transmission Flush Risk?

[Flyt 300]

When the dealer agreed to have the transmission flushed (and other things) before I buy the J30, he said the shop wanted a signature that acknowledges risk for something, since the car has 97k on it. Tomorrow I'll find out what the heck this shop is worried about. Do shops that don't specialzie in trannys get nervous about doing flushes on high mileage cars? Do most people not do a transmission flush ever?

[Q45tech]

Everybody who is smart worries about the " ever since you worked on my car" type of customer.

When a transmission is not flushed at 30k [every 2-3 year] intervals, the risk get higher and higher.

Primarily because they don't insist upon full boat flushes, pan drops, filter changes, refills and cleans till everything looks brand new.

If the fluid is brown to black death is imminent anyway!

[maxnix]

So the moral of Q45tech's post is, check the fluid. If it is light brown, you may prolong the inevitable a little by doing the fluid exchange now. If it is medium to dark brown, start budgeting for a replacement. If it looks like it doesn't need it, then now is the perfect time to perform the service for a longer lived transmission.

Use a plain bright white paper towel, the transmission dipstick and some new fluid and compare the colors and smell.

[Jesda]

Sounds like a pretty knowledgeable shop. When I took my Q in for a transmission flush with Mobil 1, I was asked to sign a waiver since it differed from Nissan's documentation that said not to use a synthetic fluid. I explained to them that I got my information from NICO and that the transmission has been running Mobil 1 for years with annual flushes. I signed the papers, and was good to go for just under $200. (Theyre about $95/hr)

I found this place (RPM Motors in Brentwood MO) through word of mouth. I had been calling around town looking for quotes on transmission flushes, and when I asked them "Does that include the fluid in the torque converter?" they all said no.

None of this really helps you, I just thought I'd share my experiences.

-Jesda

[Flyt 300]

Actually, all of this helps. I guess it's not abnormal for a shop to ask for a waiver.

[maxnix]

Well, if it is a dealer, they will only guarantee the work if it is Nissan Matic Fluid. They will not warranty any other fluid, no matter how good it is.

[Q45tech]

How can a shop warranty your transmission not failing just after a flush? A car they've never seen before and don't know a thing aboutor or its previous maintenance history.

It is a known syndrome that there are a group of people, that try to trick shops into doing some maintenance item on a failing transmission/engine/ac system so they can sue or somehow get money. " EVER SINCE YOU Worked on my car"These scam artist abound, stealing your money to repair their car!

They come in out of the blue wanting a flush of some kind, hoping that their $120 will yield $3,000 eventually, if they drive you crazy enough.

You don't realize how many people come in ordering $3,000 of work leaving their piece of junk car for months, hoping to steal it back one night...........after you have fixed it.

[pimpingurz]

aamco does flushes for cheap. approximately $69.99. I had them do it on my J30 '93

[maxnix]

XXX on aamco or any other "national" chain transmission repair facility.

[Q45tech]

There is a lot of difference in just using the machine to instantly exchange 10-14 quarts of ATF in 3.5 minutes for $70 and spending an hour doing the job correctly...... fo $110-130!Did you see them spending 20 minutes recirculating a cleaning additive with car off ground wheels turning going thru each of 7 positions [park, neutral, reverse, all drives] for 3 minutes of rotation each. BEFORE they did the fluid exchange............After they did the exchange did you see them equalize the level precisely, then add a conditioner [BG or Lubeguard].

The correct proceedure uses [$8, $9 + $23= $40] in materials alone and takes a real 55-60-65 minutes on a Q or J [actual time rack on off rack].

[rebar71]

aamco does flushes for cheap. approximately $69.99. I had them do it on my J30 '93

I don't think that's a flush - probably just a drain and fill.

I just had my wife's '94 Quest in there for service. I thought it might have a transmission problem - turned out to be bad motor/transmission mounts. transmission checked out OK - thank god. I also had them do a power flush on the transmission since it had never been done as long as we've owned the vehicle (about 3 years) and it's got about 137k miles on it - and the thing has to last us about another 3 years.

Anyway - the full-on power flush, new filter & fluid was $179.95.

