Transmission service - advice needed

[oksooner]

I have been searching this forum for some time but I have not been able to get a clear answer to my question.

Should I service my transmission or not?

- 2000 rodeo 3.2L 2wd
- 99,500 miles
- second owner (so I do not know what was done prior to 62,000 miles)
- running fine with no issues.

If I should service it, the next question is to what extent??

Thanks

[Ramblin Fever]

Did you just purchase it, or have you owned it since 62k miles?

And, if you've owned it since 62k miles, have you done any kind of service on it or no?

[oksooner]

I have owned this vehicle for about 2-1/2 yrs and, no I have done nothing to the transmission. The driving done has been mainly highway to and from work. I have not used the truck for towing or any othe difficult use so the wear on the tranny should have been light......since the 62,000 mile mark.

[FL 3.2L]

If it were my truck, I'd drop the pan, clean the pan and magnet, change the filter and gasket, put the pan back on, and put in about 3 or 4 qts (whatever will fit after the partial drain). I guess I would also drop the front pan and clean it and change its gasket.

[FL 3.2L]

I would not flush it.

[Ramblin Fever]

Ditto...to what FL 3.2L suggested.

Do NOT flush this transmission...doing so will enable it to self-destruct, more then likely.

After changing your filters/gaskets and putting in new fluid....wait for a few thousand miles and do another drain/refill procedure to get even more good fluid in there.

Honestly, the towing, off-roading, etc is not what really damages these tranny's, lack of maintenance is much more detrimental then towing a heavy load.

It's too bad the previous owner didn't do at least one fluid swap for you, hopefully you can get some good fluid goin in there.

Keep us posted.

[oksooner]

Thanks for the reply's. Just a simple filter and refill was what I was leaning towards so that is what I will do. Obviously, in hindsight I should have done this right when I got it!!

Thanks again for the replys and all the good info.

If it wasn't for this forum, I would have had a hell of a time replacing the timing belt and water pump, which turned out real smooth and easy.

[HI JOHN]

I hear someny horros stories about flushing a tranny with over 100K, I guess I've been lucky. I purchased a 98 Ford Expedition with 102K on it and had a full tranny service= New filter plus flush and have never had a problem. It now has 180K and is on its second flush and still runs like a top.

My 97 Rodeo I got it with 112K I'm the 5th owner and I did a full tranny service=New filter plus flush. I now have 138K and this machine runns like a dream. Love it!!!!!!