I have a 2002 Pontiac Sunfire SE ECOtec. It has 33,000 miles on it. I got my oil changed today, and they said it was time for a transmission fluid change. I thought this wasn't until 50,000 miles? And, reading what the book says its only if your using the car extremely hard.
Now, is it really needed? They said I should have it down because of the extenended warranty because they say they can deny a claim if something should happen to the transmission.
I don't mind spending the money if it is really needed, any thoughts?
Thanks,
Jim
02 Pontiac Sunfire SE ECOtec
It's common knowledge that your owner's manual was
written as a sales gimmick to make potential buyers
believe what it says.
If you'll talk to a professional transmission specialist shop,
you'll find the truth.
Somewhere around 30,000 miles would be their "safe
recommendation", I believe.
actually the sooner the better, depends on driving condidtions tho.
MONGOOSE(TheL61) wrote:actually the sooner the better, depends on driving condidtions tho.
Actually no. It ALL depends on his driving conditions. If your car heated up and cooled down a lot, lots of city driving? If so 30,000 miles is about right.
If you are someone who sits there and drives mainly highway, back and forth to work or whatever, and doesnt drive city very much. Than 50,000 is about right.
As for the comment about the sales gimmick. Not really, fluids wear out and break down overtime. Trans fluid breaks down due to heat actually. Thats why driving city and stopping, heats up more in the city than highway. Notice how these big trucks and @!#$ have trans coolers, trans last longer when they run cooler, about 80% of the reason trans have to be rebuilt is breakdown of parts due to heat.
Anyways no fluid is lifetime, nor is the coolant 150,000 miles. I changed the coolant on a Venture with like 102,000 for the first time, looked like total crap, no way in hell should it have gone that long, and no way in hell would it have seen 150,000.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
As an aside, I rate my local Chevrolet dealership as
extremely poor on A/T fluid change advice.
They happen to be one of many who tells the customer
that the transmission is "sealed".
(Even though I bought my car there when it was new
three years ago, what they said made me never to
be back to that dealership for anything.)
Leland Sparks wrote:As an aside, I rate my local Chevrolet dealership as
extremely poor on A/T fluid change advice.
They happen to be one of many who tells the customer
that the transmission is "sealed".
(Even though I bought my car there when it was new
three years ago, what they said made me never to
be back to that dealership for anything.)
The reason being is an unmaintained trans will fail before a maintained trans will.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
Well Old Skewl, You will want to make sure you change youre tranny fluid at 50,000 miles, Cause most people just for get about it . Then wonder why they gotta spend $2800 dollars for a rebuilt in less then 5 years. So you 33,000 miles on it now, No ned to change it now, Just wait until 50,000 miles you should be save then. Some times dealers want to make money off of you sooner then later.
Good Luck.
change it at or before every 36k
so they are right on the money!
see ya!