[Jesda]

A lot of shops do drain and fills but call them a flush. Its why every place I called I made certain to ask if it was actually a "flush" and how they specifically did it.

[ardvarkus]

When the dealer agreed to have the transmission flushed (and other things) before I buy the J30, he said the shop wanted a signature that acknowledges risk for something, since the car has 97k on it. Tomorrow I'll find out what the heck this shop is worried about. Do shops that don't specialzie in trannys get nervous about doing flushes on high mileage cars? Do most people not do a transmission flush ever?

HEY....they are flushing BEFORE he buys it!

If the fluid is black or dark brown DON'T BUY IT.

If it shifts funny DON'T BUY IT.

Let us know what you are asked to sign-

The way I see it, unless you own the car prior to the work it will be intersting to see how they can compel you to complete the transaction...

also, what is this "dealer" and "shop"? are they one and the same or is this a non-infiniti delaer withiout their own service?

Ard

[I30tMikeD]

At my shop we won't flush a transmission that is over 100k miles, period.

[maxnix]

At my shop we won't flush a transmission that is over 100k miles, period.

So much for preventative maintenance!

That's one shop for the astute owner to avoid.

[Flyt 300]

The dealer (non-infinity) and the shop are different; the dealer has some kind of relationship with the shop (that's why I'm insisting on them leaving the old brakes, shims and rotors in the car, and giving me the records saying the brake line and transmission were flushed, and the induction service done.

I'm also going to have the Infiniti dealership look at the brakes, rotors, shims, and transmission fluid AGAIN to make sure OEM parts were put on, and the transmission was flushed).

They are flusing it before I buy it because I insisted on it (in addition to the brakes), based on the dealership's pre-purchase inspection. Unfortunately I didn't ask the tech at the dealership the color of the transmission fluid. Now I know to do that in the future. He just wrote that it needed a flush (and he did tell the service rep that the car was in good shape and he would buy it).

I30tMikeD, why won't your shop flush a transmission that's over 100k?

[Jesda]

I would guess that what Dennis said about owners blaming shops for failing transmissions becomes an issue over 100k, especially with people who neglected their fluid for all of those miles.Not flushing at all seems too paranoid to me, but I suppose some regions have more troublesome customers than others.

And then some transmissions arent supposed to be flushed at all.

-Jesda

[ardvarkus]

And then some transmissions arent supposed to be flushed at all.

-Jesda

Hmmmm. My Acura dealer, and many acura mechanics, claim that you 'should not' flush an acura automatic.

Now is there a technical reason? or is it a matter of policy to avoid flushing disturbing the sleeping dogs and causing warranty problems?

It is important to distinguish between a complete fluid exchange (one kind of flush) amd a power flush, with cleaners, etc.

I'd recommend the first for any trans- the second only if the next option for a sick trans with driveabiity issues.

A

PS anybody KNOW of a auto trans that cannot be flushed? (and by flushed I mean a complete fluid change and NOT a cleaning or reverse fluid flush)

[Jesda]

" PS anybody KNOW of a auto trans that cannot be flushed? (and by flushed I mean a complete fluid change and NOT a cleaning or reverse fluid flush)"

Wes, isn't the early Cadillac Seville one of those?

[BadQ45t]

I got suckered into an AAMCO transmission rebuild on my Maxima when it hit 255k. It broke down after 11 months and they fixed it again, this time i opted for the lifetime warrenty. It is now slipping again and is back at AAMCO. I dropped it off (this is the Bay Area) and it said 129 for a transmission Flush, 69 for fluid change. I did my Q at Peninsula Infiniti for about the same and at least I know they will do it right.

I sure as hell will never give AAMCO any $$ ever again, next time it goes on a flatbed truck back to LA to get done right the first time. Meanwhile, that transmission has about 150k left in it probably if the fluid was at least changed twice in its life, since my PO on my Maxima was Mr. Cheap and do not fix it if it ain't broke. I got 125k out of it after I bought it with a few fluid changes no flushes, didn't even know what that was until NICO.

Bottom line, if it shifts well, if the fluid is a decent color, buy it flush it and keep it flushed ever 2 years or 30k. I do my 97 Q every 15k now, cheaper than a new one!