The best automatic trans for the 3.3 v6 minivans.

[89ShelbyGuy]

Well, my brother will be going into the market for a used minivan in the near future. He is trying to find a 3.3 v6...probably a 93-98 in year....he has a 96 caravan with the 3.0 v6 mated with..who knows what kind of trans..(auto)..hes already had the trans rebuilt...the 3.0 is not his favorite.....its dieing...and well..just dieing..lol....i told him i would find him a good buy, but i was woundering if anyone knew the best matted automatic trans for the 3.3 v6? the one with the fewest problems...anyone have this info?

Tom

[135sohc]

Its been updated and improved but the 3.3 still uses the same basic 4 speed unit that its been using since 1990.

Around 2000 they seemed to get it right but anything IMO from 1990-2000 is a ticking time bomb just waiting to blow unless its already been remaned and updated with newer parts.

Of course earlier this year my sister in law had the transmission in her 2001 Concorde fail hard and self destruct. Car was dealer maintained since new and their responce was "well it happens" :o

[turbovanman²]

Yeah, your stuck with the 4 speed, but got it done right by someone who know's and you'll be fine.


Car was dealer maintained since new and their responce was "well it happens" :o

It does, some fail some don't. My 98 Jimmy has 210K of HARD driving, towing, still works fine, my friends 2002 S10 2 wheel drive, 100K, easy driving, trans exploded, :(

[135sohc]

Her car also had the wonderful 2.7 V6... And went through the wringer with chrysler to get it replaced under warrenty.
Already said her next car is going to be a camry... Good job chrysler :thumb:

[turbovanman²]

Her car also had the wonderful 2.7 V6... And went through the wringer with chrysler to get it replaced under warrenty.
Already said her next car is going to be a camry... Good job chrysler :thumb:

Camry's have tranny failures too, and unintended acceleration, good job Toyota, :lol:

[RoadWarrior222]

They've had their sludge issues too.

But 98 and older minivans, you really have to get a 98 to make sure it's capable of taking the PCM updates that finally fixed the A604. You'd also want full service history from a dealer.

Otherwise, I'd go for the 3.0 and A670 3 speed combo, well I'd go for that in the first place. Takes a lot to really kill a 3.0, (Though more than 12psi of boost is a fairly reliable way LOL) so I'd figure what he's got is only a couple of sensors and a decent set of wires and plugs away from running like a champ.

What is an amazingly good buy at the moment are the Pacificas, I've seen 05's going as cheap as $4000. Had miles on it of course, but I'd take a 150,000 mile car with service history over a 40,000 mile car without.

In fact, the way things are with maintenance these days, I'd take FLEET cars over most of what the general populace have had their hands on.

[Aries_Turbo]

In fact, the way things are with maintenance these days, I'd take FLEET cars over most of what the general populace have had their hands on.

we are required to have our vans serviced regularly. and most of the drivers are too chicken to abuse them cause they are afraid of getting yelled at.

Brian

[RoadWarrior222]

Yup, seems to me that most larger fleets maintain regardless of cost, most often on the severe service schedule and also tend to throw parts at them whether they need them or not, coz they're thinking about lost business if that vehicle is down for a couple of days.

[ohiorob]

I have a 98 AWD 3.8 caravan with over 200,000 miles. it towed a popup over 30,000 miles and it is now my work beater. never had a problem with the tranny.

[butchsuppe]

My 92 3.3 Cavavan blew the 604 trans, I got a great Mopar reman 604 trans from the J/yard that works flawlessly. AVOID the 91-93 Vans with ABS brakes thu, I convertor mine to Vac booster due to flaws in the Bendix 10 ABS brake sys. My van is used as a work truck loaded with ALOT of weight.

[turbovanman²]

My 92 3.3 Cavavan blew the 604 trans, I got a great Mopar reman 604 trans from the J/yard that works flawlessly. AVOID the 91-93 Vans with ABS brakes thu, I convertor mine to Vac booster due to flaws in the Bendix 10 ABS brake sys. My van is used as a work truck loaded with ALOT of weight.

Good point, I had to convert a customers van over to regular brakes when the ABS failed.

[Vigo]

Early abs systems dont work that well even when they work, too. Better than nothing but not worth what they cost to repair!

