2013 Grand Caravan transmission service.

[JTK]

We've got nearly 43K miles on the van and I wanted to get the pan dropped and ATF changed on the AT (62TE). This is one of the Chrysler units that has a dipstick tube, but no dipstick. Just a removable cap on it.

There's tutorials online that sort of walk you through it and I considered doing it myself, but I'd call around and get a price first. I figured the dealer would be in the $200 range and I don't have a huge amount of faith with them.

I wound up taking it a local transmission shop that I used before (years ago). They currently do what's called a "Transmission Tune-up" for $74.45. It included a pan drop, new filter, new RTV gasket, refill of ATF+4 and a "quick-learn" with a plug-in unit. Takes about an hour for this service. For this price, I'll happily not do it myself. I took it in and had it done today. It came to just under $81 with tax. I wish I could have seen the service happening, but the shop was a bustling with activity and you can't see anything from the waiting room.

When I got home, I looked underneath. Everything looked neat. Fairly neat RTV. Pan all shiny clean. Not too much ATF splatter. Popped the hood next.. SONNAVA !@#$% No cap on ATF dipstick tube. Called the shop back. They were very apologetic and had the tech that worked on my van drive a replacement cap to the house (30 mile round trip). Again, he was all apologetic and "thought" he re-installed it.

Sad thing is the typical clueless motorist would have never known.. It wouldn't necessarily be the end of the world, but debris could get in, since the tube is pretty big and sits up vertically.

Word to the wise, as jerky as it is, check work before you leave the lot if you can.

 

[147_Grain]

You are likely OK since you were impressed to check things out early on and have some protection with the documentation the shop should include on your account.

Seems like the shop did a quality job. Little oversight items happen all the time; at least they were honest and made an extra effort to make things right.

I'd try and check the fluid level and do a flush in the springtime where the transmission return line is disconnected and the fluid is pushed out by the internal pump.

Be sure and measure the amount drained out and refill with the same amount at similar temperatures.

 

[Blinker]

Its always good to have a trans serviced (pan drop, filter replacement, refill). I had the trans in the veh listed in my signature serviced twice within 75k miles with no ill effects. And then i had it flushed at 99k miles. After that flush it started dropping out of gear, slipping into second gear when cold, and would rev up on the highway when accelerating then slam back into gear. I got it working good again after 4 more drain/refills and using seafoam trans tune to clean up whatever gunk got lodged in the valve body. The process took about 20,000 miles to clean out whatever varnish or dirt was causing the problem but it worked.

I was nervous about trans flushes before i had it flushed and every dealer and transmission "expert" i talked to said i had nothing to worry about because i had maintained it so well there was no chance anything would get dislodged into a valve or solenoid and cause slipping.


I learned my lesson.... Servicing the transmission without flushing is the only thing I would do. If your car has a drain plug, piece of cake. Drain and refill a couple of times and repeat every 30-50k and that trans will last a long time.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

That transmission needs to be serviced every year. I'd change the fluid every 10-15k.

 

[Doog]

Originally Posted By: JTK

Word to the wise, as jerky as it is, check work before you leave the lot if you can.


I always do....my daughters boyfriend had his trans rebuilt and the idiots forgot to refill the new unit.

He didn't get far.

I once had my dealer tech ask me if I didn't trust them when I checked my oil after a change. I just looked a him, smiled and said, No.

If you get a motive fluid extractor you can extract several quarts out the tube every year and never drain it again.

 

[Blinker]

Yes, in my case i've been doing the pan drop, filter change, and refill with Maxlife at about 15k mile intervals now since the fiasco. Its good to keep things clean.

 

[Oregoonian]

Originally Posted By: stower17
Yes, in my case i've been doing the pan drop, filter change, and refill with Maxlife at about 15k mile intervals now since the fiasco. Its good to keep things clean.


IMO.....Overkill....and a waste of good ATF fluid. Once every 30K should be sufficient.

 

[stchman]

I would not have dropped the pan. Automatic transmission filters don't really need to be changed.

I would have preformed a suck and fill through the dipstick hole.

 

[stchman]

Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
That transmission needs to be serviced every year. I'd change the fluid every 10-15k.


Where do you get that information?

 

[JTK]

The 62TE needs to be serviced every year? Yeah.. No.

