Dodge: 96 Caravan Transmission Slippage

Friend of the Doktor wrote: 


From All-Par (http://www.allpar.com/fix/trans.html) All Chrysler
four-speed automatic transmissions* are very sensitive to the quality of
the transmission fluid. Only use the ATF+[3 or 4] in these
transmissions. Do not use Dexron or Mercon.

Ed

The battle may not be too hard for you to fight. The shop knows it put
Dexron in, and the transmission in your van MUST have ATF +3 or +4.




"Friend of the Doktor" <com> wrote in message
news:dTFfd.40137$.. 
Dexron 
dip 
performance 
problems 

These trans sometimes have a short life, a weak link. Had mine replaced
@86000 for about 1500.00 the owners manual may say Dextron is OK to use,
but it will damage your trans. It destroys electrical parts. May take a
year or so, but it will. Go to a dealer parts counter and get genuine
Chrysler fluid recommended for your specific auto.
"Friend of the Doktor" <com> wrote in message
news:dTFfd.40137$.. 

Idiots. None of these places I have gone to seem to know you have to use +3
or +4 in these. Even my 88 Aries needed it and its a three speed automatic.
They put Dexron into that and the tranny started to act up right away. Put
in =3 and its fine.

They damn near killed my 90 LeBaron with Dexron saying they had an additive
that converted Dexron to +3. BS.

The stuff didn't do a damn thing and I had to go toAutozone, buy a case of
+3 and they put that it. After that, the trannie runs great.

Yet, both places I dealt with were ignorant of +3. I wonder how many
trannies have died because of people thinking they were doing the right
thing by having their transmission fluid changed. How much of a bad rap on
Mopar transmission is just because they failed to get the work out about the
fluid.

What kind of ATF is to be used in a '90 Caravan 3.3 with the automatic
overdrive (604, I believe) transmission?
What happens if you put Dexron/Mercon in it (and what is the
difference between the fluids)?

James Goforth wrote:
 

Chrysler-spec ATF+3 or ATF+4.

Dexron has different friction characteristics. If you use Dexron you
will save a little bit of money, the different friction characteristics
will cause the clutches and lockup converter to get grabbier and get
damaged as the computer tries in vain to compensate for the non-spec
fluid, and you then will pay about a hundred times more money than you
saved by using Dexron in the first place, to get your transmission fixed.

DON'T USE DEXRON in it.

PERIOD.

And don't believe anyone who tells you they have an additive that "makes
Dexron/Mercon Chrysler compatible" either. Stick with the real stuff.

"Gene Poon" <net> wrote in message
news:hKwtd.48$uswest.net... 

Not to be redundant, but is the above mentioned ATF compatible with
the older Chryslers manufactured even before this new ATF came out?
Or are you better off using Dexron in the old cars which came with it?
Unless that would just be a waste of money (I don't know how much more
expensive the new stuff is).

86 Lebaron (3 spd auto)
90 and 89 Caravan (604's)

BTW is the above mentioned LeBaron supposed to have a lock-up converter?
I thought pretty much everything had one by that year (it's a 2.2).