Are the 4th gen V6 transmissions marginal?

[Lscman]

I am in the market for a new minivan. Please help...advise needed.

I keep hearing rumors that the current Chrysler minivans are still using a modified version of their old transmission that was originally designed for Mitsubishi V6-powered 2800-3000 lb cars and lighter minivans. Is this true or false? I hear their bigger, high torque 3.8L V6 eats them up if you drive hard. I hear about tranny rebuilds every 50K miles, unless you almost never use full engine power or spend all your time on the highway. My bosses van was always in the shop for tranny issues and he had the smaller low torque motor. He got 5 rebuilds in about 125K miles. This scares me, although it's hard for me to believe that Chrysler didn't redesign the tranny to withstand the big V6 in such a popular vehicle. I took a test drive in a 2005 3.8L SXT. What struck me is the way the transmission shifted. The shift characteristics were very sloppy, soft and delayed with lots of overlap (slip) between gears. Putzing around, it felt smoothe...but it didn't seem to appreciate an aggressive driving style. The shifting reminded me of a late '80's GM car.

The Ford Freestar transmission is an stout, improved design that was first released for the 32 valve V8 Lincoln Continental. It was designed to handle the 300 HP V8 in a 2 ton car with ease. When I test drove this vehicle, the tranny felt great. Crisp & responsive under hard use & soft when driving gingerly.

I like the Chrysler better, aside from this concern.

[jazztrumpet216]

Welcome to the forums, Lscman! I sat in a Freestar at the Milwaukee Auto Show and didn't like it- wasn't very comfortable and it just didn't feel like it "fit" me. But then again I'm a somewhat biased opinion- I am a die-hard Chrysler and Hyundai fan (bet you never thought you'd meet one of those, huh?).

AFAIK, the 4th generation tranny is a modified A604 (the earlier 4 speed in use with the Mitsu 3.0L and the bigger Chrysler 3.3L and 3.8L engines of the time). The new designation for the improved version is the 41TE, and it is not nearly as troublesome as the old ones were. I've heard the problems with the old ones were because the gears and other moving components in the old A604 were stamped from a press- not machined. Many issues with Chrysler trannies can be traced to not using the correct tranny fluid- Chrysler trannies MUST have ATF+4 (in the newer vans) to work properly as there is an artificial lubricant in there that Dexron does not have. Using Dexron tranny fluid (at places like Valvoline Instant Oil Change or the like) will kill a Chrysler tranny in a few thousand miles. Though the earlier failures on the A604 were because it was (IMO) a transmission designed and constructed somewhat questionably, I still wonder how many of those failures could've been avoided by getting a tranny fluid change with the right fluid.

Back in the days of the earlier 2nd generation minivans, you just got a 3 speed tranny with the Mitsu 3.0L. That's what my van has and it's great. Unfortunately, they don't use that in the minivans anymore.

Like I said, welcome to the forums. I hope you enjoy your stay here, and we'd love to see you around some more!

[Zuul24]

After my radiator change, I decided to run out some of my old tranny fluid and replace it so we did a little bit of a purge. I didn't have a new filter and was not getting into that today so I just did what I had for the heck of it.

I put in 4 quarts of new +3 and was really surprised at how the tranny didn't shudder like it ALWAYS did between 1st and 2nd on the way home. It was frighteningly smoother shifting.

Now it is going to fall out, I can feel it.

Chas

[Apittslife]

Well I am hard on my vehicals, I have the make it or break it mentality :P

But I also keep up on the maintanance part as much as possible.

What hurts an A604 & the redesigned 41TE is Towing, & like Jazz said. Incorrect fluid types & or additives. as for the towing most of the tyme it is because people forget to turn off the OD or select drive instead of OD when Towing..

My personal opinion is that Chysler had most of the First generation problems with the transmissions corrected by 92.

My 92 A604 & the one I have in my 94 are great transmissions..

