96 Caravan Transmission Slippage

Recently I had the filter on my 96 Caravan (3.0L with 3 speed) changed and
the Mr. Lube where it was done topped up the transmission fluid with Dexron
III-Mercon. Shortly thereafter I experienced slippage and surging
particularly when the van was cold. I returned to the shop and after some
discussion about their use of Dexron they drained the fluid through the dip
stick tube and added about 4L of ATF+3. Initially this improved performance
but soon it started to slip again and I returned to the shop and had them
drain the entire system and 10L of ATF+3 was installed. However I'm still
experiencing a slight slippage when cold starting. Is it possible that the
Dexron has caused some damage? I never experienced any transmission problems
before visiting Mr. Lube. The van has about 78,000 miles. Any ideas?

Jack

Friend of the Doktor wrote:
> Recently I had the filter on my 96 Caravan (3.0L with 3 speed) changed and
> the Mr. Lube where it was done topped up the transmission fluid with Dexron
> III-Mercon. Shortly thereafter I experienced slippage and surging
> particularly when the van was cold. I returned to the shop and after some
> discussion about their use of Dexron they drained the fluid through the dip
> stick tube and added about 4L of ATF+3. Initially this improved performance
> but soon it started to slip again and I returned to the shop and had them
> drain the entire system and 10L of ATF+3 was installed. However I'm still
> experiencing a slight slippage when cold starting. Is it possible that the
> Dexron has caused some damage? I never experienced any transmission problems
> before visiting Mr. Lube. The van has about 78,000 miles. Any ideas?
>
> Jack


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

Friend of the Doktor wrote:
> Recently I had the filter on my 96 Caravan (3.0L with 3 speed) changed and
> the Mr. Lube where it was done topped up the transmission fluid with Dexron
> III-Mercon. Shortly thereafter I experienced slippage and surging
> particularly when the van was cold. I returned to the shop and after some
> discussion about their use of Dexron they drained the fluid through the dip
> stick tube and added about 4L of ATF+3. Initially this improved performance
> but soon it started to slip again and I returned to the shop and had them
> drain the entire system and 10L of ATF+3 was installed. However I'm still
> experiencing a slight slippage when cold starting. Is it possible that the
> Dexron has caused some damage? I never experienced any transmission problems
> before visiting Mr. Lube. The van has about 78,000 miles. Any ideas?
>
> Jack


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" > wrote in message
news:dTFfd.40137$Pl.38147@pd7tw1no...
> Recently I had the filter on my 96 Caravan (3.0L with 3 speed) changed and
> the Mr. Lube where it was done topped up the transmission fluid with
Dexron
> III-Mercon. Shortly thereafter I experienced slippage and surging
> particularly when the van was cold. I returned to the shop and after some
> discussion about their use of Dexron they drained the fluid through the
dip
> stick tube and added about 4L of ATF+3. Initially this improved
performance
> but soon it started to slip again and I returned to the shop and had them
> drain the entire system and 10L of ATF+3 was installed. However I'm still
> experiencing a slight slippage when cold starting. Is it possible that the
> Dexron has caused some damage? I never experienced any transmission
problems
> before visiting Mr. Lube. The van has about 78,000 miles. Any ideas?
>
> Jack
>
>

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" > wrote in message
news:dTFfd.40137$Pl.38147@pd7tw1no...
> Recently I had the filter on my 96 Caravan (3.0L with 3 speed) changed and
> the Mr. Lube where it was done topped up the transmission fluid with
Dexron
> III-Mercon. Shortly thereafter I experienced slippage and surging
> particularly when the van was cold. I returned to the shop and after some
> discussion about their use of Dexron they drained the fluid through the
dip
> stick tube and added about 4L of ATF+3. Initially this improved
performance
> but soon it started to slip again and I returned to the shop and had them
> drain the entire system and 10L of ATF+3 was installed. However I'm still
> experiencing a slight slippage when cold starting. Is it possible that the
> Dexron has caused some damage? I never experienced any transmission
problems
> before visiting Mr. Lube. The van has about 78,000 miles. Any ideas?
>
> Jack
>
>

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" > wrote in message
news:dTFfd.40137$Pl.38147@pd7tw1no...
> Recently I had the filter on my 96 Caravan (3.0L with 3 speed) changed and
> the Mr. Lube where it was done topped up the transmission fluid with
> Dexron
> III-Mercon. Shortly thereafter I experienced slippage and surging
> particularly when the van was cold. I returned to the shop and after some
> discussion about their use of Dexron they drained the fluid through the
> dip
> stick tube and added about 4L of ATF+3. Initially this improved
> performance
> but soon it started to slip again and I returned to the shop and had them
> drain the entire system and 10L of ATF+3 was installed. However I'm still
> experiencing a slight slippage when cold starting. Is it possible that the
> Dexron has caused some damage? I never experienced any transmission
> problems
> before visiting Mr. Lube. The van has about 78,000 miles. Any ideas?
>
> Jack
>
>

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" > wrote in message
news:dTFfd.40137$Pl.38147@pd7tw1no...
> Recently I had the filter on my 96 Caravan (3.0L with 3 speed) changed and
> the Mr. Lube where it was done topped up the transmission fluid with
> Dexron
> III-Mercon. Shortly thereafter I experienced slippage and surging
> particularly when the van was cold. I returned to the shop and after some
> discussion about their use of Dexron they drained the fluid through the
> dip
> stick tube and added about 4L of ATF+3. Initially this improved
> performance
> but soon it started to slip again and I returned to the shop and had them
> drain the entire system and 10L of ATF+3 was installed. However I'm still
> experiencing a slight slippage when cold starting. Is it possible that the
> Dexron has caused some damage? I never experienced any transmission
> problems
> before visiting Mr. Lube. The van has about 78,000 miles. Any ideas?
>
> Jack
>
>

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.

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)?