I've been posting lots of questions regarding transmission issues on my wife's '06 EX. My wife and I were on Vacation and my father-in-law was driving our van when it lost power, and had to be towed home. We are the original owners since Jan '06 and it now has 145,293 miles on the clock. I've done routine maintenance, tires, and drained and refilled the transmission twice (I know I should have done it more....). I also changed the timing belt, water pump, and idlers about two years ago. Besides the Brakes, and Tires, timing belt, and water pump. Everything else is original.
The van has some issues that I'm going to be addressing at the same time as the transmission rebuild. Because I'm going to have the front suspension apart, I'm going to change the front struts, Rear shocks, both Axleshafts (One is original and the other was replaced about two years ago, and the Engine Mounts (There is a pretty good vibration at idle, and a thump when putting the transmission in drive) I have known the engine mounts were bad for a long time, just never bothered me enough to change them. Since we live in AZ, and this van has spent the majority of it's live out in the desert sun, the headlights have taken a beating. They are pretty yellowed, and I've polished them a few times, but it seems like the amount of time they stay clear is getting less and less. The Van now has it's own space in the garage, so I'm going to replace both headlight assys too. I'm also going to be installing an external transmission cooler, and filter. The passenger side door doesn't always open when using the remote buttons, but works when you pull either of the handles (There is an unlocking device in the door that needs to be replaced, I've taken it apart and lubed it, That worked for a year or so, but since It's a relatively inexpensive part I'm going to just replace it.
So I've been a shadetree mechanic my whole life. I've built rockcrawlers, I'm in process of building a restomod 70 Chevelle with an LS2 and a 6 speed with lots of other goodies.... I have never been inside of an engine or transmission.... Until now... This will be my first transmission rebuild. My dad has rebuilt a Turbo350 about 30 years ago, but that's about it. I'm a pretty mechanical person, and have faith in my abilities and the manual to guide me through the process... (That and Jose, and Hiram on Youtube...) My wife and I have an extra car (actually the RockCrawler I mentioned above....) so that'll become my car for the time being, and she'll drive my van (Dodge Caravan (don't hate)) I'm going to take my time and make sure that this goes back together right. We are planning on keeping this van for at least another 100K before we think about replacing it, that's why I'm doing all of the other work to it. (Happy wife, happy life after all)
So Here we go...
It was nice and Warm today.....
First Problem.... Darnit, I'm going to have to order one of these...
I drained the transmission this evening and the fluid looks like old motor oil (dark brown, not red in any fashion or form), only thinner. It STINKS too, It smells very burned. I was able to move the van in and out of the garage under it's own power. I haven't driven it since my father in law has it towed back to my house. There appears to be some transmission fluid leaking or maybe it boiled over? The undercarriage is coated in oil. I'll have to clean that up as I tear it apart. I'm expecting my Helms manual tomorrow as well as my Sonnax parts. I'm hoping to take a TON of pictures to help anyone else that wants to try this on their own. If you see anything that I'm doing wrong please feel free to speak up! or if you have any questions just let me know.
The van has some issues that I'm going to be addressing at the same time as the transmission rebuild. Because I'm going to have the front suspension apart, I'm going to change the front struts, Rear shocks, both Axleshafts (One is original and the other was replaced about two years ago, and the Engine Mounts (There is a pretty good vibration at idle, and a thump when putting the transmission in drive) I have known the engine mounts were bad for a long time, just never bothered me enough to change them. Since we live in AZ, and this van has spent the majority of it's live out in the desert sun, the headlights have taken a beating. They are pretty yellowed, and I've polished them a few times, but it seems like the amount of time they stay clear is getting less and less. The Van now has it's own space in the garage, so I'm going to replace both headlight assys too. I'm also going to be installing an external transmission cooler, and filter. The passenger side door doesn't always open when using the remote buttons, but works when you pull either of the handles (There is an unlocking device in the door that needs to be replaced, I've taken it apart and lubed it, That worked for a year or so, but since It's a relatively inexpensive part I'm going to just replace it.
So I've been a shadetree mechanic my whole life. I've built rockcrawlers, I'm in process of building a restomod 70 Chevelle with an LS2 and a 6 speed with lots of other goodies.... I have never been inside of an engine or transmission.... Until now... This will be my first transmission rebuild. My dad has rebuilt a Turbo350 about 30 years ago, but that's about it. I'm a pretty mechanical person, and have faith in my abilities and the manual to guide me through the process... (That and Jose, and Hiram on Youtube...) My wife and I have an extra car (actually the RockCrawler I mentioned above....) so that'll become my car for the time being, and she'll drive my van (Dodge Caravan (don't hate)) I'm going to take my time and make sure that this goes back together right. We are planning on keeping this van for at least another 100K before we think about replacing it, that's why I'm doing all of the other work to it. (Happy wife, happy life after all)
So Here we go...
It was nice and Warm today.....
First Problem.... Darnit, I'm going to have to order one of these...
I drained the transmission this evening and the fluid looks like old motor oil (dark brown, not red in any fashion or form), only thinner. It STINKS too, It smells very burned. I was able to move the van in and out of the garage under it's own power. I haven't driven it since my father in law has it towed back to my house. There appears to be some transmission fluid leaking or maybe it boiled over? The undercarriage is coated in oil. I'll have to clean that up as I tear it apart. I'm expecting my Helms manual tomorrow as well as my Sonnax parts. I'm hoping to take a TON of pictures to help anyone else that wants to try this on their own. If you see anything that I'm doing wrong please feel free to speak up! or if you have any questions just let me know.