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2003 Dodge Caravan Repair Question


Topics covered: Transmission, Torque, Axle.
Mileage: 14,300 miles.

Asked on December 11, 2012

Dodge Caravan Transmission Problem

I need a list of things i need to remove to replace the transmission.
Avatar Asked by (pending member)

Answer

Replied on December 12, 2012

Visit the dealer and get a copy of the service manual. It will list all the steps, any special tools that are needed, and will give the torque values for the bolts and nuts. There's way too many pages of stuff to retype. There's also a real lot of problems do-it-yourselfers can cause if you aren't aware of the things to look out for. For example, you'll be removing the two half shafts. It is critical you never allow any vehicle weight to be on the wheel bearings while the axle nuts aren't tightened. The torque value for those nuts is very important too and very high. Either of those mistakes will cause the bearings to instantly become noisy and make a humming noise.

Cleanliness is much more important with these transmissions than with the older models. To prevent problems, you're supposed to use a special pump and cleaning chemical to flush the transmission cooler.

I never tried removing a transmission without having the vehicle on a hoist. What I would do first is visit one of the pick-your-own-parts salvage yards and pull a transmission out there to see what's involved. The vehicles are usually well-supported about a foot off the ground.

Tiny Answered by caradiodoc (expert)
17,277 answers provided