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Post by erw38 on Oct 26, 2004 18:51:31 GMT -6
I looked at my trannyy fluid today (I tought that I might need to add some fluid) and the fluid looked like it was almost a burnt orang/ light brown color. Should I change the fluid? Keep in mind that the car has between 92 and 93k miles on ithe odometer. It also seems to shift hard into reverse/neutral and even drive. So I am asking for your help here. Please give me your wisdom!  |
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Post by Marc on Oct 26, 2004 18:55:20 GMT -6
Change it as soon as you can. The color should be a very deep dark red. The color you are talking about doesn't look good. ______________ GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!!  |
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Post by erw38 on Oct 26, 2004 19:05:35 GMT -6
Whats your thought on a full tranny flush vs just dropping the pan and putting in new fluid? Also do you suggest I use the dealer or a transmission shop or a car service shop? I found this. would this be sufficiant(sp?). |
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scottydl
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Posts: 7,373
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Post by scottydl on Oct 27, 2004 12:59:18 GMT -6
Seems like a decent promotion, but just be aware that the shop (once they do their 21-point tranny check along with the fluid change) may try to convince you that all kinds of other transmission service is needed too. But it's probably a good place to start if you don't want to mess with changing the fluid yourself.
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Post by Marc on Oct 27, 2004 13:51:55 GMT -6
erw38....I would go to the dealer for this. All you have to do is have the fluid & filters changed. The flush isn't necessary. ______________ GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!! |
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Post by erw38 on Oct 27, 2004 14:21:11 GMT -6
Dealer quoted $119.95 for it. So far I've been quoted anywhere from $50 to $120. One place told me that the needed a kit so it would be about $75 total. I really don't know what to do. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!
Cottman said the filter would be about $20 so that brings thier coupon special to a whopping $49.95.
Who do I go with?
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Post by Marc on Oct 27, 2004 18:16:25 GMT -6
Even though the dealer is the most expensive, if I were in your position, I'd go to the dealer. The reason for that is that the dealer knows the Aurora best. Sometimes these transmission shops are not as good as they claim. _____________ GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!! |
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Post by erw38 on Oct 27, 2004 19:46:35 GMT -6
Thanks for the help Marc. I really appreciate it.
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Post by Marc on Oct 28, 2004 13:55:25 GMT -6
OK! ___________ GM!!! BRING BACK OLDS!!! |
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Post by stevensolds on Oct 28, 2004 15:07:32 GMT -6
yes, take it to the dealer. as mark stated, they know the aurora.
also, mine is pink. is that good?
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Post by JimW on Oct 28, 2004 16:02:49 GMT -6
Yes its just fine if its pink  |
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Post by kobalt on Oct 28, 2004 17:02:11 GMT -6
erw38 - Before you take it to the dealer make sure the fluid has been changed before. I've posted about this some time ago. When the fluid is not changed on regular basis (every 3 years or so or 50k miles) it is best not to change it. As the fluid ages its ph level changes. Clutch packs inside your transmission are sensitive to drastic ph chages - too drastic and the clutch packs fall apart causing transmission failure. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for regular changing of transmission fluid but you're asking for trouble if the fluid has not been changed on reglular basis.
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Post by erw38 on Oct 28, 2004 17:11:58 GMT -6
kobalt, I think the transmission fluid is the original fluid so that would make it 7 years old (a smidgen more than your 3yr rule allows). I was just going to have the fluid and filter changed. Is that not a good idea? Should I leave it alone? I was actually waiting to hear your opinion on things because you seem to know your stuff and I am ignorant on matters like this.  So, let me know what I should do. Thank you to you and everyone else that has already replied to my little plea for help.. Thanks!  ------------------------ If it has not been changed before are there any benefits to draning some old fluid out and putting some fresh in (about 3 or 4 quarts or so)? |
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Post by kobalt on Oct 29, 2004 15:32:59 GMT -6
erw38 - One way to check if the fluid was changed is to see if the transmission pan was ever breached. You must lift the car and look at the pan gasket. Grab a flashlight - see if the gasket lines up with the transmission and pan, look for traces of old gasket or sealant and tool marks on pan screws. Too smooth or untouched means the transmission was never serviced.
An honest mechanic will not recommend a fluid change after close to 100k miles if the fluid was not changed before; don't be fooled by their assurances or promises.
