmission drives
and works flawlessly. For now, I just had him do the other work, replace the
fluid, and drove the van home. 200 miles later, it still runs and drives
perfectly, no odd noises, no shifting problems. Is this something I can just
let go for a while? Any idea which bearing it might be? What would be the
symptoms of pending doom? Thanks!

 

All tranneys and engines eventually will wear out and need to be rebuilt.

When yours does it's going to cost $2000 whether the tranny just failed
due to normal wear, or if the tranny blew up because a bearing in it died,
or because the tranny was still running and you just got it rebuilt as a
preventative maintainence measure.

If this is 120K original miles on that tranny and it's never been rebuilt,
then
while I wouldn't recommend you drive it across country on a1 month scenic
vacation, I wouldn't recommend anyone with any tranny with 120K original
miles to do this. If your plans for the future don't include doing this,
then
I don't see why you can't just keep driving it until it eventually does
fail.

Ted

 

Just so you know, there is a VERY reputable shop in my local area that
rebuilds these for $1495 CDN$ plus tax. That includes the re & re, AND
a fill with ATF+4, and a 1 year warranty which precious few have EVER
needed!

IMHO, $2000 is toooo much (although probably not bad for a dealer is
they do the rebuild).

 

The rebuild will cost the same, possibly adjusted for inflation, now
or later. Why not later.

Mine (same vehicle, no AWD) has 136K and is starting to clunk a bit
going to second range on a power dowshift, that is a downshift under
accelerating load. Does it occaisonally. Smooth as glass upshifting
from a stop. I'll take it in to see if it is something simple, but
if not I will continue to drive it until it goes and consider myself
lucky this is the first transmission related event on this vehicle.

Frank

 

Transmission mount.

 

a rebuild in a trans can mean a soft rebuild as it is referred to with just
orings and gaskets getting replaced (soft parts) along with a reman torq.
converter were a 2000.00 hard rebuild can mean you have broken metal parts in
there like the low reverse drum broke or cracked and the final drive that is a
common hard part failure sometimes coming thru the case

 

The $1495 CDN$ rebuild includes a remanufactured torque converter at
this shop.