We keep getting the P0740 & P0700 codes regarding the transmission.
Mechanic replaced the pressure solenoid and the TCM and yesterday, 2 daysafter the TCM replacement, the engine light comes back on again and throws the same codes?!?
Any Chrysler/Dodge techs have a suggestion what to do next? The codeexplanation on CARMDseems to leave rebuilding the tranny as the only step left.

 

need a new converter and possibly rebuild depends if the converter is coming apart.

 

Ouch [:@]

What are the driving issues you're having with the tranny?

 

I have not had any issues with the tranny itself. Still shifts and drives just fine. We just can't get rid of the engine light/codes!
It is a cascade of issues: started out with code for vacuum leak-$800 fix. Then a few weeks go by and the tranny codes start-replace the pressure solenoid-a week later on vacation throws 0700 code and the mechanic replaces the TCM. 2 days later the light is back on and throwing 0700 & 0740 codes again. Has 112K on it at this time, so i expect a few things to start going wrong.
Now the sliding doors are starting to act up.

 

For some reason, I can't post my response maybe it's too long so I'll split it up.

My advice is that you find a mechanic that doesn't do diagnosis by replacing the easiest suspect parts to replace. If the van is shifting fine, the solenoid pack could not possibly be the problem since the low-reverse solenoid also activates the converter clutch. He should have taken 20 minutes to attach a pressure gauge to the test port on the front of the tranny the gauge would read 100psi with the engine idling in P and running it up to about 50mph and easing off the throttle should cause the pressure to drop to about0psi. This simple test would have confirmed that the TCM, solenoid and valve body were all functioning properly, leaving only the converter clutch itself as the problem and saving you a bunch of $$$ on unnecessary repairs.

 

You will be pressured to buy a new/rebuilt tranny when you get this fixed. The pitch will be that there is a lot of friction material (debris) in the pan. Honestly, that's to be expected since the clutch failed and the internal filter stops debris from flowing into the tranny so it gets stuck in the pan. For this reason, I don't think this is determinative.

I have the same van you do and had the same problem at 50,000 miles. I do all my own work and after running the pressure test described above to figure out the problem, I dropped my pan and found tons of friction material in there. After removing the tranny and swapping in a rebuilt converter, I replaced the filter and flushed the fluid with new. The van has been fine now for 2 years and about 20,000 miles.

 

In any case, despite what anyone may tell you, it will not harm your van to drive it like this for a while as you make your decision, so unless you have an emissions test coming up soon, take your time, shop the job around and figure out what the best deal is for you. I've had a professional tell me he would have charge about $500 parts and labor for the job (wish I'd met him before I did it myselfLOL), so call around and you may get a good deal if you can find someone familiar enough with these vans to knock it out quickly.

 

Rick99 thanks for your feedback. The shop did a tranny flush the first time when they did the solenoid replacement & did not mention any debris, etc. I will look around for someone to do the converter. Of course we have an emissions test coming up in March!

 

OK, post back and let us know how it goes.

Just so you know, there's a big difference between a "flush" and a fluid and filter change. When they do a "flush", they will usually just hook a machine up to your tranny cooler lines-- the machine pumps new fluid in through one line as the old fluid is pumped out through the other line. The advantage of this is that it is quick for a shop to do and it replaces most of the fluid in your tranny.

The disadvantage is that the shop doesn't drop the pan, clean any debris from the pan and replace the filter with a new one, so all the debris stays in the tranny and you have a filter that is partially clogged. Since there probably is some friction material in there, when you get the converter fixed, if you are not going for a rebuild on the tranny, have the shop do a pan-drop and filter change too.

 

A friend who is a transmission specialist rebuilt the transmission in my 2000 Chrysler Town and Country 3.3liter engine. It has about 170,000 miles on it and was showing the PO740 code when he said it needed to be rebuilt. He assures me that the transmission was bad and even if it were not, it would have only been a matter of time so I'm okay with the transmission having been rebuilt. The problem however, is that I can not get the PO740 code resolved. It runs fine but each time it's reset, it reappears after about 25-40miles. I can't get it past emissions to get tags on it so it is useless to me at this time. I don't think the friend knows how to resolve the problem and is now working through a process of elimination. It is becoming more and more costly for me. Please give me some suggestions.