Has anyone ever changed their tranny fluid and filter? I am looking at doing mine. I am about to hit 100,000 miles.

My Moms tranny just want out at 150,000 on a Honda Accord so now my Dad is a tranny freak.

Anyway I am looking at changing my fluid and filter. So has anybody done it?

What you might want to do, instead of trying to do it yourself, is take it somewhere and have it flushed instead of changed... the reason I say that is number one the "filter" that's in there, isn't really a filter like you're used to seeing.. it's more like a screen. And when you just service the transmission, (that is, drop down the pan and drain the fluid and change the filter) you're only draining about half the fluid that's actually in there, and it doesn't get rid of ANYTHING in the torque converter.
Whereas if you take it somewhere and let them plug it up to a machine and flush it out, it gets rid of 99 percent of the fluid and backwashes the screen so it's clean, and it gets the fluid out of the torque converter.

The other thing you should think about is that at 100k there is a lot of buildup and even metal that's come off the transmission that may possibly be HELPING your transmission to shift better.. if you get rid of the buildup, you may run into transmission problems by trying to prevent them...
That is, if the fluid has never been changed before now.

You know I understand it is a screen not a filter. I have been researchin it and I found a transmission kit online for like $40.00(new gasket, o ring and screen and something else i forget).

I was thinking about the build-up thing. But i figured it would be best. I will look at getting it flushed. Where do you think I can get that done? What kind of price would I be looking at? I doubt my tranny fluid has been changed. I did the sparks last week and they were the original ones.

Thanks.

the flush isn't horribly expensive.. I work at a dealership and we charge $89.95 so you could probably get it for less at Firestone or PepBoys.

the flush isn't horribly expensive.. I work at a dealership and we charge $89.95 so you could probably get it for less at Firestone or PepBoys.


Amanda,

do Automatic Trannys have drain plugs on them these days? years ago they didnt. If you didnt have a lift & the correct drain pan, you'd be covered in the stuff.

Thanks for the the info. I will talk with my local nissan dealer about the risk of doing it at 100k. Or I may do it when I take it in for the timing belt.

On a nissan honestly I'm not sure... on GM vehicles you have to drop the entire pan down and replace the gasket inside.... I would imagine that it's the same on a Nissan, though I've never looked under one to be sure.
But yeah, it's going to be something that you have to have a good lift for and the right tool to get the pan down.

What do you mean the right tool? I looked at my Chilton(?) manual and it looks like about 8 bolts to drop the pan.

The lift is no problem as most military bases(i am military) have an auto shop that have several lifts there and guys to help you.

What do you mean the right tool? I looked at my Chilton(?) manual and it looks like about 8 bolts to drop the pan.

The lift is no problem as most military bases(i am military) have an auto shop that have several lifts there and guys to help you.

I think what she's referring to is the fluid catch tray that is alot wider that the normal engine oil one. When you loosen the bolts on the pan you have to do it in such an order that will allow the fluid to drain out one side. You sequentially and gradually loosen them untill all of the fluid has drained out the one side, then you can pop out the remaining bolts.

It sometimes takes a little persuading to break the gasket seal between the pan and the tranny, and this is where it can get messy. i.e. the pan all of a sudden pops off and splashes fluid all over the place.

So it takes a little finesse. :)

I think what she's referring to is the fluid catch tray that is alot wider that the normal engine oil one. When you loosen the bolts on the pan you have to do it in such an order that will allow the fluid to drain out one side. You sequentially and gradually loosen them untill all of the fluid has drained out the one side, then you can pop out the remaining bolts.

It sometimes takes a little persuading to break the gasket seal between the pan and the tranny, and this is where it can get messy. i.e. the pan all of a sudden pops off and splashes fluid all over the place.

So it takes a little finesse. :)


Exactly. Thanks John. lol. Guess I shoulda been more clear on that one.

the xterra's do have drain plugs for the tranny fluid.

Thanks for the the info. I will talk with my local nissan dealer about the risk of doing it at 100k. Or I may do it when I take it in for the timing belt.


Does the Xterra have a timing belt? I thought it was a chain.

Does the Xterra have a timing belt? I thought it was a chain.

Sometime in 2000 or 2001 they went to chains. Mine still has a belt.

GGunn,
Most of the auto craft shops on Mil bases will flush a tranny at a reduced rate. if you can't get it done in Al you might want wait til you come back to columbus. I'm pretty sure they do it here on post.
Doug

I'd like to stick my hand up and give an answer here. I had the tranny fluid changed on my Escape last summer, this got rid of the shudder it did when ever it shifted. I took it to a shop that specialized in this kind of thing. They take the feed hose that goes from the tranny to the radiator and plug that into a flushing machine. They take a hose from the flushing machine and plug that into the the radiator. You then start the car the transmission pump sends the fluid to the flushing machine which stores it, and sends an equal amount of new fluid into the top of the tranny cooler, which is part of the vehicles main radiator. This then flows back to the tranny. The stuff that comes out is dark brown and smells very burnt. The new stuff going in is a translucent pink with not much odor. The flushing machine has a window so you can see the color change. This flushing also replaces all the fluid in the torque converter. It cost me about 100 bucks, but was worth it. On the other hand, if you were driving a manual, you wouldn't have to worry about this.

That's that is exactly what they told me at my local Nissan dealer. Of course the siad I needed to replace it with nissan tranny fluid. They also said it should be done every 30,000 miles. Cost at dealer $149.00 What kind of fluid did you replace yours with?

Hey Trackerho76--I called my bases auto hobby shop Maxwell AFB. They don't have the tranny flush machine. I am called the one on Benning over by the Commissary. I think that is Kelly Hill. Anyway I will call them on Sat. and if they have it I will be making a trip to see my parents.

Thanks everyone at clubX.

you want to talk to the auto skills shop on main post by the jump towers. talk to your mom she should be able to get you the #

The shop by me does the flush for $69.99.

:D

you want to talk to the auto skills shop on main post by the jump towers. talk to your mom she should be able to get you the #

I called my Mom at the Legal Office on base and asked for the phone number. She advised me to stay away from that auto hobby shop.

She processes claims against the US Army. She said it seems like everytime they touch a transmission they seem to broke. She said stay away from those.

good to know. I've had good work done there by a guy named Dave. I watched him the whole time and I've been told by a buddy of mine to only deal with him.

Final on this subject.

In Aug I found out I was going to Iraq for 6 months. So I wanted all the vehicle stuff in order for my wife. I had the tranny serviced at my local Nissan dealer for about $150.00. On the flip side Honda did my wifes car for $50.00.

The one thing I can add to this. If the 100K mile was the first time the tranny fluid had been changed I am really shocked the dealer did it. Most will not touch a tranny with that many miles before their first change. The problem is that the gunk that is in there is holding the plates together. You flush that gunk out and the tranny starts to slip and then...nothing. I have seen it happen on a number of vehicles. With high miles before a tranny change, most usually just drop the pan and replace some of the fluid. This seems to work better, but may still cause problems.

I think the vehicle received regular service before I got it. That was at about 85,000 miles. It is good to go.