Changing transmission fluid and power steering fluid, doable DIY for a car noob?

[irishScott]

So Jiffy Lube (yes, Satan) has told me every time I've gone in for an oil change to get my 2000 Toyota Avalon's transmission fluid and power steering fluid changed. Thinking it was a Jiffy Lube money ploy I politely told them to shove it. But now I've taken it in to a mechanic I trust for some more serious work and his guy recommended the same things. Said it wasn't critical but it needed to get done.

Learning more about cars/car maintenance has been on my to-do list for some time, is this a good opportunity? If so, any links, guides, tips whatever on the exact process would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

 

[Raizinman]

I would recommend changing the transmission fluid (all the transmission fluid). If this is the first fluid change, I would recommend a complete fluid change. Most Jiffy Lubes have this equipment. They tap into the transmission line between cooler and line. As old fluid comes out, they pump new fluid in. This will give you about a 95% or better fluid change. Some people like to drop the pan and replace about 30% of the fluid. Personally, I don't like mixing good fluid with bad fluid especially if you haven't ever done a fluid change. Is you don't like Jiffy Lube, most dealerships have this same equipment.

 

[T2urtle]

When you wait a long time, sometimes you might as well leave it be. Since your on borrowed time.

A drain a fill doing about 30% or 3-4 quarts to me is less of a impact. Your doing it slowly, might be costly. But that's my method.

If u can change your engine oil, you can change your transmission fluid as well. Exact same idea, just do the drain plug. As some filters are not serviceable

 

[XtremeCuztoms]

dropping the transmission pan and changing the filter and gasket and 3-4 quarts of fluid might not be the best idea sometimes. if the trans has a lot of miles on it, all your doing is mixing 3-4 quarts of fresh atf with old burnt fluid...

many places recommend a transmission flush, flushing is good... sometimes they add a cleaner then they flush and then run a conditioner thru it.

with the flush they remove a transmission line to the trans cooler, if you drop the trans pan you could end up with a trans leak after the repair is done....

for the $ go get a trans flush..

power steering, well as the fluid gets old it eats thru the rubber lines and destroys the rubber seal in the rack and pinion. if the rack and pinion leaks internally then you replace it with a nice 1500.00 expense or flush the fluid for 50 bucks... 🙂

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Wth a flush though the filter doesn't get changed. If its got alot of miles on it and never been flushed or anything then I do a flush and drop the pan after and change the filter.