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I'm not sure which issues you are referring to. Starting in 2001 Chrysler revised the transmission a bit and started sending them out the door with external transmission oil coolers (the Gen 3s relied upon an oil cooler in the radiator only), and a lifetime fill of the new fully synthetic ATF+4 transmission fluid. Since the Gen 4s debuted I've heard of a few sporadic transmission failures, but nothing like the older generations.
Like I said before, the unit in our 3.8 liter 2003 DGC ES has 95,000 mile on it and still runs as well as the day it came from the factory. That said, the transmission in our 1998 3.8 liter DGC Sport managed to go 108,999 miles with just regular fluid and filter changes and never had a hiccup. At 109,000 it literally gernaded going down a freeway ramp and managed to limp another fifteen feet before it fully croaked in the middle of an intersection. The good news here is that the new factory reman transmission in that van is built to the 2000 model year spec which also uses ATF+4 fluid, and I have little doubt that the van will see the quarter of a million mile mark without any further transmission problems. Only 101,000 miles to go. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
Maybe it's because I've been a victim but it seems a lot more common than just "a few sporadic transmission failures" in my opinion. From what I have read here and other places, the 3.3 engine/tranny combo doesn't seem to have the same frequency of problems as the 3.8 but I don't have any statistics to prove or disprove that so do your own research.
I personally have had an SWB 3.3 van and really really liked it. It has plenty of power for the SWB and seems to get much better MPG than the 3.8 I have now. I would not hesitate to purchase another Chrysler/Dodge new right now (In fact I just purchased a PT CRUISER this week ) because of the unlimited warranty they are including. Plus now is a good time to get a 07 van since the new body just came out. Although I personally like the current body better. I think Chrysler/Dodge is going to over board with the "boxy" look IMO :surprise:
Good point. I'd forgotten about the lifetime warranty for the original owner. If I was in the market for a new van (I'm not as I'm betting that we have an easy quarter of a million combined mile left in our two current vans), I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 2007 model, even if the transmissions were found to be totally flaky. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
Time will tell, so no sense in me going too far off topic. My apologies - that post was one of those "snicker responses." I need to check my impulse regulator.
Two weeks ago I got water in my gas tank at a station out of town, and just after leaving the station the van died.
A mechanic there drained the tank and cleared the code.
The engine warning light came right back on and the van has been misfiring or shakey. Took it to my 5 Star dealer, who said the codes show I need a new transmission due to failing torque converter ($3800 cost/van is valued at about $5500).
Took the car to my local mechanic who said 8 codes showed up, and thought the computer might be sending codes in error because of the bad gas. The mechanic cleared the codes.
Engine light came back on with TCC malfunction code and 2 Trans Controller codes. Mechanic drained transmission, put lube stuff in, said there were no metal shavings or signs of transmissions troubles.
Engine light came back on and my van loses power, even over 40 or 50MPH. Still shakey, misfiring like it's going to die, but doesn't.
I thought I knew when a Chrysler transmission was going bad, as this is my thrid Chrysler mini van, and would be my fourth transmission replaced if I do this one. But this isn't behaving like the other three at all when they started failing.
Could it be a computer problem? Any ideas or anyone else with this problem?
As for your misfiring problem, it seems the be ignition, fuel or engine related, however, what the exact problem is I cannot say without a closer look. Regarding the water that you got in your fuel; how do you know you got water and not something else? I ask because your symptoms seem to mimic a problem an acquaintance of mine had when he got Diesel fuel. In his case he ultimately needed a new engine as the Diesel fuel literally ruined his engine.
Best Regards,
Shipo
The out of town mechanic was sure it was water in the tank, he said he could see it floating on top of the gas.
I'm pretty intimate with the symptoms of Chrysler Mini Vans since I've owned three.
My instinct tells me it is an engine problem, too. My husband seems to think it's a computer problem, but he's definitely not a mechanic either.
The local mechanic, who has actually always been really good with our cars, says if it continues to act up it may eventually need a transmission. But the misfiring and shaking was going on before he ever did anything to the trans.
Could you suggest how I should get this diagnosed? The 5 Star dealer will just want to put a new transmission in it.
I may just trade it in, but I really want the time to look around. I'm afraid it might be like one of my other vans, which by the time I decided to put a second trans in it, on the way to the dealer, the trans and the engine blew, and the car was then worthless.
Thanks again for your reply.
"The out of town mechanic was sure it was water in the tank, he said he could see it floating on top of the gas."
There's a mechanic that should lose his license immediately and with no appeal possible for a statement like that.
Fact (and that mechanic should know this), water weighs MORE than gasoline. Specifically, water weighs roughly eight pounds per gallon, diesel fuel weighs roughly seven pounds per gallon and gasoline weighs roughly six pounds per gallon. Said another way, water CANNOT float on top of gas.
Regarding diagnosis, it sounds like you need to have the fuel system flushed, and if that fails, have the combustion chambers bore scoped to see if there is any piston, cylinder wall or valve face and seat damage. If those two fail to yield any results, it's time to check the ignition timing and ignition system.
Best Regards,
Shipo
I'll share this info with my local mechanic. My local guy did ask me before putting the lube stuff in there, and he did tell me what it actually was, he said there was only one kind that could be used, but I forgot the name. So I guess I'm at fault for saying yes without researching it first.
So what kind of product would float on top of gas?
Thanks again,
BusyLo
Sorry I can't be of more help, keep us posted on what your local mechanic says.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Did you notify the fueling station of this problem?
We've notified the fueling station several times, but they will not respond. My attorney is sending them a demand letter, but she says it probably won't mean much to the station.
I left a message today with my state's regulatory complaint line for bad fuel.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again for all your help,
BusyLo
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
Dealer says trani has to come out for futher diaganosis
Anybody have thoughts? Just want to make sure it is mechanical failure before I change out trani
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
I had my 2005 T&C in the shop to fix an alignmnet issue. After leaving the shop, we noticed that whenever shifting, the engine got really loud. It was fine before and after the shift - it only gets loud during the shift. The dealership at first said it was nothing. Then at my insistence, they took it back and said a belt needed tightening. This still did not fix the problem and I need to take back some knowledge so that I can point the clueless dealership in the right direction. Anybody got any ideas?
At this point I have heard that there are two basic "fixes" for the harder shifting 2007s:
1) Wait as the clutches "bed-in", a process that can take as much as 10,000 miles. Some folks have reported that the new clutches are MUCH more robust than the old ones and take just that much longer before they've hit their stride.
2) On more than one occasion I've "heard" of folks having their transmissions "reflashed" with new firmware that solves the problem. Unfortunately getting this reflash seems to be a hit and miss prospect as many other folks have reported that their dealership knows of no such firmware update.
Keep us posted.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Shipo, you seem to be here a lot helping with problems, R U a DC tech?
I believe that they are the same basic design, however, the ones used on the larger engined minivans are much more robust.
"Shipo, you seem to be here a lot helping with problems, R U a DC tech?"
Nah, I'm just your basic run of the mill gear head who happens to currently own both a Gen 3 1998 DGC Sport 3.8 as well as a Gen 4 2003 DGC ES 3.8. :P
Best Regards,
Shipo
Nope, I've been checking and even posted a few queries on other boards and so far at least no one has responded.
I'd keep leaning on your dealership for help, or failing that, try another dealership.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Best Regards,
Shipo
:shades: