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2000 Dodge Caravan Torque Converter

Tiny
COURIER81
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
Hi:

I have just replaced the torque converter on my Caravan with a reman unit from ARI Industries. I filled the torque converter with a quart of ATF +4 and then installed it. Torque everything down like I should and then preceaded to add an additional 8 ats of atf 4 to the tranny. Now when I crank up the van, a "metal on metal" noise comes from the torque converter area, and if I place it in gear, it turns into horrible grind noise. I am sure that nothing is in between the converter and flex plate, and I am certain that everything is installed as it should. The torque converter was also installed as far as it would go on the tranny shaft. Could it be, that I have a bad converter?


Oh, it is a 2000 Caravan, 3.3 liter flex fuel, with the 41te or otherwise known as the A604 transmission.
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Sunday, September 12th, 2010 AT 6:25 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,465 POSTS
Are you sure it keyed into the front pump?
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Monday, September 13th, 2010 AT 8:56 AM
Tiny
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Thanks for answering. Yes, I am totally sure it is all the way in like it should. I was able to contact the manufacturer of the torque converter and the person I spoke to said that there should have been a note in the package (which there was not) that I needed to file about an 1/8 of an inch off of the torque converter to flexplate bolt. He said that after installing the new one, they would be too long and cause the converter to "dimple" and lock up. So, he is sending another converter and asked me to call him when I install it.
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Monday, September 13th, 2010 AT 9:45 PM
Tiny
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Isn't that nice. Is he sending you money to cover your time? (Lol) Let me know if that takes care of your problem.

Joe
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Tuesday, September 14th, 2010 AT 7:29 AM
Tiny
COURIER81
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  • 12 POSTS
Hi:

Well, I have replaced the torque converter with the new one that they sent, and to good news is that the metal on metal sound is gone! However, when I place the van in gear (forward or reverse) there is a definite whine. If it is in park or neutral, no whine. I make a short trip on the road (about a block or two) and the whine ramps up till it shifts into the next gear, goes away, then returns when it has to shift again. I'm puzzled. Is that normal till the torque converter gets some wear on it?
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Sunday, September 19th, 2010 AT 4:49 PM
Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
  • 108,465 POSTS
That isn't normal. I'm starting to question the front pump. When you had it out, did you check it?
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Monday, September 20th, 2010 AT 10:57 PM
Tiny
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No I didn't. I'm not even sure how to.
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Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 AT 6:34 AM
Tiny
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It would need taken apart and checked for clearance. Not a fun job. Just curious, are you getting a factory converter or aftermarket?
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Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 AT 12:00 AM
Tiny
COURIER81
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It is an aftermarket from ARI Industries. I have been driving the van for a day now (I use it for work) and for the most part it drives fine other than the constant whine (as I reach traveling speed, it almost goes away) and it shifts fine. However, when I started it in the morning, the van kept stalling, and once on the road, it would "buck" a little. If I slowed stopped for a light, it would stall. Once, it warmed up though, it would run fine. A few hours later, when I started my route it ran fine. Later that evening, on the way home, it stalled, every time I had to wait at a light, till I got warmed up. I haven't given it a tune up yet, maybe that is just that. I don't know.
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Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 AT 2:43 AM
Tiny
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Usually when you need a tune up, it will run poorly warm or cold. I'm questioning the temp sensor. It tells the engine the outside ambient temp as well as the coolant temp. From that, the computer determines how rich or lean the fuel mixture needs to be. Has the check engine light come on?
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Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010 AT 11:25 PM
Tiny
COURIER81
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It is funny you said that. I can have the van run a self diagnostic on some things, and the error code that comes up is the ambient air temp sensor. I'll change that and see what happens. Thanks!
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Thursday, September 23rd, 2010 AT 5:47 AM
Tiny
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Let me know what you find.
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-1
Saturday, September 25th, 2010 AT 12:28 AM

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