Tech / Special Interest → Automotive > Transmission Fluid change

Transmission Fluid change

I have a 2000 Dodge Intrepid ES (3.2) that has 196,800 mi. I got it used about a year and a half ago and it ran smooth since the time i've had it. I recently noticed the transmission starting to kind of slip between 2nd and 3rd and am going to take it to a transmission shop soon to have just the fluid changed, hoping that it may be time for a change since I'm not sure whether it's ever even been changed. I'm thinking it probably has since the car has that many miles on it. The fluid looks like a light brown and not dark or near black.

I'm trying to decide between taking it to AAMCO or Cottman's and have them to do a flush, plus drop the pan to make sure it's all cleaned out and add a new filter.

Which place is the best as far as price to do what I want done as well as quality of work?

Will they use the recommended and exact Chrysler/Mopar ATF +4 fluid?

Would they also add a bottle of Lucus Oil Transmission Fix to it during the change if I buy it?

You'll get a lot of opinions on this, but generally speaking if the transmission is already slipping... A fluid change with or without Lucas stop slip likely won't help and might even speed up failure.

If you do want to change the fluid, I would drop the pan, clean it out including the magnet, change the filter (I like Wix filters) and refill with either Amsoil Signature Series ATF (my preference)or Valvoline ATF+4. It will be less of a "shock" to the tranny than a full fluid flush. However you go, I would buy your own fluids and filter to make sure you know what is being installed. Best of luck.

EDIT: If you add Lucas stop slip, again, it might not help, but it certainly won't hurt if you already have slippage. Buy it and have them throw it in during the servicing if you feel it's worth the try.

IIRC, your transmission uses Chrysler ATF+4.
NEVER EVER add anything to ATF+4. No conditioners, no non-slip, NOTHING!

If you change the fluid without changing the filter, you are most likely wasting your time and money. Would you change engine oil without changing the filter? Same reasoning applies.

196,000 miles is WAAAY overdue for a transmission filter / fluid change. Should be done every 50,000 or so. If heavy use, every 35,000.

Use only ATF+4 fluid. Brand name doesn't matter, but it must be ATF+4.

Don't let a salesman tell you that they use something else and add a "friction modifier". This will ruin your transmission. If the salesman says something like that, run, don't walk, run away from there quickly and find a shop that knows better.

In case I didn't say it before, USE ONLY ATF+4, with no additives.

If you have gone 196,000+ w/o a change, and it is slipping, then I agree with the previous poster, you may have something more wrong, but a fluid / filter change would be a good first step.

I would NEVER recommend AAMCO. I have heard too many horror stories.
Find a good tranny shop that will do a filter and fluid change together.

Edits: Grammar and spelling

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There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him.
Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Thanks guys. I did a little research and know to use ATF +4. However, I never came across anything that said not to use any additives with it, so thanks for that bit of info.

I also knew to always change the filter each time like you would with a oil change if the pan is dropped.

As I said, I got the car used about a year and a half ago and really haven't put a load of miles on it... couldn't be anymore than about 1500-2000 miles total i've added to it. They said the car had always had its regular fluid changes, so i'm not sure. The slip isn't really bad either... it's sort of like taking its time to kick in. Also, the downshift on first seems a little rough and when the car is coming to a stop while doing it, it will kind of lunge a little.

I had a 99 Crown Victoria that had 1st to 2nd gear major slipping, and a dropping the pan, replacing the fluid and filter AND Lucas Transmission Fix did it. I took it to a Transmission Shop who has been in the business for 40 years and has Countless reviews all over the internet which area all excellent, and he said Lucas Transmission Fix added after the fluid change can be helpful. I did that about 1k miles ago, and the transmission is 70% better than it was. As for going with AAMCO, I also would not go with them. Seems they are a bit pricier than other independent transmission shops and are hit or miss with the reviews
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No Victim=No Crime

The reason I want to have it flushed as well as a pan drop is I'm not exactly sure when the last change to it was and I don't want to have it mixed with who knows what is in it now. I'm leaning toward the Amsoil Signature Series fluid with no additive.

