Autobox fluid change.

[milleplod]

Can someone recommend a garage to me, preferably 'in the north', that can do this job please. Local main dealer has quoted me a not unreasonable price...but I've heard lots of bad reports about them, which is putting me off! I've contacted a couple of relatively local 'specialists', both Citroen and autobox-specific, who've never got back to me. Someone on the Citroen OC forum recommended a main dealer in Sunderland , a 100-mile drive each way, but I would happily have driven that far if they hadn't called me back and said 'its sealed for life, we can't do it'!! I spoke to a specialist in Stockport who quoted way over the main dealer price, which seemed a bit odd.

Perhaps I'm getting paranoid in my old age, but I'm very wary these days of taking our cars, and my bikes, somewhere without a recommend. Any help most will be most gratefully received!

Pete

[411514]

You seem very close to the garage of http://www.marklightfootltd.co.uk/ who is a member on here. He may be able to assist.

[milleplod]

Thanks for that Sam, much appreciated!

Pete

[NewcastleFalcon]

There are many pieces of advice about the subject of changing Auto Transmission Fluid.

There will be a specific drain and refill procedure for your particular autobox which will manage about 3 ltires of say 7.5 litres in the box/torque converter.

Then there is a full flush which will use in excess of the full capacity say 10-12 litres in the process to effectively replace all of the old fluid with new.

If you have a 6-Speed Aisin Warner Box fitted there are very specific recommendations re the fluid required, and yes an AT specialist, should be fully aware of this.

Speaking personally I am still running scared of replacing the transmission fluid in my autobox, which was rebuilt at 60,000 miles, and I have now done 178,000 miles, 118,000 miles on the same fluid they bunged in the box after the rebuild.....and touchwood its still performing well. I did get an external cooler fitted at the time of the rebuild.
I would regard my rebuild as being successful, but I did stop short of getting the same firm to do a full flush at around 70,000 miles probably would have cost £250 ish at the time.

Plenty of threads on the subject, here's one of my contributions

https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... in#p466238

Regards Neil

[milleplod]

Thanks. I did do lots and lots of reading up on here, and elsewhere, regarding fluid changes. The conclusion I've come to is that it would be beneficial to have it done.....I just need to find somebody competent to do it!

Pete

[Hell Razor5543]

One of the most important things a person can know is what they do NOT know (and, thereby, when to hand the job over to somebody who can do a proper job).

[milleplod]

One of the most important things a person can know is what they do NOT know (and, thereby, when to hand the job over to somebody who can do a proper job).

Your mission....should you decide to accept it....is to find that somebody!

Pete

[Hell Razor5543]

Unfortunately I have no experience of automatic gearboxes (usage and maintenance), so I am not competent to accept that mission. Sorry about that.

[milleplod]

Unfortunately I have no experience of automatic gearboxes (usage and maintenance), so I am not competent to accept that mission. Sorry about that.

No problem at all!

Pete

[demag]

Can I ask what sort of prices you've been quoted?

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[van ordinaire]

Time was when nobody changed ATF, because the service intervals were very long, so by the time the 1st one was due the Nth owner didn't think the car was worth it AND, few had drain plugs & the recommendation was it was changed hot - so the job was messy & potentially dangerous.
Now as we move towards sealed units, the experts advocate a completed fluid change - presumably because it's a nice little earner! For all that, I'd rate a transmission specialist over a main dealer every time.

[milleplod]

Can I ask what sort of prices you've been quoted?

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£160 all-in at the local main dealer.

Time was when nobody changed ATF, because the service intervals were very long, so by the time the 1st one was due the Nth owner didn't think the car was worth it AND, few had drain plugs & the recommendation was it was changed hot - so the job was messy & potentially dangerous.
Now as we move towards sealed units, the experts advocate a completed fluid change - presumably because it's a nice little earner! For all that, I'd rate a transmission specialist over a main dealer every time.

I spoke to 3 'specialists', all of whom were that 'special' they presumably didn't want to/couldn't do the job as they never bothered to get back to me.

Pete

[demag]

Thanks, I'll definitely be getting mine done. I use an indie about 5 miles away and whereas I used to do a lot of my own work I find it a bit harder now and the old joints don't work so well.

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[van ordinaire]

A friend had his X-type Jag done by main dealer, although/because it's a sealed unit; then he took their Meganne there - because they were cheaper than Renault! No, don't even try to understand it.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Can I ask what sort of prices you've been quoted?

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£160 all-in at the local main dealer.

For that price, its going to be a partial change by undoing the drain plug, letting 2.5-3 litres pour out, and topping up with exactly the same amount as was drained out. They should do the appropriate level checking procedure and reset the transmission oil counter as appropriate.

Regards Neil