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my minivan is having a problem?

I have a 2002 dodge grand caravan (Now before all you car buffs start picking on the brand know this I have disabled twins and a van is all I can transport with)

any way the problem just started out of the blew. I was driving home from work at about 50 mph and all of a sudden giving it gas is useless, it was like I was in neutral. I was on the side of the road unable to go any where. the engine was running fine, the shifter moves in and out of every gear with ease, but the van was useless. I had it towed home, and the next day it started up and ran fine for about 45 minutes, I drove all over town with it and then on the way home the same thing happened...I know it needs to go to a mechanic, but with disabled twins I cant afford for them to charge me by the hour while they they run it through tests i may not need...I was hoping some one on here could help me narrow done what the cause might be...thanks

Update:

My husband seems to think this problem is either the speed censor or a solenoid that went bad...should I trust what he thinks?

Update 2:

the van had a transmission flush last month (hopefully that didnt cause this) it has 110,000 miles on it

3 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Well if your engine rpms are going up and there's no movement that means your tranny has kicked the bucket and likely needs a rebuild. If your speed sensor went bad then the speedometer wouldn't work. Most likely it was caused by changing the tranny fluid so late in mileage. Don't go nuts though its cheaper to just get another transmission from the junkyard and have it put in.

  • 1 decade ago

    is the engine light on? and have you checked your transmission fluid? you need to look at the fluid first, and see if it looks or smells burnt or if there is debris on the stick, speed sensors will put the car into "limp-in"mode which basically just means it wont shift up out of low gear.if it completely quits moving it is probably not a sensor, after it quit moving and then started moving again it is probably not the torque converter, because usually when they go bad the car wont go again. if i were too guess i would lean towards a controller issue. maybe the transmission control module or the pcm itself, i hate to say it but you should get it checked, they will usually quote you 1 hour for check out and wont go over that without talking to you, but throwing parts at it gets expensive very fast good luck:)

  • 1 decade ago

    Sounds like the transmission went south. The torque converter goes bad in Chrysler vans.

    Source(s): Rental car service 20 years
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