There is sound reasoning not to use additives with ATF+4, just in case you were curious.

1) Most (I won't say all) additives are snake oil, and are a waste of money.

2) Chrysler transmissions and ATF+4 were designed to work together. When you change the characteristics of the fluid with additives, they no longer work as they should together, the friction characteristics change, and this can destroy the clutches in the transmission (or cause early failure).

From what you describe in your latest post, it sure sounds like a dirty filter and / or old fluid is the culprit. Changing both should improve your situation.
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There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him.
Robert A. Heinlein, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

So, in my case with almost 197K and not being sure what kind of fluid that is currently in there and when the last change to it actually was...

Pan drop only + add Amsoil Signature Series + filter?
Flush + drop pan + add Amsoil Signature Series+ filter?

Btw, I have decided to go with the local Cottman Transmission shop.

Good transmission shops are priceless. AAMCO usually is not one of them.

I've got nothing to add to the excellent and varied advice on transmission additives. IMO between the type of additive, the fluid use, the tranmission's "problem or symptoms" and the age of your transmission you are taking a gamble. You may get a very beneficial result or a disastrous one. Good luck on whatever you do.

I assume that you don't want to replace the transmission because of the age of the car. But I would really keep in mind that a transmission with nearly 200,000 miles on it and an unknown history to boot...well,just saying...

Good luck and let us know how things work out when all is done.

I haven't given them a call yet. I'm leaving early in the morning on a trip (not my car btw) and will give them a call at the end of the week.

I will be reporting back on how things go. Thanks.

I'd say change the fluid and filter and have the tranny inspected, but I think there is at least a 33% chance that the slipping is due to end of life wearout. 200k is quite a bit.
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Wacky Races 2012!

It has been a little while since I actually checked the fluid, so I decided to go ahead and give it a check again today... it doesn't look dirty at all and has gotten a little bit low somehow, so that could be the problem with the shifting and putting it into gear too. I'm taking it over sometime next week to the guy who owns the garage besides us to have him do the change. He only does pan drops, so i'm just going to have him do what he knows and has done for a good while, add new fluid (Amsoil Signature Series) and most likely a WIX branded filter.

Also, instead of going with Amsoil, I'm going with Valvoline ATF +4, which is the next best. I had no idea Autozone or Advance Auto didn't sell Amsoil, so instead of just fooling with an independent dealer at a separate place, I'm going with Valvoline.

Valvoline ATF+4 will work just fine. Amsoil has some weird rules about their products being on the shelves of chain stores. Some parts stores carry it and some don't. If this will be the only time you would have purchased Amsoil anyway, then Valvoline is probably the best way to go.

I have always used either Valvoline or Pennzoil for oil changes. I figured the Valvoline ATF +4 for the transmission would be just as great as their oil. Pennzoil doesn't have a specific fluid for ATF +4. The Valvoline stuff is specific to Chrysler vehicles as well, so it's a no brainier.

I had the transmission fluid and filter change with a pan drop done today. It is back to shifting a bit smoother now. The fluid was a little dirty and low as well. There were little to no pieces of metal noticed in the pan.

By the way, did you go with a WIX branded tranny filter and gasket?

Nope. I couldn't get a hold of one at either Autozone or Advance Auto. Autozone was out of what they had (Duralast), so I had to get whatever Advance had. According to their site, the closest place that sold their products was some local auto store about an hour away. You would think places like Autozone where I normally shop, or NAPA would have the big name brands!

Yeah, they can be hard to find at a local store. I normally order mine from Amsoil when I'm putting in an order anyway. I think Amazon carries a lot of Wix products as well.

I get most of my parts from here. They also have Wix.

»www.rockauto.com/

I have seen a number of forum posters mention rock auto. I had never really heard of them until recently. What is the deal with them? Are they like the Amazon of car parts?

They carry a large selection of parts for most cars, from several manufacturers, from cheap economy priced parts to OEM. The pricing is hard to beat, and you can often find a coupon code for 5% off, which would cover all or most of the shipping.
I would suggest visiting the site and just look around a bit. The site is easy to use and easy to find your car's model and year, then the part you need.