[Long_Voyager94]

Most likely an ABS sensor failed.
It'll still run/drive fine, you just won't have TC/ABS and possibly Cruise.

 

[Long_Voyager94]

Thank you all for the stress relieving replies!!

I'm already building another vehicle at home to replace this Caravan as soon as possible. We had not intended to use the van for any trips as I don't want to run into the expense of a transaxle rebuild but other things happened (it's called life).

I'm having way too much trouble with the WIFI where we are staying so I'm signing off to try another laptop. Hope to be back soon.

It'd make me question getting rid of it if you already had to drive it instead of the vehicle you intend to replace it with.

Serious question, why not just do the proper maintenance on the Caravan and not worry about it? These vans last perfectly under regular care.

 

[Long_Voyager94]

Hi Everyone,

We are staying near Disneyland in CA therefore no snow.

I had to run back there to drop off some stuff and just as predicted, no cruise.

The below photo montage was during the setup of my current office a few years ago. It shows where I keep all my service and overhaul manuals, parts books, technical literature relating to the vehicles I own or have owned. The lower two views are inside the doorway of the upper right view. The fireproof files are kept here because, with two outside walls, it will not get as hot should we ever have a fire. Heaven forbid!!!

This is only to illustrate how serious I have become with over 60 years wrenching experience, 50 of which have been in my own business.

View attachment 76726

The proper maintenance has been performed all along. As you guys have enlightened me, the plastic cooling system upgrades have been done as well. I also carry the TIPM bypass cable with me everywhere.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions, the above tips and for anything else I have been able to learn here. You have been most helpful.

I have been/still am, way too busy to get here on a regular basis so I'm not the least bit put off by the suggestion that I might not be doing proper maintenance. If we were not on a mini vacation I would not be able to respond as much as I just did.

Best wishes to you all and thank you again!

Sincerely,

Jim

Your concern for the transmission told me you likely hadn’t been doing the fluid/filter changes at proper 50k intervals as these don’t give issues when properly serviced, something any good mechanic knows about them.
Hence the maintenance comment.

These vans are as good as their owner and the person maintaining them. Under proper care, 3-4-500k trouble free miles are easy.

 

[Long_Voyager94]

They just stomp on the pedal and hope.

And when you want to stop without steering, this is the quickest way to get there and a point when ABS becomes dangerous. The 10-20ft of added stopping distance with ABS is the difference between stopping behind another car and stopping in the behind of another car.

A decent driver knows when to apply brake and when they need to "Panic Stop" to avoid plowing into someone.

It's a give and take. Someone who knows their vehicle and knows their vehicle's braking threshold can easily use that to their advantage.

To those people, ABS is a hinderance in controlling their vehicle. In cases where one side has traction and the other does not, ABS is a hinderance and makes stopping more dangerous as it doesn't allow you proper braking force.

To the average idiot, ABS doesn't matter anyway as they'll just stomp the pedal and forget the steering wheel exists as they plow into whatever is in front of them.

Much like "Traction Control". If you need traction control because you can't control your throttle yourself, you shouldn't be driving.