OK, first of all my Trooper has at least 162,000 on its current tranny fluid. Last night I noticed a little bit of hesitation in "D". I checked the fluid level and it's good, but the fluid is black.
So, I want to change the fluid and filter. I've read a few threads here, but nothing that gives me a good step-by-step procedure for doing this.
I think all i need to do is:
- Run the vehicle until it reaches normal operating temperature.
- Shut it off
- Jack up the vehicle, both front and back to keep it level so I can get under it easier.
- Drain the tranny fluid through the drain plug.
- Replace the plug with a new copper gasket; torque to 28 ft-lbs.
- Support the transmission with a floor jack
- Drop the transmission support bracket
- Drop the transmission pan
- Clean out the pan
- Replace the filter
- Fill the pan with new fluid
- Replace pan (may be tricky)
- Remove fill plug
- Pump in more fluid until it runs out.
- Replace the fill plug
- Start the engine and leave in "P"
- Remove fill plug
- Pump in some more fluid until it runs out of the fill port
- Replace the fill plug
- Cycle through the gears P-R-N-D-3-2-1-P
- Remove the fill plug
- Pump in more fluid until it runs out.
- Replace fill plug copper gasket and replace fill plug; torque to 28 ft-lbs.
- Run the vehicle for about 500 miles then repeat the process (replacing the filter again), but use Royal Purple Max ATF transmission fluid.
Couple of questions:
If my procedure is right, should I shut the engine off after running it in "P" before adding more fluid?
Can I incorporate one of the other fluid change procedures using the transmission cooling lines to drain and replce the fluid? If so, can someone give me the step-by-step procedure?
Any help would be greatly appreicated.