# Transmission ... only works when I turn car off and on **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [December 8, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-only-works-when-i-turn-car-off-and-on/76012 "2012-12-08T21:01:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GretchenVioletta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3be4f8/32.png) [@GretchenVioletta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GretchenVioletta)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-only-works-when-i-turn-car-off-and-on/76012/1 "2012-12-08T21:01:34Z")
Hey everyone. I had a super awesome time driving my Dodge Caravan 20 feet at a time! Ha. OK. This is what’s going on. I have a 1996 Dodge Grand Caravan with … some mileage. About 180K and change. Every two or three … four months since I have owned it (4 years 100K miles), maybe a bit more often, I have to top off the trans fluid. Never was a big inconvenience so blah. ANYWAY. Friday. I pull out of a parking lot onto the road and my engine starts racing. I tried to back up and it would ‘go’ into reverse (it’s an automatic) but not move. I turned the car off, checked my transmission fluid, topped it off, turned the van back on and drove. About 30 feet. Transmission started to slip again. Engine racing. I pull over. Turn the van off and back on. Can drive another 20 feet. I can do this over and over again. It still won’t go into reverse, but I can drive forward in 20 feet intervals. I keep coming up with internet advice = sensor or solenoid. Garage said I need a new tranny. I don’t think I DO. Ah. My check engine light has been on for about 2 weeks, intermittently. IDEARS? ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-only-works-when-i-turn-car-off-and-on/76012/2 "2012-12-08T21:09:47Z")
To check the transmission fluid level the engine should be idling and up to temperature. If you check the fluid level with the engine off, you’ll get a false level reading. Tester ---
**Author:** ![GretchenVioletta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3be4f8/32.png) [@GretchenVioletta](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GretchenVioletta)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-only-works-when-i-turn-car-off-and-on/76012/3 "2012-12-08T21:13:31Z")
Oh, hey. 😃 Thanks. I know! I AM just so accustomed to having to add transmission fluid every few months, it was my first instinct. Usually it will have trouble moving after a stop or on a hill, I add a half a quart and it’s golden.