hello guys

i have a bit of a problem. i bought my 2004 4banger brand new and ended up giving it to my mother after about 1500 miles because she needed a ride and i decided i didn't want to make the payments anymore.

she had it for 7 years and decided she didn't want it anymore and gave it to me.

i went to check the transmission the other day because pulling out onto our road the other day, the engine revved up to 4,000-5,000 rpms to shift into gear. i checked the fluid and it was brown and had a bit of a burnt smell to it.

i asked my mom when the last time she changed the transmission fluid was and i couldn't believe her reply of "i didn't know you have to change that" so it hasn't had a transmission fluid change at all since the orig. fluid was put in it off the line. it currently sits at 150,000.

what do i do with that ? do i try to get it flushed ? do i just change the fluid and filter ? do i just do nothing and hope it lasts long enough to just scrap it and buy something else ?

it's not black, but i'm scared that if i change it that it might screw it up. i've been reading many articles and messageboards through google and it seems like i have no chance.

what do i do ?

 

If it was my truck, I'd try changing the fluid and filter. Leaving the existing fluid in place is just going to accelerate wear and tear and further plug up the filter.

 

change the fluid and filter at a minimum.

 

This.
maybe after you change it throw some seafoam Transtune in there.

 

will it be okay to change the fluid and filter ?

I've been reading many "experts" say that it'll cause the transmission to fail within 5,000 miles if you get rid of the polluted fluid.

i can't afford for it to fail on me, i wonder if i should just sell it before it becomes a huge problem.

 

If you can, I would go ahead and get it all changed out and flushed since your vehicle runs on Mercon V (I think) which is a semi-synthetic fluid. It was true in the older days that flushing the system would cause problems but not for our trannys. It sounds like she ran the fluid low and hopefully you have no damage.

 

i just got home, i took my truck to two transmission places and three firestones because those were the only five places open today on my side of town. all five places told me to either get rid of the truck or drive it until the transmission dies.

they said that if i drain the fluid and replace it that it'll die within a couple weeks.

guess im in the market for a new vehicle.

thanks for your replies.

 

Take it to a reputable transmission shop. If worse comes to worse and you have to get your transmission rebuilt, it will be a lot less than payments on a newer vehicle but I doubt it needs rebuilding.

 

Try Lucas Trans Fix. Will not hurt to try at the point your at. Read alot of good testamonies on it.