My 2005 Caravan shows no maintenance interval for the transmission fluid/filter under schedule "A" (average) driving conditions. They are suggesting it is lifetime fill. Under schedule "B" (severe driving), it recommends to "change fluid and filter" every 60,000 miles, with comments that this is only for taxi, police, or heavy trailering.
Personally, I would do the pan drop, fluid refill, and then do another fluid service in the next few months to get most of the old fluid out of there. This will also allow the magnet to be cleaned as well as remove the light layer of "scum build up" on the pan (these do exist, from my experience). Member Jim Allen has excellent data that shows fluid cleanliness matters a lot to tranny longevity. Next time (30 to 50K), just do the fluid exchange.
There's nothing wrong with a fluid exchange using cooler lines IF it is done
correctly with the
right fluid. A T Tec type machine uses no pressure or chemicals, relying on the tranny pump to move the fluid. The Chrysler tranny has easy spring clip cooler line access, without "hacking into a line".
Based on recommendations here, I did alternate 30K pan/filter/fluid change, then full fluid exchange only on my 2005 Caravan. My tranny failed around 105K and had to be rebuilt, in spite of excellent care and very mild driving.
To think that I believed everything I read about the 41TE tranny problems being finally fixed in the early 2000's.
If you are worried that introducing new fluid will cause a failure, do more research here.
Other opinions?.....Keep fingers crossed and set aside funds for a tranny rebuild. Although, there are lucky ones out there, I hear.