I think it is a good idea to change the fluid if it has been changed beforehand and would not worry about it. If the fluid was never changed, have it changed only if the shop can FULLY guarantee it for a year - clutch pack damage can occur immediately or 5k miles later. If you find a shop that agrees to this, get it done - you won't regret it.
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Post by erw38 on Oct 29, 2004 16:11:20 GMT -6
Thanks kobalt!
Had it done today and when they lifted they car I checked. It was done before, so I guess I got lucky. So I had it changed and it shifts great. Much smoother shifts (especially when putting the trans into the various gears). But, while driving home, my good ol' DIC gave me the good ol' "LOW COOLANT WARNING." So I pulled over and looked. Saw that the upper hose had rubbed against the belt (don't know what belt is on the driver's side of the engine). So I bought some duct tape to wrap around the hose as a temporary fix until I get a new hose. Anyone know where I can get some of those hose clamp pinchers? I know autozone has the hose for $10.00.
Thanks to everyone for their help.
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Post by stevensolds on Oct 29, 2004 16:40:38 GMT -6
fock, mine was never changed then. damn. looks like i cant get it changed. what if it ever turns black and shifts bad. what the hell do i do? let it wear out the 3,000 dollar trans??
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Post by erw38 on Oct 29, 2004 17:29:11 GMT -6
From what I would gather, if its pink then you shouldn't have to change it. But if you want the preventative maintenance, then I would go ahead and get the pan dropped and the fluid and filter changed. I don't know if you would want to flush it. Although, if is still pink I guess the "ph" level would not change drastically. So I would say go for it, but, to be on the safe side, I would wait for kobalt's opinion on this.
kobalt = the tranny/oil/gauge cluster man
kobalt = the all knowing car god
;d
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Post by stevensolds on Oct 29, 2004 17:47:37 GMT -6
well. incase you didnt know, this transmission is a very "smart" transmission. it takes feeds from the engine, ABS and trac systems to see how hard you are beating on it. it has some nice protective software in it. If you try to ring it out in 2nd, it will shift up to 3rd and overdrive. It wont let you kill it. So, virtually, you cant damage it.
Also, over the life of the tranny, the computer continuously changes the shift points and RPM drops so it will perform just like it did when new and humans cant tell the difference. So, nail it if you want, floor it. Whatever. You cant kill it. Virtually, you never have to change the tranny fluid as the computer will keep adjusting the points. But, if you do change it, the Aurora likes that. It wont have to think as much.
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Post by Letitroll98 on Oct 29, 2004 22:25:03 GMT -6
Steven, sounds like you've been reading somewhere. Interesting info. Can you let us know where this is from, I'd like to read up on this subject as I'm totally ignorant of auto transmissions. Oh, I know the basic theory and the components, but nothing about these electronic management systems on our new fangled Aurora. (How about a six speed manual Aurora?)
As for the color of tranny fluid, I believe the only reason the fluid turns brown is heat. Building up that amount of heat is either from heavy duty use or a malfunctioning transmission. (I have towed a lot of heavy machinery and large boats around the country with pickup trucks, so I've seen a lot of brown tranny fluid) So if you have brown fluid, the potential damage of not changing the fluid is more than any liability from changing it. If still pink and over 50,000 miles, I bow to kobalts experience, which sounds like he knows from where he speaks.
The owner's manual is very clear, don't change unless you need to. This goes against my long experience running a distribution co. with it's own fleet of tractor trailers. Preventative maintainence is the key to long running equipment and we had a very specific schedule for changing fluids. However an 11 speed manual truck tranny is a long way from a fancy electronically contolled GM tranny. My head hurts, I need a beverage.
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Post by kobalt on Oct 29, 2004 22:28:52 GMT -6
erw38 - Excellent! Im glad you got your fluid/filter changed - and I bet so is your Aurora! Me all knowing? I wish, but thanx for the props anyhow stevensolds - I beg to differ with your opinion. While the transmission feature set you describe is accurate, their implementation was in mind with prolonging the transmission's useful life. You can very much kill the 4t80e just like any other transmission - it will just take a while  |
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Post by stevensolds on Oct 30, 2004 9:15:44 GMT -6
this was designed to save Olds money on warranty work but now it saves YOU money.
Btw, i got this from a Olds IRL former Engineer. He worked for olds for 20 years and was an engineer for the Aurora from 1991-1999.
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