Clearly the best auto trans for the 3.3 is the 604. I mean, aside from the fact that its the only one they came with, its also the best, because its a cool transmission that works great as long as its been maintained. That means put a fluid cooler on it ONE TIME (which is great because most maintenance you have to do OVER AND OVER) and change the fluid every once in a while, with the correct fluid.

If you do those things its a great unit and hard to kill! If you get one that has no service history and no cooler, good luck..

[Matt86]

My 99' Grand Voyager has the 3.3 (with flex fuel :) ). The A604/41TE seems to be geared just right for it. Overdrive is nice which gives me decent highway mileage.

Shifts well and on time. Of course I had it rebuilt due to a massive epic internal failure of exploding planteary gears.

The A604/41TE was updated a million times, I was thinking about getting an 05 or so 41TE and making it work in my 99'. Turns out only 99-00 will bolt and plug in.

Install an external tranny cooler. My 99' came with one from the factory as most later 3rd gens did stock.

If he dosn't care what gen van he gets, I'd reccomend a 2nd gen. Easy to work on compared to my 99 which isn't all that fun.

[Vigo]

Yeh, as much as i love the 3rd gen styling, interior, ride quality, roominess, etc, they suck to work on compared to 2nd and 1st gens.

Although, i often DO regret selling my nice 96 3.0/760 grand caravan.. :(

[glhs0426]

My wife's 99 T&C has 196,000 on the odometer and it still runs great. It has the big brother 3.8, but it's still a 604/41TE.

[Matt86]

Oh yes my 99's ride and handling is amazing compared to the 94'. It's got the cab forward style that my Neon has which I've grown to really like, until I open the hood of the van....though with the wiper cowl out of the way and the plenum off it's very roomy, unlike the GM and Ford vans....uck.

It does have the 3.3, which runs smooth and quiet, but really lacks the extra grunt the 3.8's seem to have.

[Dodge Aries K]

My old 97 Voyager base model was a decent van except for the fact that it was a stripped down model. Was alot more comfortable and stuff than the million 84-95 vans I've owned over the years.

[JohnnyIroc]

i have a 96 with the 3.3, over 208k and on its 3rd trans :yuck:

[Vigo]

My younger brother traded in the family's old 97 3.3/604 Grand Caravan for cash-for-clunkers a year ago.

When he traded it in, it had 230k on it. At 204k, i opened the original trans up because the seals were getting hard and it was starting to have minor issues when cold. I replaced the seals and clutches, but nothing else. So, when we sold it at 230k, it basically had the original trans with the rubber seals replaced at 204k. Worked perfect. And.... it had a trans cooler on it the whole time! Go figure.

[89ShelbyGuy]

Thanks for all the input guys....i wil tell him, the first thing after you buy it, is put a trans cooler on it..if it doesn't already...

Tom

[ATaylorRacing]

Our 2001 3.3 had the tranny lock up in the middle of St Rd 26 in IN between Kokomo and Lafayette with 2 days left on its 30 day warranty....stopped dead in its tracks as if I slammed on the brakes...sitting in the middle of the road and NOT moving. It could not be placed in park so the key could not be removed. Putting it in neutral did not allow it to be moved either. It was towed to the dealership and they put in a factory reman converter and tranny at no charge. It would not go into park because stuff internally MELTED and would not allow it. It had 110,000 miles..highway of course...and now runs great. I even brought it out to one of the SDACs and won the turttle race with it. Normally ran 17.7s at Indy in decent weather, but slowed to 18.8s in the heat of that day. I had also brought out huge top fuel dragster slicks in it that were sold at the SDAC event. We still have it and the tranny fluid is changed everyu 25000 now.

[thedon809]

You guys shouldn't complain about lack of room to work. I had to pull the intake out of an e350 powerstroke van. Talk about 670925871lbs of ---- in a 5 pound package.

[Vigo]

Ive only worked on one powerstroke in a full size van.. but i SURE didnt like it.

[Aries_Turbo]

You guys shouldn't complain about lack of room to work.

im actually really impressed with the new grand caravan... with the 3.3 and the 41te in it, there is TONS of room to work all around the engine and trans.

now i dont know about the 4.0L though.

brian

[glhs0426]

im actually really impressed with the new grand caravan... with the 3.3 and the 41te in it, there is TONS of room to work all around the engine and trans.

now i dont know about the 4.0L though.

brian

The 4.0L gets the 62TE (some 41TE parts shared). It's not bad to work around, but there is less room.