I wanted a pan drop at least once, based on the online DIY tutorials I've seen on this particular AT. There is a good sized removable magnet in the pan and they usually have a big'ol glob of goo on the magnet the first time or two. I wouldn't have changed the filter myself, but it came with the $75 service. I didn't ask what they'd charge w/out replacing the filter.

You can remove some ATF from the dipstick tube on the 62TE, but it doesn't go to the bottom of the pan. There's a stop at the end of the tube.

 

[Blinker]

Yes 30k mile intervals are great in most situations. In my other cars I dont do 15k mile intervals but the one in my sig I do now just incase theres still extra junk circulating around. After having the frustration I had with this unit its gets a little more attention than my others. My other units i go to 50k most cases, another one has been serviced every 100k.

 

[Blinker]

Originally Posted By: stchman
I would not have dropped the pan. Automatic transmission filters don't really need to be changed.

I would have preformed a suck and fill through the dipstick hole.


Have you seen the bottom of transmission pan lately? Yuuuuuuuuck wouldnt want that still in the transmission if its not too much trouble to remove.

 

[Tdbo]

Originally Posted By: Oregoonian
Originally Posted By: stower17
Yes, in my case i've been doing the pan drop, filter change, and refill with Maxlife at about 15k mile intervals now since the fiasco. Its good to keep things clean.


IMO.....Overkill....and a waste of good ATF fluid. Once every 30K should be sufficient.


30K is more than sufficient.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: stower17
Yes 30k mile intervals are great in most situations. In my other cars I dont do 15k mile intervals but the one in my sig I do now just incase theres still extra junk circulating around. After having the frustration I had with this unit its gets a little more attention than my others. My other units i go to 50k most cases, another one has been serviced every 100k.


All good brother, but you're talking a completely different make/model vehicle and transmission.

 

[HX520W]

I'm curious why everyone is recommending such frequent transmission service. Does the 62TE have issues with longer intervals? The owners manual for the 2008 Grand Caravan says to change the fluid and filter every 120k miles or 60k miles for severe service.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: HX520W
I'm curious why everyone is recommending such frequent transmission service. Does the 62TE have issues with longer intervals? The owners manual for the 2008 Grand Caravan says to change the fluid and filter every 120k miles or 60k miles for severe service.


For me, it's more of a feel good thing. Knowing what the transmission fluid looked and smelled like (black and nasty) on my 2001 Ford Windstar at ~36Kmi changed my attitude a bit. Same with a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe I had.

The 62TE certainly isn't a problematic trans. To me, they're so nice, I want to do what I can to keep it that way.

 

[akela]

Originally Posted By: HX520W
I'm curious why everyone is recommending such frequent transmission service. Does the 62TE have issues with longer intervals? The owners manual for the 2008 Grand Caravan says to change the fluid and filter every 120k miles or 60k miles for severe service.

Depending on the usage I think.
City driving means 10 or 100 times more shifts per mile, compared to highway.

 

[HX520W]

Originally Posted By: JTK
For me, it's more of a feel good thing. Knowing what the transmission fluid looked and smelled like (black and nasty) on my 2001 Ford Windstar at ~36Kmi changed my attitude a bit. Same with a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe I had.

The 62TE certainly isn't a problematic trans. To me, they're so nice, I want to do what I can to keep it that way.


Thanks. I was starting to wonder if I should've changed the transmission fluid on the van I service. I would guess that Chrysler's recommendation of 120k mi services isn't too extreme for the van I work on since is spends 80% of it's time in sixth gear rolling down the highway.

I definitely would've changed it already if the 62TE had a drain bolt and dipstick...

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Originally Posted By: Oregoonian
Originally Posted By: stower17
Yes, in my case i've been doing the pan drop, filter change, and refill with Maxlife at about 15k mile intervals now since the fiasco. Its good to keep things clean.


IMO.....Overkill....and a waste of good ATF fluid. Once every 30K should be sufficient.

Yup, that's what I do.

 

[JTK]

I had something funny happen today with the 2013 Grand Caravan. While servicing the front brakes and subsequently having to beat the rotors off, I heard a *plunk*. Out fell the original ATF dipstick cap from the front left fender liner. Whoops.