Trans service

[ktk3438]

I was considering transmission service on my 2009 G/C SXT, but in the manual, there is no scheduled service unless I tow?

Also, how are the '09 tranny's compared to the older ones?


Thanks

[Alphabravo]

How many miles are on it? The dealer told me that the fliud should be changed at 60K. He recommended a flush, but I insisted that they drop the pan and change the filter too. Oddly enough there was little price difference between the two.

The 6-speed trannies shift a little harder than the 4-speed trannies at times, especially 2nd to 3rd. but I've gotten used to mine (or it has gotten used to me).

[ktk3438]

Originally Posted by Alphabravo

How many miles are on it? The dealer told me that the fliud should be changed at 60K. He recommended a flush, but I insisted that they drop the pan and change the filter too. Oddly enough there was little price difference between the two.

The 6-speed trannies shift a little harder than the 4-speed trannies at times, especially 2nd to 3rd. but I've gotten used to mine (or it has gotten used to me).

I am approaching 40K. Does your manual say not to change it unless you are towing?

I agree the shift changes must be more wear somehow, but unless they improved tremendously on parts, fluid, & temps, how could it even go 60K?

Also, does anyone have some data on reliability on the 09 trannys? Unfortunately I am a second owner, and do not get the lifetime Power train warranty

[Alphabravo]

According to my 2008's manual you're supposed to change it at 60K or 60 months if you're using it as a fleet, police, taxi or frequent towing. Otherwise change it at 120K or 120 months.

I use mine for light work so I changed it at 60K. I also change my oil at 3K, where the manual requires it a 6K.

Here's something funny: it says to replace engine coolant, spark plug wires and spark plugs at 102K. What a weird number. Why not a nice round number 100K? Weird.

[ktk3438]

Originally Posted by Alphabravo

According to my 2008's manual you're supposed to change it at 60K or 60 months if you're using it as a fleet, police, taxi or frequent towing. Otherwise change it at 120K or 120 months.

I use mine for light work so I changed it at 60K. I also change my oil at 3K, where the manual requires it a 6K.

Here's something funny: it says to replace engine coolant, spark plug wires and spark plugs at 102K. What a weird number. Why not a nice round number 100K? Weird.

That is a strange number.

Any good news on the track record for these trannys? My older ones were subject to failure, was curious about these newer ones

[Alphabravo]

I actually had pretty good luck with the older trannies. Out of 7 vans (6 of them were 4-speed, one was a 3-speed), I only had one tranny go bad and that was at over 200K. I've always used AFT+3, now AFT+4

I buy my vans used, if you hadn't guessed. I don't know much about these new trannies yet either. All the reports I've seen have been mixed.

This 2008 is my 8th Chrysler van. We'll see how it works out.

[ktk3438]

Originally Posted by Alphabravo

I actually had pretty good luck with the older trannies. Out of 7 vans (6 of them were 4-speed, one was a 3-speed), I only had one tranny go bad and that was at over 200K. I've always used AFT+3, now AFT+4

I buy my vans used, if you hadn't guessed. I don't know much about these new trannies yet either. All the reports I've seen have been mixed.

This 2008 is my 8th Chrysler van. We'll see how it works out.

I've had 2, a 1991 which went through 2 trannys up to 200K when I got rid of it, and a 1998 which at 90K had lots of metal in the pan, and need a rebuild, so you can see why I'm asking. Love the vans otherwise, but trannys on them have not been the best

[Bill Grissom]

I rebuilt my 2 minivan trannys within a month a few years ago, by coincidence. I did the A604 (4 spd w/ solenoids) in my 2002 3.8L only because I had to remove it to replace a cracked flex-plate. It was perfect inside at ~170K miles w/ the clutch plates worn only 1 or 2 mils so I re-used and just replaced rubber and seals. We bought that van at 155K and don't know the history. It looks like an elegant design and I think it gets a bad rap because the early ones (behind V-6's) failed from shudder caused by using Dexron III instead of ATF fluid. Some marketing genius at Chrysler put in the owner's manual that you could use Dexron in a pinch, so shops did that routinely to save a few bucks.

The other was the A413 in my 1996 Voyager 2.4L. I knew it was bad. I replaced the original tranny at ~120K with a used one. I later tore the original one apart and found the only problem was a torn lip seal on the L/R piston that I could have easily fixed from below. However, the rear clutch plates were almost gone, with the metal teeth worn to triangles. We bought the van new and babied it. The used tranny started flaring shifts at ~150K miles. It was a bit later model, with a Certified Transmission rebuild label. Many problems inside. The rebuilders had re-used worn clutch plates by doubling up on steels (cost just $2 ea). They tossed the nut retainers on the output shafts, so the nuts loosened and ruined the roller bearing. This tranny is the same 3-spd hydraulic Torqueflite from the 1960's in a FWD version. Those were fairly legendary. Now at 190K miles and shifts fine.