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A Failure to Communicate


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Time to change the tranny fluid in the Caravan. It uses ATF+3, the "older" fluid. Chrysler and the oil companies quit manufacturing it in the past year. Not so good. Even though they say the newer ATF+4 is backward-compatible, people have had problems when using it on pre-2000 Caravan transmissions. (Technical Service Bulletins 21-006-01 and 21-004-04 specify ATF+4 is for use in 2000 and later models). Reports indicate that the newer fluid degrades the seals in the pre-2000 transmissions.

Not much incentive to changing the fluid when it can only make things worse... Maybe it's better to leave the old stuff in there.

It got me to thinking, though. What do we do, those of us with pre-2000 Chryslers, to prevent ruining the notoriously delicate transmissions?

CRAZY IDEA #1 - Re-use the old fluid: filter it through an old T-shirt to remove particulate matter.

CRAZY IDEA #2 - Search for a chemical breakdown of both ATF+3 and ATF+4. Find out what's different and try to get additive(s) to make the "4" more like the "3". Keeping in mind that the problem is with seal-degradation, prospective additives would be among those touting "Seal-Conditioning" properties (but be cautious about anything that might alter the viscosity).

"ARE YOU NUTS? Suggesting additives for the ultra-sensitive Chrysler transaxles?" Maybe. But if we're left in the lurch with no safe Tranny Fluid, all I can do is examine some alternatives. But I'm not quite ready to pour any mystery fluid into the spout just yet. But I'll be digging around for an answer. SOMEBODY out there knows: Chrysler tranny designers, chemists, mad scientists... The answer exists somewhere; if I find it I'll let you know.



FRAM: Made In China.
I passed on an in-stock cheapo trans filter to order a "better" Fram. Turns out it's also Made in China & costs double the price of the generic, which probably came from the same sweatshop. They've sold out along with everyone else. Government tariffs were supposed to protect the domestic businesses from cheap foreign trade - once upon a time. But "cheap labor" isn't the reason China's become the main supplier of consumer goods to the U.S.: What is it, then?

For reasons known only to themselves, Government and business leaders have been wet-nursing Red China through the 1980's & 1990's until they could manufacture goods with reasonable competence. Prior to that time, Singapore, Malaysia Taiwan, and South Korea would supply any foreign-made goods that were required by the market. Those "mini-dragons" have far more technical competence and expertise than then existed in Communist China. So when someone excuses this China-trade situation by claiming "cheap labor" as the raison d'etre, you know they're either ignorant or corrupt.

And what do they think life in the U.S. is going to be like when we don't possess one working factory in the nation? When we have to pay China in Euros instead of Dollars for products that WE showed them how to make? Score one for the Council on Foreign Relations: they sabotaged the greatest free market on earth and set it up to be a virtual slave colony for Mao's descendants.

OK, I went off on a tangent. Who can talk about car repair all day?

• Editorials Archive


TOPICS:

Accumulated from my repair experiences and other resources. "If you haven't found it anywhere else, maybe it's here."

Alphabetized Index:

DISABLE YOUR AIRBAG - A couple of steps to disabling the airbag system

AIR CONDITIONING - R 12, R134a, Other Alternatives, & How To Get Your Own EPA Certificate To Install R-12

CARAVAN AIR CONDITIONING REPAIR For Late 80's to Early 90's Caravans - from ALLPAR (www.allpar.com)

DISABLE the "AIR CONDITIONER-ON" in DEFROST Function

ALTERNATOR NOTES - Testing Your Alternator

Astro Info & VORTEC Engine Problems

BATTERY INFO - Interpreting Battery Size & Date Codes; Explosions; Mounting A Second Battery;

BATTERY ISOLATORS, SURGE PROTECTORS, ETC - Protection For Dual-Battery Systems

BRAKES - Breaking-in new pads;

BUMPER STICKER REMOVAL

CARAVAN PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS - A Developing List...

ENGINE COMPRESSION TESTING AND READINGS

CV JOINTS: Description & Replacement

DIAGNOSING WEIRD PERFORMANCE - ALDL, Surging, Bucking, Hesitation, Ignition Problems, Fuel, Etc...

DC APPLIANCES, INVERTERS, ETC - Sources, Links

FUEL INJECTION TYPES - & PRESSURE TESTING

HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS

HEADLIGHTS-ON ALARM - How to hook up a buzzer to warn you when you've left the lights on after shutting off the engine.

IGNITION PROBLEMS, EGR, Sensors, PCV, ETC.

INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION

JACKS & JACK STANDS

OIL: - SYNTHETIC vs. STANDARD, ENGINE FLUSH, ADDITIVES

RELAYS: Understanding the layout of the terminals of basic relays

RADIATOR: Drain & Refill, or Flush?

RADIO - ALTERNATOR NOISE

SHIFT KNOB REPLACEMENT ON GM COLUMN SHIFTERS

SPARK PLUG WIRES INFO

STEERING WHEEL DISASSEMBLY - Fixing Loose Tilt-Steering

THERMOSTATS - Ongoing...

TIRE BIN - Bias belt, radial. Traction and speed ratings. WHEELS: Changing rim size, Seizing nuts on aluminum wheels...

TRANSMISSION INFO

CHRYSLER TRANSMISSION REPAIRS - Caravan Transmission Problems & How To Fix Them

CHRYSLER TROUBLE CODES - 1980s-1990s - "Key Dance" and computer codes for Chrysler vehicles

VACUUM METER - INTERPRETING THE READINGS

VALVES: (Intake & Exhaust) - Diagnosing Valve Problems and general info

VIN Codes: - GM, Ford, & Chrysler

Windshield Wiper Motor Replacement - Chrysler Minivans



ARTICLES:

AUTO INSPECTION ABUSE - A call to ELIMINATE THE VIOLENT AND ABUSIIVE TEST PROCEDURES that many states unnecessarily use in their annual car inpections

BAN DYNAMOMETER TESTING! - A Sample Form Letter Delineating The Problems with IM 240 Dynamometer Testing, The Unnecessary Nature Of This Test, And A Petition For Its Repeal

CLEANING THE AIR - Falsehoods exposed in the EPA's Car-Damaging Inspection Laws

THE OZONE LIE - Lies Behind The "Ozone Hole" Theory - If You're Feeling Self-Conscious About Using "R-12" In Your A/C

CAR INSPECTIONS: GENERAL INFO


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