I recently bought a 2000 Ford Ranger (4wd, Supercab, 3.0l) with 73,000 miles.

I'd be interested in opinions related to if I should have my automatic transmission flushed, or to just have the fluid and filter changed.

 

Never ever ever flush. Just change.

 

Never ever flush? I have to disagree here. A change only changes 3 out of the Nearly 10 quarts of fluid in the transmission. Flush it, so ALL of the fluid, including the fluid in the Torque converter and Cooler, is replaced.

Everyone who says "I flushed my trans and it stopped working" Didn't maintain it right in the first place and it was pretty much dead already.

 

If you read the OP , he just recently purchased the truck.
If it was not maintained properly to begin with , flushing could loosen but not remove deposits which could cause a failure.
The OP could change the fluid incrementally at every 10K which would help to negate any failure.

 

 

The first time I replaced my trans fluid it started slipping. I bought it with 114k miles and that's when I replaced all the fluids...then shortly after a transmission. My vote is leave the **** alone unless you have proof it has been done before or have a few thousand to throw away.

 

I say leave it alone. No sense in opening Pandora's box.