93 Grand Caravan/Voyger transmissons

[JTCHess]

I have a 93 Grand Caravan and a 93 Grand Voyger. The Dodge has 165K miles and is on it's 4th transmission. The Voyger has 58k miles and is on it's 3rd transmission. My question, should I go to Toyota or Honda to get the quality I deserve as Chrysler obviously sucks in this department or have they changed the transmission out to a more durable component????



John

 

[A Johnson]

I also have a 94 Grand voyager. It has had 4 trannys also. Like a fool I bought it used right after the 4th transmission was installed ( figured they had to have it right by now) I bought it at 67000 miles , I have not put a transmission in it yet and I have 103000 on it now. I think the transmission is going again as it vibrates real bad on acceleration. The only thing I have done different than the previous owner is to keep it out of overdrive unless I was in a situation where it would not shift out by itself.



I almost bought a Toyota Sienna , test drove it the works and really liked it I just couldnt swallow the 24000 dollar price tag. I did notice during the test drive that on the Toyota you have to put it in overdrive rather than lock it out like the Chrysler product.

I also notice that Honda and Toyota for the most part are at the top of the Consumer Reports OK list. For whatever thats worth to you.



I dont know if Chrysler has improved anything or not. ---- AJJ

 

[Champane Flight]

93

The kids bought a 94 Dodge caravan. It went through three trannys in three months. He finally took it in and demanded a new one or his money back. They gave in after threats of a lawyer.



He has had this one for eight years and 130000 miles with no problems. I told him to change the transmission fluid every 20000 and put a cooler on it. Don't know if that was the cure, but it has worked so far.

 

[lgibson]

The 604's that Chrys. used were a real winner. How many fires have you heard of on front wheel drive Chryslers? I hear them all the time. Most of the time it is transmission problems that caused it. I have worked on them for a lot of years. About half that came in for repairs were not even trans. related. If the engine temp. got to high, battery voltage too low, or other simular problems then it would put the transmission into limp mode, 2nd gear only. Disconnect the battery for a few minutes and all well again. You could be sitting and listening to the radio with the engine off, start the engine to drive off and your in 2nd. Also with those transmissions were you should drive with OD out. They would get hot if you didn't.



The problem with them after being rebuilt is that most rebuilders or R&R guys do not replace the input speed sensor and turbine speed sensor. When these transmissions go out, they dump a lot of metal. Both sensors are magnits and the must be replaced. Most rebuilders just clean them off. Well cleaning does not work most of the time. I have seen rebuilders replace the silonoid block, and transmission computer and it still would not work. I have seen transmissions get rebuilt because of those two sensors needed replaced.



These transmissions would work good it you keeped them serviced, and driven the correct way. The worst auto transmission ever is the ECAT used in 89 Mazda's 626 and Ford's Probe. These transmissions were the worst POS ever. They went out early and at first they were not rebuildable. There was a rubber line that made a very sharp 180 degree turn that would always leak or get kinked.