Long Overdue A/T Maintenance

[cowrack]

OK, everyone can tell me I'm stupid I should have done this a long time ago, but I am at approx 157K on my 1998 SL2 DOHC A/T, and I have NOT ever changed the A/T filter/fluid. Generally the car is in good shape (cept' one deer strike, it got away ) . I am noticing at low speeds (20's to 30's) it seems to shift up and down, and it is becoming very annoying...Am I too late? What should I do? New Fluid? FLUSH? (probably not) SeaFoam Tranny?

Thanks!

Jamie

[Cat Fuzz]

That sounds like a range mode sensor or some other sensor type thing. Try having your codes read. There might be a tranny code in there to give you a clue. Autozone or Schucks usually will read an OBDII car for nothing.

[cowrack]

Originally Posted by Cat Fuzz

That sounds like a range mode sensor or some other sensor type thing. Try having your codes read. There might be a tranny code in there to give you a clue. Autozone or Schucks usually will read an OBDII car for nothing.

Unfortunately other than an occasional EGR pintle stuck code, i think that is what it was (Maybe that is it!?) nothing else has ever set. I will keep an eye on it though.

Thanks!!




Jamie

[sierrap615]

DO NOT CHANGE THE FLUID!!

with over 150K on the fuild chances are the clutch packs friction materal has worn off into the fluid and the ATF is now acting as the friction materal, changing the fluid will result in the loss of fristion materal suspended in the ATF, which will ultimitly result in slippage and to a lesser extent a clogged valve body. this is very common in automatic transmissions that have had maintance ignored. a simple check of this the color of the fluid. new ATF is a bright red color and is translucent to a small amount when you watch it drip. normally worn fluid is still red, just a little darker. when the fluid is a very dark red or brown (sometimes simular to motor oil), the clutch packs have begun to brake down, a flush should not be preformed. if the ATF is flat out black, start looking for a new car or a new trans.

also, remember saturn automatic transmissions are computer controlled, any shift timing problem is most likey PCM related, not hydraulic like trans of the past.

[cowrack]

Originally Posted by sierrap615

DO NOT CHANGE THE FLUID!!

with over 150K on the fuild chances are the clutch packs friction materal has worn off into the fluid and the ATF is now acting as the friction materal, changing the fluid will result in the loss of fristion materal suspended in the ATF, which will ultimitly result in slippage and to a lesser extent a clogged valve body. this is very common in automatic transmissions that have had maintance ignored. a simple check of this the color of the fluid. new ATF is a bright red color and is translucent to a small amount when you watch it drip. normally worn fluid is still red, just a little darker. when the fluid is a very dark red or brown (sometimes simular to motor oil), the clutch packs have begun to brake down, a flush should not be preformed. if the ATF is flat out black, start looking for a new car or a new trans.

also, remember saturn automatic transmissions are computer controlled, any shift timing problem is most likey PCM related, not hydraulic like trans of the past.

thank you sooo much...so basically, I should leave it alone? I will check the fluid tomorrow, but I believe it is darker than normal, but not black. Just to confirm, don't do anything, correct?

Thanks so much

[PlayStation3]

i have a question do u do your own oil changes or someone you know or do you take it to a place to get it done. becuase if you took it to a place there how can they be that stupied to not realize the tranny fluid is old.

[cowrack]

Originally Posted by PlayStation3

i have a question do u do your own oil changes or someone you know or do you take it to a place to get it done. becuase if you took it to a place there how can they be that stupied to not realize the tranny fluid is old.

Honestly, and this is not a lie, for almost every oil change (cept maybe one or two) it has gone to a Saturn dealer. :



I am going to double check one set of paperwork, but I am just about 100 percent sure it wasn't done. I did have a large servicing done early (it was many years ago) but I do not believe they serviced the tranny. Ironically, I took my wifes cavalier there to have an oil change, and they recommended replacing one of the tires. She figured they did that because it wasn't a saturn

For whatever reason, they hardly ever suggest servicing of anything...(they suggested a muffler strap, which I did, a resonator, still needs to be done) and that is about it...other than that..nothing...

[PlayStation3]

wow thats all i am going to say

[sierrap615]

Originally Posted by cowrack

thank you sooo much...so basically, I should leave it alone? I will check the fluid tomorrow, but I believe it is darker than normal, but not black. Just to confirm, don't do anything, correct?

Thanks so much

if you are not sure, ask a tech at a shop to check it real fast, they will know as they check the color before every fluid change they do. because if they don't, the fluid was black, and then it starts to slip, guess who has to pay for a new transmission?

[wrparks]

Just curious, but what is the recommended interval for these cars. My wifes 2000 SL2 manual has a set of driving conditions (hot>90% of the time, taxi, towing,...) that says you should do it every 30,000 miles, but if not under those conditions according to the manual it is never necessary. Obviously, I don't buy that, but what do your guys recommend.

Also, how soon do you expect the clutch to break down (miles). My wifes car (the sl2), as far as I know has never had it changed (or at least since we got married). It now has ~134,000 miles. The fluid looks pretty good to me, but I'm no expert. Fortunately, the last 60,000 miles have been highway, so that should help I would think.