My transmission fluid is kind of dirty and transmission is a little rough shifting from gear to gear... The transmission shop refuses to do a flush and change fluid saying that new fluid is going to turn all those tiny metal particles loose and it will result in a lock-up. They insist on dismantling the whole thing and charging me $400 for it. Do you think what they're saying makes sense or its a rip-off?
Also, what is the difference between changing the fluid and flushing and changing?
I have a 99 BMW 528 with 77k miles
2007-03-09 02:09:51 · 11 answers · asked by Rona9 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It makes sense AND it is a rip-off. But as it stands right now, there are particles floating inthe fluid right now, so how can that be any worse?
What does BMW recommend? I'd ask the dealersip.. Since you are having shifting problems then you may have already done damage.
2007-03-09 02:13:38 · answer #1 · answered by Shredded Cottage Cheese 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Changing the fluid simply means removing the oil pan on the bottom of the transmission cleaning it and installing a new filter or screen. The clean pan is bolted back on with a new pan gasket. Flushing entails forcing new trans oil under pressure down the fill tube into the transmission. The oil circulates through the entire unit plus the torque converter. The old used oil is removed from an oil return line at the trans. or return line. If I were you have the fluid changed and drive 3 - 5,000 miles and then flush the system. The majority of the particles will be removed by simply changing the fluid. There are some strong feelings concerning flushing the entire systems. Some transmission shops agree it's waisted money. Independent and new car dealers disagree as they say system flushing is a better deal. Your BMW dealer would be the place to ask which trans.care is the best.
2007-03-09 04:03:06 · answer #2 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A flush washes out the transmission, and it does remove small particles that have flaked off the metal parts. A good flush should remove all or almost all the particles, and should not cause problems. If you flush a transmission that has not had regular maintenance or has had a long life, you run the risk that it will simply cause the internal transmission parts to fall apart and you won't have anything left.
A "lock-up" should not be the result unless the flush was not done properly.
It sounds like they are seeing a lot more in your transmission fluid than "dirt" or that they don't really believe your odometer is correct. Less than 10,000 miles a year?
You can ask the car guys, but from what you've said, I think it might be worth $400 to know the tranny is in good shape. There is the possibility that they will tell you you need a new or rebuilt one, which will run quite a bit more. On the other hand, you will reduce the risk of having to be towed off to a garage and have to pay a lot more.
2007-03-09 02:23:44 · answer #3 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is an automatic and it seems so then the shop might be stating what realy is. Metal being heavy will settle to the bottom and be traped in the sludge there. Flushing is when a solvent is pushed through the system to clean the sludge and it does do that. It is difficult to get the metal do to it being heavy and a solid. I am not sure if they actually know it there is metal lying in the pan of the tranny.
If the tranny is in need of this then any parts that are worn need replaced.
I would suggest that you just have the fluid changed and not the flushing part. If there is a filter then change that. some do have.
You might just be alright for another 30k or so. You are getting to the point where many trannies have to be rebuilt. If the fluid has never been changed then you might just be in for the rebuild now.
2007-03-09 02:51:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This makes NO sense.
"The transmission shop refuses to do a flush and change fluid saying that new fluid is going to turn all those tiny metal particles loose"
As when the old fluid is removed it will carry away some of those "tiny metal particles" (oil cleans too, inside 'car parts') so at minimum there would be less of them there, less chance of "Lock up".
You never told us if it was an automatic or a standard shift and that makes a HUUUUGE difference.
Changing the fluid simply drains off the old fluid and they put new fluid back in, flushing removes the old fluid, runs new fluid through the system as to CLEAN it out, then completely replaced with New fluid as to end the process
2007-03-09 02:18:57 · answer #5 · answered by occluderx 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In the bottom of the transmission there is a magnet to grab all the bigger and smaller pieces that have come loose..and also there is a filter.so the particles that have made it through the filter are too small to affect the transmission to the point of lock-up.Go to another place and ask them to just change the transmission filter and clean the magnet and put a new gasket on the transmission pan..Once that is done then take it to a lube shop like Jiffy lube or Penzoil and ask them to change your transmission oil .They have all the proper pumps to change the oil and they won't be as expensive as a transmission shop anyways.
2007-03-09 02:31:49 · answer #6 · answered by rcbrokebones 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is a difference between a "drain" and a "flush". A difference as much as almost 2 gal. of fluid. I'ld suggest a "drain" with a filter change. They are 100% right. But, most likely, your filter's clogged.... preventing a high enough pressure for smooth shifts. Change the filter.... refresh the trans fluid with new.... you should be fine.
2007-03-09 02:22:03 · answer #7 · answered by johnbehrhart 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 1998 Subaru legacy outback with a manual transmission. I need to know what does the ground wire on top of tranny go to
2015-04-22 13:21:25 · answer #8 · answered by Shari 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
shop around and get a filter and fluid change..less than 100 dollars..see how it runs after that.
2007-03-09 02:33:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should have the oil changed first of all anyway, you have nothing to lose by doing that, there is a filter that they can clean out also, you might still have transmission probs even after this,but by changing the oil is the first and cheapest option, gid luck
2007-03-09 02:16:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