[jozer1]

Hello everyone, I have been reading all the posts for transmission problems and have noticed that the problem I have is a common problem but I have also noticed that the problem I have is slightly different, so here it goes.
I have a 1994 plymouth voyager 3.0L V6 with 168k miles on it. Lately I have been noticing that it has been going into what many people here call "limp mode" when I'm driving around 65mph. It seems to be running fine in 3rd gear and all of a sudden it drops to 2nd gear and it starts to over rev due to the sudden drop. The only difference I noticed that is different from the other posts is that since I work nights I notice this only happens in the morning or when it's cool or cold outside (from Southern California) it doesn't matter if I start the car and just get on the freeway to drive or if I let it warm up for 10 - 15 mins. and then drive. After driving for about 15 miles or so it's starts to pull and shake and it drops down to 2nd gear. Now the other side of this is when I start work in the afternoon, I turn on the car and take off and not once has my car down shifted, it only happens late at night or in the morning when I notice the weather is cool. If anyone has any suggestions as to what I should check that may cause this , your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[jgbat]

I assume your 3.0 has a 3 speed (31TH) transmission. If so, this transmission does not go into limp mode because it is not a sensor driven, computer controlled transmission. You have a issue, but it is not going into limp.

Since it is a hydraulically controlled transmission, when is the last time the fluid and filter were changed?

 

[andyg]

Sounds like a low fluid problem to me, if it is the 3 speed.

 

[jozer1]

oh ok jgbat as to what kind of transmission I have I don't know but I did notice that it has a few sensors connected to the transmission. I did check the fluid level and the color and the smell but I didn't find anything wrong with it. the last time I had the oil changed was about a year and half ago because it also had some leaks and they replaced the gasket from the oil pan.

 

[jozer1]

***also a side note I forgot to mention is that for some reason it also does it more often when I'm going uphill or in an upward angle. I also thought that was a bit strange.

 

[jgbat]

It almost sounds like the pump is going bad inside the transmission... since you say the fluid level is good...

And your transmission will still have sensors, but the sensors do not do nearly what the sensors do in the 4 speed transmission.

It's easy to tell what transmission you have. If your letters for gears look like ' P R N D 2 1' you have the 3 speed 31TH transmission. If your gear selector has 'P R N D 3 L' then you have the 4 speed 41TE transmission.

 

[jozer1]

Ok so I just went outside to check and my van has 'P R N D 3 L' so I guess I have a 4 speed 41TE transmission. Also if the you say that the pump inside might be the problem I can't help but get out of my head as to why is it just happening in the morning or late at night when the weather is cold. If I go out right now and drive the car it will not happen. Sometimes I let the car sit for days (since I carpool) and if I drive it in the morning I get this problem but if I happen to drive it in the afternoon I have not problems what so ever. I wanted to blame it on the oil change but I remember this used to happen even before the oil change just not as often as it's happening now. maybe once a month at the most, now it's happening every day I drive it in the mornings. The fact that I drive it at 530pm and at 530 am when I work gives me a way to determine how this only happens in the mornings or late at night when it's cold.

 

[jgbat]

Ok so I just went outside to check and my van has 'P R N D 3 L' so I guess I have a 4 speed 41TE transmission. Also if the you say that the pump inside might be the problem I can't help but get out of my head as to why is it just happening in the morning or late at night when the weather is cold. If I go out right now and drive the car it will not happen. Sometimes I let the car sit for days (since I carpool) and if I drive it in the morning I get this problem but if I happen to drive it in the afternoon I have not problems what so ever. I wanted to blame it on the oil change but I remember this used to happen even before the oil change just not as often as it's happening now. maybe once a month at the most, now it's happening every day I drive it in the mornings. The fact that I drive it at 530pm and at 530 am when I work gives me a way to determine how this only happens in the mornings or late at night when it's cold.

Ok, change the fluid and filter again... use ATF+4 fluid ONLY! And report back. Is the check engine light on?