Automatic car doesn't move until warmed up

[Ukyo8]

Hey everyone,

Just bought a 94 dodge caravan for 150 bucks

its in great shape and all, but only has one problem, sometimes it doesn't move even when you put it in gear until it warms up, while at other times it moves right away even when cold.

any idea?

[ExtraSlow]

Two possibilities:
1) Transmission linkage problem
2) transmission problem.

Is the gear selector harder to move or jerky when it's really cold out? Is the trans fluid full and in good condition?

[Ukyo8]

The selector moves easily, I already changed the transmission fluid and filter.

[kaput]

.

[Grogador]

auto dodge... clutch packs dying...

[Diocletian]

Originally posted by Ukyo8
Hey everyone,

Just bought a 94 dodge caravan for 150 bucks

its in great shape and all, but only has one problem, sometimes it doesn't move even when you put it in gear until it warms up, while at other times it moves right away even when cold.

any idea?

Your transmission has leaking seals - the solution is a rebuild of the POS 604 transmission

[Ukyo8]

Originally posted by Diocletian


Your transmission has leaking seals - the solution is a rebuild of the POS 604 transmission

yeah thats what I was thinking too...

oh well ill just drive it until it dies, I won't waste my money on a rebuild kit for a $150 pos van haha

thanks for the input everyone

[corsvette]

I bought a van just like that years ago for $100,did the exact same thing,i would start it up in the morning put it in drive and keep the rpm;s at around 2=2500 rpm...and wait, it would bang into gear pretty hard,funny thing is i got two winters out of that van,and it still worked when it got donated,yours may last a long time as well.

[Ukyo8]

^ that's excatly what this van does too, it bangs into gear if I start driving it right away when it's cold out, but if I put it in my heated garage I can drive off in the morning right away and it works perfectly.

Hopefully it'll last me a while

[Mikespecr1]

try a bottle of lucus it has fixed 3 tranies for me

[scat19]

Your heating bill per month is higher than the initial cost of your van, especially with a heated garage. I lol'd.

[inline6turbo]

Originally posted by Mikespecr1
try a bottle of lucus it has fixed 3 tranies for me

^this

[YamahaV8]

Originally posted by Mikespecr1
try a bottle of lucus it has fixed 3 tranies for me

This x2
http://www.lucasoil.ca/products/prod...cat=Automotive

[ExtraSlow]

I think "fixed" is a bit of an exageration when referring to the Lucas products. Might extend the life, and is certainly worth trying on your $150 beater, but it's not a long term fix on your "good" car.

[Ukyo8]

Originally posted by scat19
Your heating bill per month is higher than the initial cost of your van, especially with a heated garage. I lol'd.

I put it there for one night to see if the issue is related to the temperature.
My gs400 is usually in the garage.

The Lucas oil transmission fix worked great, thanks everyone.

[syritis]

My parents had the same problem with their car, talked to a tranny mechanic i know and he said the fluid is low, apparently the time frame to check the fluid level is very small. so it's likely it's not topped up all the way. so i added 1L of fluid and it fixed it.

[Diocletian]

Originally posted by Mikespecr1
try a bottle of lucus it has fixed 3 tranies for me

Adding a transmission additive is no more going to fix a transmission problem, than an oil change is going to fix a spun rod bearing.

All you can hope is to buy a bit of time by causing the seals to swell which will temporarily hide the problem.... although the best way to do this is just to change the transmission fluid.

[Diocletian]

Originally posted by syritis
My parents had the same problem with their car, talked to a tranny mechanic i know and he said the fluid is low, apparently the time frame to check the fluid level is very small. so it's likely it's not topped up all the way. so i added 1L of fluid and it fixed it.

The original poster sounds like at least a relatively bright fellow, so I suspect that he's already checked the fluid level.

[Rat Fink]

.

[syritis]

Originally posted by Diocletian


The original poster sounds like at least a relatively bright fellow, so I suspect that he's already checked the fluid level.

by small time frame i mean on the tranny needs to be let run until warm in neutral, then let cool. and recheck the level while running before the tranny warms up. on second thought i think that just might be the malibu transmissions because they don't have a dip stick.....