Rodeo took a beating yesterday/Advise.....

[Ramblin Fever]

Ok, as some of you may know, certain parts of Colorado got hampered with another 13"-18" of snow yesterday; in which, with all of the moisture this year and last weeks fun of removing a tree stump, our yard has taken somewhat of a beating and turned mainly to mud.

Coming into our place last night, there was a school bus stock on the slope next to our house blocking all access to our driveway - which we wouldn't have been able to get *literally* into anyway. The wind blew 3-4' drifts into the driveway of which we would need to plow.

With the bus taking up the whole street (skinny road in front of our house), we had no choice but to head both the Tacoma and the Rodeo into the yard, noses down. Mind you, this section of yard was very fragile in terms of turning into straight mud.

We started to help the bus driver dig out, in which, as we were directing her to rock the bus back and forth, she started to come very near our edge of the yard - in which, if she were to catch that down slope that our trucks were sitting on, she'd wipe both of my vehicles out.

So, we moved the 2 trucks further into the yard. And, to shorten this a'bit, they ended up sitting there for over 2hrs while we dug the bus out and then our driveway.

Basically, in this time-frame, both trucks were wedged in what turned to mud. Neither one had the umph or grip to pull the other out, irregardless of the one being a 4x4, they were STUCK and creating a mess!

Finally got them both out on their own will-power, and both will be getting cleaned up this weekend.

Both will get a partial transmission fluid swap - they got rocked back/forth for more then I care to accept.

Other then this, can anyone think of anything else that would need attention - neither one were in the mud deep enough to worry about the engine itself, but they were in half-way up the wheel wells.

Just hope I didn't shorten the Rodeo's tranny life, although I drove it this morning without any issues.

I'm getting SICK of this weather!

[Andie_J]

Yes I know what you mean about the weather, I got over a foot here. Im pushing for globial warming!!!!! Last year when i sank my Saab in the pasture and dad had to pull me out, it disconnected and broke a few wires for the brake system. Just clean her up good and go from there. Andie

[Dober89]

Maybe have a quick look at the differential breathers to make sure they arent clogged up at all. I was pretty ticked a couple months ago when I opened the door to the garage and there was a puddle of gear oil on the floor because I had been too lazy to clean the breather.

[Ramblin Fever]

Good thinking, Dober89 - I'll check into that!

[Gizmo42]

The diff breathers are the only thing I would be concerned with as well. Make sure you spray good inside the frame rails to get all the mud out from in there.

My work van has had enough of this weather as well. Right in the worst part of the storm the wipers decided they didnt want to work anymore. Luckily I dont have to deal with fixing it, but I did have to drive someone elses rattling peice of junk all day today. We only got a couple inches of snow at my place, mostly lots of rain.

[runaround]

Why r u changing tranny fluids I heard this type of of transmission does not require service. The manufacturers used a type of transmission oil that does not break down and consequently does not require changing. I keep reading on this forum concerning changing the AT fluid but on another forum (2carpros.com) I read different. Just trying to get to the bottom of things. Still researching whats best and most cost effective for our vehicles.

[amigo-2k]

It is a sealed unit but it still need fluid changes. When folks here with tranny issues post many times they have 75-100k on the fluid, there issues start due to lack of maintenance.

Many recommend swapping or flushing the tranny at 30k intervals (some don't like flushing). If you tow or offroad it is recommended to do it sooner. Swapping the fluid only gets out about 40% of the fluid.

There are a few Isuzu techs that post here and on other boards that also recommend fluid changes at 30k intervals...

[surferfletch]

When you're talking about cost-effectiveness, I think changing a gallon of ATF, maybe $10 of Dexron-Mercron III, every 15K is huge. I think it means the difference in your transmission going 100K vs. 200K+.

[runaround]

My 97 rodeo v6 3.2L eng. has 96 000 miles and we havent done anything with the trans. fluid at this point should I do a partial swap of trans. fluid or totally replace it, I've been reading that totally replacing it isnt safe due to the many detergents in the new fluid, and that partial is better along with dropping the pans. WHat do you guys recommend for my truck at this point, its running well (kind of). But im hitting near 100k, and want to go 200k.

[Ramblin Fever]

Well, I'm sitting at 173k right now - original tranny; but I can assure you, if I hadn't done fluid swaps every 20-25k, I'd be on my 2nd tranny by now.

However, mine has had a *working* life compared to most.

At this point, if I had your truck, what I would do is drop the pan, clean the pan, replace the filter/gasket, and refill; wait 500-1k miles, pull the drain plug on the pan, and refill with more fresh ATF; wait maybe another 2k and do another partial drain/refill - at that point, you should be good to go for 10-12k, then do it again. And keep doing it every 20k.

I would NOT recommend a flush - but that's just me; it would have the tendency to loosen up too much debris in a neglected tranny.

Make sure, however, that you read up on how to refill this tranny, as it must be done with being 100% level and at the proper temperature, mind you, there is no dipstick.

[amigo-2k]

after 90k I also would not recommend flushing it.

Drop the pan and replace the filter...

[Ramblin Fever]

Forgot to add, that 2carpros.com website is a load of bull.

I read that too, a while back about our tranny's having a *special* ATF that doesn't break down - whatever...

FWIW - I heard the same load of bull from one of the dealers in Vegas, NV when I first bought my truck 10yrs ago. However, these tranny's are actually borderline delicate if neglected maintenance wise, I can't say those that have been serviced regularly are that fragile though.

But, life long ATF... yeah, whatever. Read pretty much the same crap in my Tacoma V6 handbook just recently too though - but it's getting changed before the 50k mark.

[surferfletch]

Third generation VWs have an auto tranny with "lifetime fluid." Pretty much equates to 100K if not serviced. Same with the auto in my wife's BMW, but most recommend servicing it at 60K.

Be careful if you try to tackle this on your own. I serviced mine into the wee hours of Sunday morning and woke up 3 hours later with accute appendicitis. At the very least, refilling a 4L-30E can cause nausea and increased blood pressure. Good luck!

[Gizmo42]

Actually the fluid is lifetime, it will be there for the whole life of the trans LOL.

I hate when idiots give advise about a vehicle they know nothing about. I agree with not flushing at this point, just dropping the pan and partial changes.

[runaround]

KOOL! I'll take your advice Ramblin Fever, probably get it done this weekend.
Thanks Guys, glad I found yall..