# 1996 Dodge Caravan 3.0 Transmission problems **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** caravan, transmissions, dodge\ **Created:** [May 21, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-caravan-3-0-transmission-problems/30785 "2009-05-21T18:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elynnc1268](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df788c/32.png) [@elynnc1268](https://community.cartalk.com/u/elynnc1268)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 6:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-caravan-3-0-transmission-problems/30785/1 "2009-05-21T18:12:47Z")
Problems first started as the van would not shift when cold;then shifted fine at warm up. Now,it is extremely hard to shift into 3rd gear,high pitched whining noise when accelerator is pressed,but easing off the gas helps for a few seconds and will eventually shift into 3rd. Any thoughts on what this is? No codes or light comes on ---
**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-caravan-3-0-transmission-problems/30785/2 "2009-05-21T19:01:05Z")
With the not so good history of these trannys hopefully it is not the end for this one. I can only suggest you get into a shop ASAP to see what is going on and possibly stop any further damage. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-caravan-3-0-transmission-problems/30785/3 "2009-05-21T19:12:18Z")
When was the last time the fluid was changed. This era Caravan with the 3.0 had MAJOR transmission issues. ---
**Author:** ![elynnc1268](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df788c/32.png) [@elynnc1268](https://community.cartalk.com/u/elynnc1268)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-caravan-3-0-transmission-problems/30785/4 "2009-05-21T20:27:40Z")
Not sure as I have only had it a few months;it has an appointment tomorrow and I should know something by then. The tech I talked to says it could be a solenoid,or even the computer. A $200-$700 repair. I will be driving it at 30MPH as its now not shifting into 3rd at all. ---
**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-caravan-3-0-transmission-problems/30785/5 "2009-05-21T20:51:04Z")
Lets not get ahead of ourselves here. The 1996 3.0 Caravans used both 3 speed(A670) and 4 speed (A604) transmissions. Is your Caravan a 3 or 4 speed?? If it is a 3 speed you can forget about solenoids or anything electronic. This one shifts hydraulically, by governor. If it is a 4 speed, thats when the computer, sensors and shift solenoids come in… transman ---
**Author:** ![elynnc1268](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df788c/32.png) [@elynnc1268](https://community.cartalk.com/u/elynnc1268)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-caravan-3-0-transmission-problems/30785/6 "2009-05-21T21:24:48Z")
No idea-i guess all of the techs said it was electronic trans. I Dont have a clue ---
**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-caravan-3-0-transmission-problems/30785/7 "2009-05-22T00:21:46Z")
What does your gear selector say?? Does it say, P,R,N,D,2,1 or P,R,N,D,3,2,1 for example. transman ---
**Author:** ![elynnc1268](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df788c/32.png) [@elynnc1268](https://community.cartalk.com/u/elynnc1268)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-caravan-3-0-transmission-problems/30785/8 "2009-05-22T14:51:02Z")
P,R,N,D,D2,D1