Tranny Flush??? Yes or no.

Okay, another question. My 98 has 93,000 miles on it now. I was going to have a tranny flush at the place I work, where I wash windows, but the guy who was going to do it said he didn't want to do it. He said the tranny filter looked like the original, and the fluid is very dark, almost black. He was generally worried it might blow my tranny. I took it to a transmission speciality shop. He told me they could do a drain and install a new filter. It would replace about a gallon of fluid, but still leave most of the old gritty fluid in there. He did not recommend doing a tranny flush for it could cause the tranny to quit all together, not good. I have no idea if it has had one before. I tried to call the original owner, but to no avail. I have had it for 10,000 miles so far. If it has never had a flush before, should I do it, or is the risk too high for a flush?

I have heard this theory about a neglected trans will blow if you service it. I think its BS.

I have fixed trans problems countless times by a fluid and filter change but never caused a trans problem with one.

Do a trans filter and fluid change.
Then before starting it, disconnect the trans output cooler line at the radiator and run the line into a bucket. Start up the car and add more trans fluid down the filler pipe as it gets pumped out. Do this for a few seconds until the trans fluid comes out looking new. Then reassemble and check the level.

where is the output cooler line located? thanx

at the radiator .
The cool side of the radiator at the front of the car has two small steel lines running into it. The trans pumps fluid out through one and back through the other,
Remove both lines, run the engine for a second and see which line has trans fluid coming out.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=329742&highlight=transmission+flush

This is a link for a thread in the Aurora forum about this a while back. Maybe this will help you decide what you want to do. Maybe not, it is kinda of split between do it and not do it.
My beleif is that an older trans that has not been serviced regularly should not have the system "shocked" by a flush. Drain and clean the pan, install new fluid/filter and run it.

I don't know guys, I tend to agree with MRat. How can new clean fluid hurt a tranny? The thought that the built up goo in there is somehow protecting the system...hmm. If you flush that baby and it falls apart (I've never heard of that either) it was on the ragged edge anyway.

In my 15 years as a mechanic, I have seen at least two dozen cars come in on a hook with failed transmissions shortly after having their first service at 100,000 or more. My 2 cents come with a little experiance...if you don't know the service history and the fluid is clean (pink and not smelly) you can give it a try - if it is dark and smelly, I wouldn't reccomend it.

After all my years I say never do a filter change to fix a problems. I have seeb first hand it bring the end faster. But if you are having no problems should be fine. And for thoses who don't realize, when you do a filter change you only change 4 to 5 guarts of a 13 guart system. Old and new fluid will have problems.

Okay, one guy at a mechanic shop told me to do this. He said my fluid is pretty dark, and might cause damage. He said what I should do is a filter change, and then bring it in to have it flushed. The new filter will most likely catch all the goo and sediments that have deposited over the years, and there shouldn't be too much of a problem.