Hello all,
I have a 1994 1 ton dodge van. for the last few years the tranny dosent grab first thing in the morning. this happens about half the time.I cant say its getting worse unless the progression is very slow. Any insight into this?
I must say Im happy to have a place like this to ask questions,give advise and bounce ideas around.Thanks
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Replies
I had a 92 Dakota (sold it to one of my subs) that does the same thing. It's done it for the last 50,000 miles. I talked about getting the trans checked several times, but it never appeared to get worse. I got a new truck and kept the Dakota as a spare for a year or so and kinda forgot about the problem. It's worse in the winter, but as soon as it warms up it never slips. The guy that bought it knew about the problem and had no concern - especially since I had to finance it to him to keep him working. I'm guessing its just a Dodge trans quirk.
Whens the last filter change? Flush?I DIDN'T DO IT...THE BUCK DOES NOT STOP HERE.
Im stupid about vehicles. Is that a transmission service ? Is it what you reccomend?
Is that a transmission service ? Is it what you reccomend?
That's what he's recommending. Never a bad idea, but I'm pretty sure you have a not-quite-right torque converter. The fluid has to be pumped up before you can go anywhere. Solution, which pretty much never happens, is to drop the tranny and replace the converter.
When whoever does change the fluid, make sure the bands are adjusted.
I've had similar symptoms for years without failure. Don't worry, be happy.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
If you've never flushed the tranny and if it has a lot of miles...be careful. Tranny's are supposed to be maintained on a regular basis usually every 30,000 miles.
If the tranny hasn't been flushed and there are a lot of miles you will probably need a new tranny shortly after flushing.
It's a Dodge anyway. <G>
"I will never surrender or retreat. " Col. Wm. B. Travis, The Alamo, Feb. 1835
Ya think the gunk is making the seal?
It does sometimes. If you don't do anything, unless you have a leak, a tranny will run a long time doing nothing to it.
It gets shavings, etc that settle to the bottom and will not be a problem for a long time. Then somebody comes a long and thinks they are gonna do ole tranny a favor and change all that old fluid and give 'em a fresh drink. That stirs up all those shavings, etc that were never flushed out over time with regular maintanence and there goes the tranny a thousand miles or so after the 'flush and fill'.
Seen it happen a lot of times.
Bottom line is if you haven't maintained the tranny and it's got 100,000 to 150,000 or so get ready to replace it. You've been lucky getting that far, esp. if you been pulling anything at all.
Just my experience and observation, could be wrong.
"I will never surrender or retreat. " Col. Wm. B. Travis, The Alamo, Feb. 1835
been through 3 dodge vans over about 10 years ,not one of them had a trans that worked absolutly right. all of them had "first thing morning it don't won't to shift" after probably 3oo-400k i have not spent a nickle on the trans, just babie it till it warms up and drive it .sometimes they do better in summer,so you only have 4 months to go!larry
Think I should have it serviced , or is that a good way to kill it as these other fellas have said.?
In a previous life, I owned taxis. Chev in particular, and after about 300,000K, they used to do exactly like you describe. Lots of fluid, but in the AM, cold, it slipped like crazy. It was the modulators, but in the cabs, it was easier and more reliable to rebuild it.
I have 320000K on my Safari van, with the original tranny. I service it 2x per year. I'm also not hard on it. For racing, I have other vehicles.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
Aaron, that's a 700R4 you've got 320,000k on?
Hmmm. I think so. 86 GMC Safari with a 4.3 litre v6.
Take it easy on the gas, let it shift properly and it'll go for a long time. Actually the tranny shop is amazed it has lasted so well. I'm a good driver.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
Likewise: I got 324,000k on my '87 G20 700R4 (the 4spd OD) before it packed it in. Fluid and filter changes every 2 years without fail but never power flushed it. Can't complain about the durability of my Chevy van...at this late stage, everyday is a bonus day!
Sounds like your tranny hasn't ever been serviced. As mentioned I'd skip the 'flush' but change the fluid/filter. All the tran fluid goes through there,just like your engine oil filter. If it's plugged up with shavings/goop less oil line pressure is making your tranny slip. Winter time makes all your fluids slow moving til they're warmed up. I'm not a mechanic and didn't sleep in a Holiday Inn Express,either.lol.I DIDN'T DO IT...THE BUCK DOES NOT STOP HERE.
Man, you two drive a LOT !!!How long did it take you to get 324,000,000 miles on that tranny ?I wonder how long it took Aaron to get his 320,000,000 miles ???;)
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow
Let's see: Mine's an '86, so timewise 18 years.
