Shifting a604 from Third to First

I'm going to take a trip which will require pulling a trailer behind
my 92 Voyager w/ 3.3. I may have to travel down and up some steep
hills and my question is: If I'm in 3rd and travelling between 30 and
35 MPH, can I manually move the shift selector from 3rd down to 1st
without damaging these sensitive 4 speed trannies??

Thanks for any and all help!

 

I did it all of the time on my 96 GV. My transmission wasn't sensitive
at all and worked fine right up until my van was totaled last week with
178,500 miles on it. I've heard the early trannies were a little less
robust so I can't say that my experience with a 96 translate directly to
your 92, but I'd read the owner's manual and if it says to downshift
when descending a steep hill, then I'd do it and not lose any sleep over
it. You do have your transmission fluid and filter changed every
30-50,000 miles, right???


Matt

 

There is no "1st" position on the quadrant of a vehicle with A604 or
derivative and without Autostick. The position to the right of "3" is "L",
and it simply locks out 4th and delays the upshift speeds between 1 and 2
and 2 and 3. If you shift to "L" while in motion, the transmission will
downshift into the lowest gear it is programmed to consider safe at
whatever speed you're travelling. That may be 1, 2 or 3.

GET A TRANSMISSION COOLER and change to ATF+4.

DS

 

You betcha. I do it religiously. Thanks, Matt. Sorry about your van.

 

Got a stock tranny cooler and using ATF-3

 

Not good enough for HD towing service.

Change to +4

 

This is the cooler that came from Chrysler. You say it's not good
enough? What would you recommend?

Also, every reference I've seen (including this group) says to use
ATF-3. It's a 92 Voyager.

 

Yes, I understood that. You are proposing to tow heavy loads with a weak
transmission design. If you wish your transmission to stay in one piece,
you will need to keep the fluid as cool as possible, and the factory
cooler won't get the job done. There are several reputable makers of
aftermarket transmission fluid coolers. Hayden comes to mind, but they're
not the only one out there.

ATF+4 is much improved in every aspect including those that lubricate and
protect the transmission.

 

There's tons of aftermarket and even factory Mopar auxilliary transmission
coolers in wrecking yards. In fact if you really wanted to go whole hog
you might be able to use an old air conditioning condensor. Just make
sure that any used cooler you get is flushed out with mineral spirits
followed
by compressed air. Also make sure it's plumbed in downstream from the
factory cooler.

Ted