Transmission, HELP opinion

So this 03 has 320k , the auto transmission shifts and operates perfectly fine . Ive had this truck for about 3 years now and dont know the history.

My question for you guys would you drop the pan to tranny and replace the fluid that is lost only and clean screen .....or leave it alone ? The fluid is a little dark not bad and doesnt smell to burnt.

 

My '01 with 130k was also getting dirty/dark. A now retired mechanic recommended to Not drop the pan but instead to change out the fluid and then repeat after 5k. (he provided a discount on the 2nd switch) He shared after performing many fluid replacements, he observed more New issues happening after flushes that included dropping the pan. I went with his advise but sold the truck with 175k about a year ago. (truck had no issues) But I bow the the experts here... just wanted to share as I trusted this mechanic's advise.

 

Don't flush it. Drop pan clean or replace screen.

 

Thanks guys, ive heard your waking a sleeping dog on a flush especially with the miles were talking.

 

I have a 2004 with 330K on it supercharged and trans is still shifting great.

 

Drop the pan, change the filter, and just add new fluid

My 98 runner with 276k was a tow rig in Arizona for a couple years, then in VT. Fluid was pretty brown but not burnt. Did 3 drain and fills over 5k miles + a new filter, shifts just fine! Especially with ECT on.

External trans cooler is also a pretty good idea

 

I recently swapped in an 1999 A340F from a T4R Limited. 160k miles on the transmission and on par with my vehicle mileage. When I pulled my transmission and before swapping in the A340F, I pulled the A340F pan and replaced the strainer. Now I don't know if someone had been in there before but the strainer was clean. Did not look at all dirty. Transmission is running fine.

My advice, just do a drain and fill. I wouldn't drop the pan to replace the strainer unless you see some really nasty particles when you drain it.

After you do the drain and fill, replace the crush washer for drain bolt and then fill it to the cold level on the dipstick. Once at the cold level, get in and start. Shift through all your gears and shut off the engine. Do another check of the dipstick (its going to be below the cold level now). Fill to cold level. Get in, start and shift through the gears. Repeat check with engine running. Once at cold level with the engine running, drive and get it up to operating temp. Recheck with engine running. Fill until its in the hot range.

FSM fill in case my gibberish process is confusing lol

 

Right-on Area 51 thanks for the input, I will do exactly that. Thanks for the illustrations, i was wondering how much fluid i would need to replace.



Thanks again !all

 

That transmission screen is so coarse.....it doesn't do much.....

dropped pan and inspected at 150K.......zero debris.....


I stuck on a magflo inline filter.....raybetos I think.......lasts for 30K......

Every summer I suck out the two quarts in the pan and put in fresh with a little bit of LubeGuard......


Complete flush is a recipe for disaster.....


Same on power steering....twice a year I just suck out the reservoir and put fresh back in....
which has been switched to max life atf too......


Easiest way to do all this is a little 12v $17 hydraulic fluid vac pump.....off Amzon....
.......It has a long thin rigid tube that goes right down the dipstick tube....so no more crush washers needed....