When it was our family vehicle, my wife used to getin with the kids at 8:30pm Saturday night, and by 12:00 midnight the next night, call us from Los Angeles. She did this a number of times.
Engine about 4-5 years ago. It's a good vehicle.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
Luka, my numbers are in kilometres: 324,000k is about 200,000 miles. That's over 14 years, so an average of 14,000 miles/yr. Now that I don't live in a big metro area, I'm down to maybe 5000 miles/yr. The 350cid gives me 12 miles per us gallon, loaded with tools. Ouch. The newer lower mileage V8 vans must be good for 18mpusg I'd guess.?
Edited 12/1/2004 9:17 pm ET by Pierre1
Aha !!That explains it.I was looking at the number with 'murican eyes...:)I was seeing the k as a thousand. So, it was 324 thousand... thousand.Or, 324,000,000 miles.I wonder how many times around the world that would be...
The person you offend today, may have been your best friend tomorrow
Lots of times around the world, maybe 3 or 4 times in BT. ;)
324,000,000 miles and that Chevy is broken in real sweet 'bout now. Regardless, when it comes to vans, 'merican iron rocks my world.
I'm a good driver.
You sure are if you have a 700R4 with that kind of miles and it's original.
miracle driver
"I will never surrender or retreat. " Col. Wm. B. Travis, The Alamo, Feb. 1835
what mpg you getting on the van? what year is it ?
It's an 86, Tim. Mileage depends on how I'm loaded and the like, but it's no little sipper. I work in Kilometers and Litres so its about 10 litres per 100km with ladders and tools on board.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
Wait a minute ;this is my post.
Ive only got something like 130 k on my 94 van; mostly city driving. tthanks for your advice.
OK Tim, I just filled the van.
440.6 Km = 273.172 miles
81.86 Litres = 21.29 gallons
12.83 MPG in city stop-and-go loaded.
I usually get a little highway into that, but it's been that kind of week.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
Thanks Aaron.
I thought a Safari would get around 20 and it probably would on the road not loaded. Racks and ladders pull a six cylinder down , as Ive got that situation. Ive got a four wheel drive silverado with 101,000 that gets 11mpg loaded with racks and ladders. There is a Safari on the next street for sale and Ive been thinking about adding a van.
Tim Mooney
man thats a tough question,because whatever you do if the tranny goes out later you'll think you did the wrong thing.i've been involved in the automotive field for 30 yrs and i don't have a perfect answer. i'd probably change the filter and pour in new fluid,be sure to use the correct fluid. when you do this your only changing 4-5 qts.if you decide i've got to put in a new trannie, go to the local parts store and buy a qt. of kd trans additive and pour it in.it will sometimes work miricles , but sometimes you waste 9.00.i have a old ford (69) that in about 85 backed out of the driveway and lost all gears right there. poured a qt in figuring trans is shot what do i have to lose. today almost 20 yrs later still the same trans and has never missed a shift! now if all else fails and your going to rebuild the trans,check with your local dodge dealer parts for a factory rebuild. usally cost about 200 more,but comes with a great warranty that is covered nation wide. do put in a torque convertor while your at it as this is probably where your trouble lies. thats why they just keep on going. if you will babbie through that first shift or two and get the convetor fill up and going after that it will go all day. lrry
There is a difference between a service and a flush. I have heard a number of horror stories of trans failures after a flush. A service is dropping the pan changing the filter and refilling. Also some dodge trans will have a first shift in the mourning hesitation. Also make sure if you get a service or ever add trans fluid only use ATF+3. Any other fluid is not compatible with the Chrysler transmissions.
Mike, I had a '89 3/4 Dodge van, and now have a '91 1/2 ton. The 87 had 585,000 when the carb caught on fire, changed the filter and fluid every 35-40K. The 91 had 270,000K taking care of it the same way.. .both had the slipping problem in the morning. I live in Fla and do most of my work in Mi, WV, Md & NY. Temp doesn't seem to be a relative point, I have also let the engine warm up to operating temp before I put it in gear. Both started at about 75,000k. Just annoying, never left on me on the side of the road.
Mike,
I've got a '90 3/4 ton Dodge van with only 121,000 on it that does the same thing. Also, the automatic shifts a little rough and quickly between 2nd and 3rd. A shop flush and some expensive transmission goop didn't seem to make any difference, but it keeps on running.
D&L
Yeah, you've got every right to complain. Normally a Chrysler tranny is supposed to grab in the morning and only slip in the PM.