I was scheduled for my free 100 point vehicle inspection @ any Nissan Dealer today, so I called about getting my tranny (auto) flushed and filled. I had read on here that it is a $69 service, so I figured I would at least try it. I called to schedule it following my inspection and found that the $69 is just a drain and fill (I can do that at home), and that the full service is $159. For that much, I can just do a drain and fill 3x over the next few months and get the same result, right? If I do it at home, that is a lot cheapeer than $159, just the cost of 15 quarts of fluid.

My question is this: Will that change the fluid on the torque converter? ALso, about what percentage of the fluid will be changed if I drain and fill 3 times at home? Assume that I take a month between drain-and-fills to let the fluid circulate...

 

Your dealer is expensive. The dealer by me gets 99 bucks for a complete tranny service. The tranny kit is only 20 bucks, plus 10 quarts of ATF, your only looking at 30-35 bucks in parts and fluid. $159 bucks means there getting over 100 just for labor. It's definately a good idea to drop the pan and clean it up. I was suprised to find a good amount of dark silver muddy crud stuck to the magnets in the bottom of my tranny pan. The price of the gasket is well worth getting that crud out of there. There is no filter in the tranny, just a screen which was spotless on my car.

The tranny flush is actually a very simple process. There's plenty of info on this forum to help you do it yourself. The cost of maintaining your Auto tranny is very cheap compaired to the cost of a new or rebuilt unit if yours fails due to contimanition.

I say, drop the pan, clean up the magnets, then if your not comfy with the flush process, do a series of drain and refills and you'll be just fine.

 

So if I drop the pan, what is the process? Drain the tranny fluid, unbolt and drop the pan, clean off the magnet, replace the gasket, replace the pan, then refill?

I don't like the thought of the full flush and fill at home b/c there is too much room for error, plus I do not have access to a hose, garage, etc. (ANYONE IN FAIRFAX WANT TO VOLUNTEER ONE???), and I am inexperienced at this. It leaves too much room for error on my part.

Also, by doing 3 drain-and-fills a month apart, what percentage of the fluid will I exchange? Mathematically, I estiamte about 87.5%.

 

Phenyriv,

Did you take it to Browns'? PM Me we'll talk!

-Arlan

 

With 3 drain and fills your ratio of synthetic to dino ATF will be about 87%. Yes the oil in the torque will also be at 87%. Cheapest and most effective way to flush ATF is to disconnect ATF return hose from radiator and pump oil out. It only takes 11 quarts and your synthetic to dino ATF is 97% plus. There are write ups with pictures on how to do this, takes 30 mins and it is done!

 

Expensive, isn't it?

I suggested my girlfriend's new car (a 97 SE) to get its tranny fluid changed/flushed simply because the color of the tranny fluid was brown (mine is still pinky even after 30k miles).

So, she brought it to Pacific Nissan (San Diego) and she paid US$ 180 to get the tranny flushed (including dropping the pan, change its gasket and clean the magnets) and oil change.

Not only that, the dealer then suggested her to change rear brake pads since it's only 10% (true)...for US$ 200!!!!

Thank God she called me (because I have worked on my pads three times, and she was there with me once) and told me the story. I told he to call several other places...and the cheapest she could get is US$ 129 (which is more like it).

Man, dealers are there to make money....a lot of money....

 

Well, once they get the Manufacturers stamp of approval...

Service + Dealership=Wallet

RL

 

i get mine done a tacoma nissan for $86. no lie.