2001 Dodge Grand Caravan Limp Home?

R

Rob

New member
The dreaded limp home came back.. now what??

First happened about two weeks ago while on vacation 300 miles away. Made a jerky motion on take-off from a stop light then about 5 miles later CEL came on and weird would only go second gear forward. Reverse was fine. Limped back to the resort ( 40 MPH max)and jumped online. Found a thread to disconnect the neg batt term for about an hour to clear the CEL and limp home mode. Well that got me home and about 500 more miles. Was thinking this was a freak issue until tonight. While driving through town... ding... CEL back on and again forward stuck in 2nd gear. Again I disconnected neg batt term for about an hour.. and now working fine again. So I have read all the threads on this matter. Based on my readings this is what I think I should do in order. Please get back to me if you think diff.

1. check TCM, BMC and ECM for tight connections.. wherever those are.
2. chech ground on trans... wherever that is?
3. get TCM reflashed by dealer.. not garage.
4. replace both speed sensors.
5. If all else fails replace the trans.

My thought is this though.. being somewhat mech. inclined. How could a physical (hardware) issue internal to the trans couse something like this when it works perfect after an hour reseting the TCM and ECM with the neg batt term off. I find that hard to believe. Otherwise a great van, never had prob, trans fluid smells great at correct levels... great van not issues.

Your feedback is appreciated as I am kinda affraid to give it back to my wife with the kids with it acting up.

Thanks
 
You need to find out if the TCM itself is internally over heated or faulty or if the sensor circuit or relay circuit are the issue or if it's as simple as a faulty wire being affected by the geat or weather or if the grounds mind be weak etc.Bec it takes resetting the power you might want to check into a used TCM and see if that cures it bec it could be exactly that and other issues too that need fixing or checking into.I'd forsure look into any factory recall or service bulletins or flash program updates and I'd probably change the transmission fluids and filter before doing the update and it might need to be put into a learning mode by the dealership too.It's best on some once transmission fluids and filters are changed to never flush the system and to get the comp put into the learning mode howver most should learn by themselves anyways but if a used comp then it might really need the bios update or program flash update to get it working again and learning properly might take the learning mode to be set.

Just remember all comps at times are learning even when functioning regularly they keep learning but when power or bios info resets etc or put into the learning mode they may tend to act oddly and you might wish to panic but dont spend any cash etc until u give it due time to learn and the TCM could take 400 to 500 kms to do this.

I'd not spend big bucks on TCM's at all find a U pick auto wreckers and save cash by doing it yourself plus you can then pick and choice and make sure the TCM comes out of a vehicle with the exact same engine transmission and cruise control etc features as your vehicle now is equipped to handle.I've bough those TCM's for as little as 30 bucks and up to well over 100 bucks too but it depends on the make yr and how many their are at the yards to sell etc , plus a older or newer model might have the exact same TCM even with the full flash update too.



Easy cheap test for you is next time don't disconnect the power but try another relay it's its place and on those I believe you've a few relays the exact same and switch one of the none vital relays with the transmission relay and see if the problem is solved, even if you buy a new relay it's nice to have a relay handy anyways. If not solved then reset the comp via the battery then see if it goes back at all into the limp mode.

I can bet you that this problem isn't really an expensive fix just a long detailed trouble shooting project and keep in mind Dodge transmission are misdiagnosed constantly and dont let anybody fool you that problem isn't mechanical it's electrical or a electronic device issue.

If I were you bec you enjoy fixing your own vehicle I'd get myself some free print outs on the transmission control circuit and a full schematic or diagram on the 60 pin TCM.Go through those circuits closely bec the quality or even the thickness of wiring Dodge uses is poor and wears out faster too.So if you know that vehicle has been through severe temperatures cold snow heat water rain etc those will cause these flawed designed wiring problems to occur faster or if you know its been hit and perhaps a harness that is probably already very tight is more toghter and damaged internally.


Hope that helps and best of luck.Do yourself a big favour here even if the relay or sensor fixes this issue check the circuits the postive 12 volt feeds and negatives and if you don't have a 12 volt positive and negative lead test probe invest the 60 bucks or so bec with Dodges wiring issues are headaches without that tool or diagrams or the right pin chart info etc.
 
your best bet gonna be change those speed sensor both not just one thats the most common problem with chrysler
 
the one thing you don't need to do is replace the transmission ,its not out, its the control module or the tcm unit or a speed sensor causing that too happen,i had one about a week ago that was doing the same thing and it had been through 3 dealers and many shops,and none could find the problem,what i found was a hair line crack in the tcm unit that was causing it to draw moisture and do this,and it would only do it in certain situations,if you get a chance ,have the computer scanned the next time it does this and see if it doesn't show a code for bad tcm unit,anytime the transmission has a problem and the computer detects it ,it automatically sets it back in to limp mode,even a shift solenoid will cause it to go in to limp mode,so some of the problems could be internal,a scan will help you in repairing it,good luck.
 
Listen to Dodge Man - He has my highest respect and is one of the few to whom I Bow in honor.... I rarely even have anything to add to his responses and wish I could communicate directly with him.
 
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