2003 Gr Caravan transmission flush?

Need some opinions. My 5 star dealer is suggesting I do a tranny flush
(50000 km or 31000 miles) without dropping the pan . He said at 100000km to
do the whole thing filter etc. My manual says for severe Plan B maintanance
to do the filter and fluid change at 75000 km (47000 miles) The dealer tells
me it is better to do just a flush now and at 100k km do the whole thing as
opposed to wiat unitl 75000 to wait for the filter. I checked my fluid
through the dip stick and it looks really good, no particles etc..

Appreciate some opinios on this.

 

Find a new place for service; fast. Stick with the manual!

Richard.

 

Presuming that you have the 4 speed automatic transmissin (A604 or
41te)...

And your dealer is only on the hook for a new trans until the warrnty
expires. After that, you are on your own.

Any particles will settle in the bottom of the pan. You transmission
would have to be total slag if you could see particles on the dip
stick! Yikes!

If you Google this group, IIRC, the consensous on flushing a trans was
it is a bad idea. It never solves anything, and if there ARE little
bits loose, it just makes sure they get circulated through the trans.

My advice is that you find a good reputable shop that stocks and uses
ATF+4 tranny fluid, and get your service done there. If they are
CAA/AAA approved, so much the better. Keep your reciepts.

If you are in the Greater Vancouver area of BC, I can recomend an
EXCELLENT shop.

If things are so bad that a flush is warranted, then why not just do
the job right the first time?

You just cannot be too careful with these trannys!

 

Why are you asking for opinions - the manual tells you what you
need to be doing, do it. The 50000km "panless" flush is a waste
of money. If you really want to do it you can do that yourself
by disconnecting the fluid return line at the cooler and putting it
in a catch pan, then idling the car and pouring 10 quarts of
fluid down the dipstick while the trans pumps out the old fluid.
That's all the dealer does, although they may have a machine that
hides the fluid supply and catch pan in a box.

There are a lot of these maintainence procedures people have
come up with that sound like they are good to do but really are
nothing more than moneymakers. For example, cleaning injectors.
All gasoline (in the US) is mandated to have detergent in it so
your injectors are always clean. decarbonizing the engine is
another good one. The question about engine decarbonizing is
what is putting the excessive carbon in it to begiin with - lots of
times it's an oil leak or some such and once the carbon is decarbonized
it will just come back.

Ted

 

Yeah, follow the general manual plan. Going for a FLUSH aggravates the
"sludge" in the trans and will come back to haunt you. Doing a a full
DRAIN and fill is better, even if you have to drop the pan and replace
the filter.

 

cosza,

I have a Town Country 2002 with a 3.8 engine with 47,000 miles just
purchased it in December 2005 do not know the history on oil changes
the chrysler dealer service manager instructed me to change the
transmission fluid at 60,000 miles and unless you have heavy usage they
should not be changed until 6o,000 miles hope this helps you.

Daryl

 

Go by what your manual says. You probably fit the bill for "Plan B
Severe" maintenance.....almost everyone does though many won't admit
it.

Wait until it's time, then change the fluid and filter. In the
meantime, find a reputable, honest dealer who's more worried about you
than the number of stars he can earn by selling stuff you don't need.

<<<<Need some opinions. My 5 star dealer is suggesting I do a <tranny
flush (50000 km or 31000 miles) without dropping the <pan . He said at
100000km to do the whole thing filter etc. My <manual says for severe
Plan B maintanance to do the filter and <fluid change at 75000 km
(47000 miles) The dealer tells
<me it is better to do just a flush now and at 100k km do the whole
<thing as opposed to wiat unitl 75000 to wait for the filter.