Caravan Transmission Options

Hello... I currently own a 96' Caravan Sport and am looking to upgrade to a
Grand Caravan or Grand Voyager. I have read a ton about issues with
Chrysler trasmission problems... specifically the 41TE, formerly known as
the A604 ultramatic. I have heard however, that the three speed
transmission offered in the Chrysler line of vehicles is actually a
Mitsubishi make and is alot more reliable. Does anyone have any input on
this?? Is that faulty information? Any input is very appreciative.

Jeremiah

 

Looks as if you'd better take a break from reading for awhile, you've got
your information all crossed up. First off, the A604 was the "UltraDrive",
not the "Ultramatic". Secondly, all of the transmissions are
Chrysler-built, none is Mitsubishi-built. The 3.0 litre V6 *ENGINE* is a
Mitsubishi-built unit. The (Chrysler-built) 3-speed automatic, which may
or may not still be available in vans with smaller engines but is NOT
available in any Grand minivan, has a better reliability record than the
4-speed overdrive unit.

DS

 

The A413 3-speed hydro-mechanical trans is a Chrysler make, and is very
reliable. Unfortunately, I don't think it was offered with anything other
than the 3.0L Mitsubishi engine, which is a bad choice for a Grand (if even
available.) In a short wheelbase van ('92-'95 is what I'm familiar with)
the 3.0L/3 speed is adequate, but the engine is prone to top-end problems,
e.g. cylinder head gasket leaks, etc.

--Geoff

 

Lots of input mostly poor. 41TE is a good unit now, (actually was probably
never as bad as it's rep but that's another story). There were 2 engines
offered in the vans made by mitsu the smaller a 4 banger was an awful
contrivance. Total rube goldberg. IMO the 3.0 V6 wasn't a whole lot better.
Had more trouble personally with the 3 spd transmissions also. Your present
vehicle has the 41TE and probably a 3.3. This or the 3.8 best engines I"ve
ever had and the transmissions should be fine IF you take care of them
properly.
Larry

 

| Lots of input mostly poor. 41TE is a good unit now, (actually was probably
| never as bad as it's rep but that's another story). There were 2 engines
| offered in the vans made by mitsu the smaller a 4 banger was an awful
| contrivance. Total rube goldberg. IMO the 3.0 V6 wasn't a whole lot
better.
| Had more trouble personally with the 3 spd transmissions also. Your
present
| vehicle has the 41TE and probably a 3.3. This or the 3.8 best engines I"ve
| ever had and the transmissions should be fine IF you take care of them
| properly.
| Larry

I've a spanking new GC with the OD transmission and 3.8L engine. What is
the recommended steps to take care of them properly?

 

Follow the severe service schedule, use ONLY Mopar +4 fluid in the trans,
oil & filt with recomended viscosity and quality filter at 3 mo or 3k
intervals (whichever comes first), you'll have a very nice runner for many
many miles.
Larry

 

In the first place, the 3-speed is NOT a Mitsubishi, its a Chrysler and
is heavily based on the old rear-drive A-904. Yes, its reliable. In the
second place, the biggest PROBLEM with the 3-speed is that it was
usually only available behind the Mitsubishi 3.0 v6, which (being a
Mitsubishi) was a pile of oil burning junk. If you get a 3-speed behind
a Chrysler 2.5L 4-cylinder, then you have a very reliable (albeit
underpowered) van.

 

-Follow the "Severe Service" fluid and filter change schedule no matter
how you use the van
-Use ONLY ATF+4 fluid, never anything else with "an additive" to "make
it the same as ATF+4" because that is impossible
-If you don't have a transmission cooler, install one

 

That makes one of you.

DS

 

"jdoe"

| Follow the severe service schedule, use ONLY Mopar +4 fluid in the trans,
| oil & filt with recomended viscosity and quality filter at 3 mo or 3k
| intervals (whichever comes first), you'll have a very nice runner for many
| many miles.
| Larry
|

Change transmission fluid and filter every 3K or 3 months? That makes sense
for the engine oil but the transmission?

 

Drive it reasonably, and change the fluid and filter every 30,000 or so.
And don't tow a horse trailer with it.


Matt

 

On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 23:55:41 GMT, "Matthew S. Whiting"

....

Follow the severe service schedule. Hopefully you chose the trailer
tow pkg. If not, add a cooler.

 

Thanks for all the info... that is why I asked!

 

"Tom Ruta"
| ...
| >> I've a spanking new GC with the OD transmission and 3.8L engine. What
is
| >> the recommended steps to take care of them properly?
| >
| >Drive it reasonably, and change the fluid and filter every 30,000 or so.
| > And don't tow a horse trailer with it.
|
| Follow the severe service schedule. Hopefully you chose the trailer
| tow pkg. If not, add a cooler.

Thanks

trailer package was not available but the cooler is a standard up grade in
our family has been for more years than I can remember.

Is there a better choice on the make/model/type of cooler I should
investigate?

 

Engine Oil every 3 months.

Trans Fluid Flush EVERY YEAR - NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

There was lots of old info posted by a lot of the posters.

Assuming that you are talking about getting a new Caravan, the 3 speed
transmission is no longer available. I'm talking about in the U.S.A.

Until the model year 2002 it was available only in the short wheelbase
Caravan with the 2.4 liter 4 cylinder engine. I've got a 2002 4 cyl, 3
speed Caravan built in Auguest of 2002 - an early production 2002
model. Ones that I've seen built after January 2002 all had the 4
speed transmission and it was/is no longer listed as available in the
Dodge catalogs.

Approximately mid year during the 2002 production, they dropped the 3
speed transmission and all further production used the 4 speed
overdrive transmissions regardless of engine.

Doug

 

What if you drive 10,000 miles every 3 months? Mileage is more
important than time for oil, unless you drive so little that your oil
changes would stretch beyond 6 months or so.

Again, mileage is almost always more important than time in this case.


Matt