Car Guru

Wduaqnug

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2002
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Car with 97000 miles should I do tune up for the transmission if it shifts fine, some mechanics say definetly but some say its sometimes kills it
 

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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Originally posted by: Wduaqnug
Car with 97000 miles should I do tune up for the transmission if it shifts fine, some mechanics say definetly but some say its sometimes kills it
what car is it? manual or auto?
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
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If the transmission is still behaving perfectly, then go ahead and change the fluid. It's when you have symptoms of failure and THEN change the fluid that failure can occur.
 

TechnoKid

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2001
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have you ever servied the fluid before?

replace the filter, and do a flush. You may have to replace the filter twice if you've never done regular fluid chages. What can happen is that new fluid will dislodge varnish etc and cause the filter to get clogged.
 

Budmantom

Lifer
Aug 17, 2002
13,103
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Everytime you take a car to have any major work done(even an oil change) you are opening up the door for them to do the job incorrectly, how many stories have you heard about the drain plug not being replaced.



Tom
 

Wduaqnug

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2002
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jemcam so are you!





main question if transmission is fine and you do tune up will it harm its performance?
 

AdamSnow

Diamond Member
Nov 21, 2002
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If everything seems fine, replace it... you will be okay...

Like someone else said... if you are thinking of changing it because you think there is an option... you might want to consult a transmission shop.
 

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,158
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Originally posted by: Budmantom
Everytime you take a car to have any major work done(even an oil change) you are opening up the door for them to do the job incorrectly, how many stories have you heard about the drain plug not being replaced.



Tom
Not many, since the majority of automatic transmissions don't have one. The OP did ask this question of "Car Guru", which you obviously are not.

My question would be: What does the trans fluid look like now? If it's really dark, almost black, then I'd be leery of flushing it.

I might remove the pan and change the filter, but that's about it.
Problem is, if the trans isn't in decent shape, internally, then a flush is liable to break loose all kinds of crap and cause failure soon after.
Another possible concern is, the new fluid would dislodge some sludge inside. But that's a risk I'd take.
If you took a poll of transmission mechanics, you'd probably see about a 50/50 split in guys who recommend changing the fluid and guys who said don't do it.

Now if the trans fluid looks good, and the tranny shifts fine, then go for it. A flush is an excellent way to extend tranny life as long as the tranny is not in bad shape.
 

Stumps

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2001
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97000 Miles you say hmm whats that in Kilometres 97000x1.6 whats that equal, damn not enougth fingers hmmm 150000ish, your transmission, be it auto or manaul will require an oil change, but I have seen plenty of auto's do over 300000km's with out a single change and still operate fine....like the one in my daily driver
 

Vegito

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 1999
8,329
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Find out if it has a drain plug

Most transmission failure are due to fluid losing their ability to lubricate the gears... flushing may remove some of the sludge thats actually preventing your tranny from leaking.

If it does not have a drain plug, your option is to remove the pan (drop pan), drain, clean, resealed pan and bolt back. If you do have a drain plug, I would just drain and top off, say every 3000 mile for 2-3 times since you're not chaning out all the fluid at once. I would avoid flush for a model that late w/o known the service record.
 

Stumps

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2001
7,125
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most auto's don't have a drain plug instead the oil pan will be removed and will have a little magnet to trap metal shards and crap, the risk of damaging an auto after an oil change is minimal. there might be some jap auto's that only have a drain plug, but all GMC, GMH and Ford auto's don't have one.
 

Firetower

Senior member
Jul 15, 2003
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There are friction modifiers that help the clutches grab (and release) when they're supposed to. There are viscosity addatives that help maintain the "weight" of the "oil" for proper lubrication and hydraulic properties. There are detergent additives that help control deposits by suspending particles in the fluid until they can be filtered out. All of these additives need to be replenished from time to time, as they are "burned away" with normal use. The BASE oil in ATF doesn't really break-down the way engine oil does, so it doesn't really need to be replaced in its entirety, just refreshed. Five to Six quarts of ATF contain enough of these additives to ?refresh? the five to six quarts that remain in the torque converter and cooler lines when the pan is dropped. Therefore, it is not necessary to flush a transmission at normal service intervals.

Modern automatics have a lock-up style torque converter that contains one pressure plate and one ring of clutch material. This clutch is very susceptible to overheating and slipping and will start to crumble and shed material (that will end up in the filter and pan) if it starts to carbonize from heat. One preventative solution is to keep fresh friction modifiers (less slippage) and viscosity additives (better hydraulic pressure) in the fluid via regular maintenance

Yet if it has never been replenished. A flush and fill if an idea but not needed. I would take it to a tranny shop, they will drop the pan and examine the filter to see if there is any probs. A good transmission mechanic can tell the overall condition of the tranny by looking at the filter contents.

I dont recommend going to your local Jiffy Lube. Check out a specialized mechanic specific for trannys

 

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: Stumps
97000 Miles you say hmm whats that in Kilometres 97000x1.6 whats that equal, damn not enougth fingers hmmm 150000ish, your transmission, be it auto or manaul will require an oil change, but I have seen plenty of auto's do over 300000km's with out a single change and still operate fine....like the one in my daily driver

you also see lots of smokers living into their 80s. you also see lots of smokers getting lung cancer in their 40s.
 

Vegito

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 1999
8,329
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Originally posted by: Stumps
most auto's don't have a drain plug instead the oil pan will be removed and will have a little magnet to trap metal shards and crap, the risk of damaging an auto after an oil change is minimal. there might be some jap auto's that only have a drain plug, but all GMC, GMH and Ford auto's don't have one.

Yeah im surprised that tranny drain hasn't been implemented.. its like the greatest thing.. i drain my own fluid every 10-15k.. 3 qts.. at a time.. easy like oil change...

but whats cool was saturns has these tranny filter like the oil filter.. keeps the fluids clean.. :)
 

CrackRabbit

Lifer
Mar 30, 2001
16,642
62
91
Originally posted by: Wduaqnug
2000 dodge caravan


Whatever you do make sure the place uses ATF+4 ONLY on it, DO NOT use Dexron II/III with an addative, no matter what they say it is not the same and will kill your transmission in 3-5k miles.
If you cant find one that will use ATF+4 take it to a Chysler or Dodge dealership and watch them to make sure they use ATF+4.