Wrath of the A604 strikes again!

Yep, it's toast. We drove 10 miles south to our little community church. After church we got gas and headed east towards the city to do our monthly shopping. Made it about 13 miles and the trans started jumping around amd slipping in and out, slammed into lower gear. I ussumed it dropped into limp, 2nd gear. I wasn't driving, wife was. Traded spots. definitely not limp mode. Wasn't stuck in 2nd. Wasn't stuck in any gear but the only one that would work was 1st. If I tried to accelerate to a shfting speed, it would try to shift and slip out. Of course, narrow fast highway, not really anywhere to stop, 4-ways flashing. Finally stopped again. Realized reverse was gone. Not completely, in reverse it just revs up like it's in neautral but with some hesitation as if it were bogged down some almost as if I was power braking it. Finally found a gravel, logging side road. Left it there and got a ride from some guy that just happened to be coming out of the logging road, to our little community/town. Our pastor took us the rest of the 10 miles home. Praise the Lord for good people. Anyway, I found a lot of people with good ideas and willing to help. At first we were checking our roadside assistance. It only tows us if it's taken to a service shop. Not on your life. The only registered service shop around screwed us so bad last time it cost me an extra grand. You couldn't put a gun to my head and get me to take it there. So now what? So we would have to pay the towing ourselves. I got the idea of trying to find a car dolly or otherwise I'd have to tow it myself with my tow strap on a main busy highway at 60+ MPH for 24 miles. Too far, need the dolly. Couldn't find one but found out that the gravel road we parked on just happens to run right into Stage Coach Road, an old gravel road that bypasses the main rural routes straight NW through the mountains right to a mile from the house. About 14 miles through the mountains on gravel at 10-15 MPH. Oh well I only got first gear anyway. So my wife drove my truck and I limped along in the Voyager. I don't even want to try to explain all the different things it did and the different sounds it made, like once in a while sounded like a crotch rocket street bike. Slippn in and out the whole way. Lost torque going up hill a few times.

Take your own A604 and dump a gallon can full of nuts and bolts in it and drive around. Knock about 3/4 of all the teeth off of all the gears on top of that. It was an interesting ride to say the least. Oh well, what the hell, it was toast anyway. The guy I called earlier lookin for a dolly just happens to be the local tranny guy and fixes the cars of all of our friends from the church and school. He said it depends on what all needs replaced or rebuilt but could probablly rebuild it for us for around $800-$1000. That's not bad,, really. Just all depends whether or not we decide to get it fixed. Might just throw it up on Craig's List for $600-$700 for parts or repair van. Only payed $1500 for the van a couple years ago and then burned at least a grand or better a year ago when someone(cough, neighbor kid) dropped an egg in our fuel tank and destroyed the entire fuel delivery system. Some of you may recall my posts and threads on here about that. I'm wondering if it woud be cheaper to just find a replacement A604. Eh, probably safer to have one that is rebuilt than one that is in unknown condition. Besides, the tranny guy said all the ones he rebuilds last a long time. He seems to be really, really well trusted by the people in our community. He holds a lot of credit with them.

Anyway, thanx for letting me vent. Anyone else wanna share their A604 horror stories, make me feel better??????

Cyuz!!

how many miles on the van? the 3.3 is good for alot of miles so if you are under 225,000 a rebuild might be good money spent. if you got the money i would go for the rebuild by the local who does good rebuilds. there are alot of people that can rebuild a better than new 604. you just have to find them. as far as the junk yard 604, that is risky. a used 604 could of have been owned by a 16 year old. mike

190K, Im thinkin, or close to. Ya, Id like to have the wife keep drivin it for a while. Course, try and convince her, she wants a newer one. Maybe I'll get it fixed and keep it for back up. Can never have enough back up cars.