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My wife comes home and tells me the Check engine light came on. I pulled the code P0740-TCC Circuit Malfunction. I was able to clear the code and a tranny shop told me to drive it some more and see if the code comes back and if any other codes pop up. I cleared the code and test drove it. I noticed a shudder in reverse and 1st gear. The CEL came back on 10 minutes later, same code P0740. Doing about 60MPH the tranny started slipping and then a constant metallic whining noise started up. CEL came back on and I got different codes this time, P0700-Transmission Control System Malfunction, P0732-Gear 2 Ratio Incorrect, P0733-Gear 3 Ratio Incorrect, but no P0740 this time.
I barely got home. I pulled the tranny pan and there is metal shavings. The fluid isn't terrible but isn't cough syrup red either. I don't think the fluid had been changed for a long time, if ever. I think the filter may be plugged because I poured some fluid into the pickup slot and it didn't come out the tube where it would normally be sucked up into the tranny.

What happened to this tranny, did the filter get clogged causing the oil pump to grind itself up with no lubrication?

Should I put a new filter on, clean up the shavings, put new ATF-4 in it and see what happens? Or am I wasting my time and money judging by the shavings I have here?

What's the hardest part about removing a Dodge Caravan transmission?



 

Those transmissions are notorious for stripped forward planetary gears blown rear planetary gears and stripped or broken clutch hubs. Not to mention bad solinoid blocks. I think you need an overhaul. How many miles on it?  

the fluid from the pan is not to lube the pump ...  its to create hydraulic pressure to push pistons to squeeze the clutch plates together with the steel clutches... to transmit torque from the engine to the wheels...  there are also bands that grab the outside of the spinning drums..  

all of these pistons has a oil leak....  so when the valve body releases flow to that part.. the clutches release instantly...

when the transmission filter is clogged.. the fluid flow is restricted..   the pump cannot suck up enough fluid to keep the volume and pressure up so clutches start to slip.. when they are not properly pressurized..

and the result is what you see in the pan..  

and your fluid is NOT OK.. its totally burned up.. filled with clutch lining..

you can try a new filter. and new ATF+4...   its hard to tell how much damage is done... but it looks bad...

please make sure that you return the magnet to the pan..  keeps the steel fragments out of the filter.. out of the spinning parts above..

you will probably need to get the transmission rebuild and a rebuild torque converter... with that much debris...

please verify that they flushed the transmission cooler properly...     you might end up needing a radiator also as the transmission cooler is in one of the tanks....

one more thing while they have the battery out to get at the transmission stuff on top.. be sure to have them clean the ground connection under the battery tray .. it probably has a red nut.. its on top of the frame rail...   they should also remove and wire brush the ground wires on the back of the forward cylinder head..  

Here is an update:  I cleaned out the shavings, put in new fluid and been running it around town. The check engine light went off on its own. Going to keep running it until she blows...