kad

Well in 1998 my mom bought a new dodge caravan and it's been running pretty good since then.
but just recently at 55k miles it seems the radiator broke and some transmission leaked got mixed with some other liquid. so my mom paid 400 for a new radiator.
and just a week or two after the car is starting to feel real funny.
I mean the car won't go in reverse unless you press the accelerator, and in drive it's the same. no go until you press the accelerator. and pickup is very bad. also the brakes felt very stiff, and just didn't feel right. changing from drive to reverse while stopped, the car shakes more than i think it should.
i'm guessing it's the transmission even though i know nothing about cars. my uncle is a mechanic and will be seeing it tomorrow, but after hearing t he said it might be something about the brakes or wheels being locked or something.
i have no idea.

i just thought anyone else have any ideas about this?
if it is the tranny... we won't be buying from dodge again!
i mean the tranny won't last even 60k miles?
oh wellll

rodslinger

Most all new cars have the transmission cooler built into the radiator end tank. If the radiator went bad and allowed transmission fluid to leak into the coolant then it is entirely possible that coolant leaked into the transmission cooler as well. The shop should have checked the transmission for contamination and changed the fluid if necessary. Not a for sure diagnosis but a possible cause.

islandpro

ah the dodge tranny. my friend moms 97 new yorker didnt even make it past 20k before it shelled its first one. And the second made it another 5k. Needless to say they dont have it anymore.

Sir Nuke

in defence of the Caravan, I owned one from 1989 untill I traded my 1999 model in on the P-5's. I had the 89, a 93, a 96 and the 99...and each and every one had at least 80K on them when traded in...and I NEVER had a problem with any of them. the ONLY thing I learned with the first one...was to ALWAYS get the BIG V-6.....and to stay away from the 3.0L

rodslinger

Oh yes... The smoker...

zoominD

We have a 99 Intrepid, new trans at 70k partial rebuild at 85k. Neighbors on both sides of me have caravans, 98,99 both have new trans. I will never buy another Dodge again.

kad

so my uncle said that the tranny wouldn't shift
so he drained the transmision liquid and put it back in or something.
he is saying now that the car is still driving a bit funny... but if you drive it nicely and don't use the air conditioner he won't have to rebuild the tranny.
i'm fairly sure he will pretty soon though
dodge sucks!
i mean that new neon
the srt or whatever
is prettty fast.
but with build and reliability... i can't even think about selling my P5 for it.