Hi Jazztrumpet. I use to live in Milwaukee, I miss Wisconsin, & my home town of Sheboygan, But I don't miss Milwaukee. :usd

Always nice to meet another person from my home state. :banger

[Zuul24]

I am not sure what tranny I have exactly. It is a 90 with a 3.0 and a 4 speed.

I know the tranny has been replaced 3 times but not in my lifetime.

I am VERY vigilant to make sure that none of these oil change places tops off my tranny. I tell em flat out not to touch it. I make sure that +3 is the ONLY thing going in there.

I have never actually had to add any since I have had it. I am considering having the transmission flushed and the filter changed but somebody else is going to do that (along with those back 3 plugs.)

Chas

[DSMLVR]

I am not saying that the newer trannies are trouble free, because NOTHING mechanical is trouble free. However the 4th gen vans do not have a problem with thier transmissions. Using the CORRECT fluid is very important and can not be mentioned enought.

[Richard]

Then what about all those cracked transmissions caused by the loose rear differential pin. Chrysler has apparently just come out with a kit to "cure" that problem. My 96 Town and Country suffered this problem, which is why I now own a 2004 model. I think they have cured the problem by 2004 but I don't know for sure. :shrug

Richard.

[caravantough]

As DSMLVR said, the 4th Gen Caravans (2001+) do not have any known problems with them so far. They are a very improved tranny.
The 41TE has imporved over the years. It evolved from a very unreliably tranny (A604) to something that is somewhat reliable (1992-1995), then improved again and made it a pretty good quality (1996-2000), then finally a very reliable tranny, now on the 2001+ Caravans.

Now about the Differential Pin through the case, that is only the result of excessive spinning of the tires. Thats bound to happen with any tire.
Spinning your tires excessivly puts a tremendous strain on the tranny, and if you continue to do it on ANY CAR, not only Chryslers, the tranny will be damaged.

If you want your tranny to last:

-Change Fluid/Filter every 50 000Kms/30 000Miles
-DO NOT RACE THE VAN
-Have smooth acceleration, don't accelerate too fast as the tranny will end up having a rough shift.
-Check Fluid Levels Regularely
-Install a Tranny Cooler
-Don't tow anything that is heavier than what Chrysler Recommends.

Those are simple rules that can save you $3000.00 in the future and also save Chrysler from getting a bad rep from people who complain about tranny problems when their bad maintenance/driving habits caused the problem entirely.
[Im not referring this to any of you. But There are some people out there that go crazy on their car, no maintenance, no fluid changes...nothing forover 100 000 and still have the nerves to bad mouth the Car Company because the tranny and engine blew...when really its surprising it actually went that far without any care.]

Sorry if I went a lil crazy :cyclop ....i'll :stop now

[faterotong]

Actually, I've beaten on our '03 GC Sport with the 4 speed and 4 wheel discs. WOT shifts (~5400rpms)are SMOOTH. I didn't expect that. I was worried when trying to do that. but when it shifted, smooth like all shifts.

My parents never had a problem with ANY 4-speed. And we've owned 6 DCX vans. All new. The 3.8L is a very very stout engine that should last a loong time even though ours has been very near redline cuz I beat on it trying to do 0-60 runs. haha. I got up to around 50 and that took like 8 seconds.

The thing that kills our trannies is overheating...and I think that applies to all trannies...and incorrect tranny fluid usage.

I wanna go to the drags this summer with the van and dyno it... :cuss :banger

And Teens: THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH DRIVING A MINIVAN! Especially a dodge! Nicest looking minivans EVAR!

I've driven our van a lot and darn....the tranny's shifts are UBER-smooth compared to a MPV's shifts...now those are HARD shifts...no smoothness whatsoever.

Plus, our 3.8L's get around 25-27mpg on the highway and 16-19 in city driving. All that with a power leeching tranny backing it up! :clap

[JEC]

I see in one of the responses that you should use only ATF 4. Does it matter whether or not it is Chrysler brand? I would think not.

Second question, any thoughts on the various merits of the typical change, dropping the pan, few quarts out and changing the filter vs. the machines some shops use to suck out most of the fluid?