ricepatrol

Okay guys I need a little help. I'm doing a favor for my mom, changing her tranny fluid. I have the manual, and it tells me that I need 4 quarts to refill, not including the torque converter. This is brings me to my question. Supposedly her fluid is near black. If I just drain the fluid out of the pan, and refill with fresh fluid, won't it be tainted by the remaining 4 or 5 quarts in the torque converter? Or does the converter not share the same fluid? The manual (haynes) doesn't mention draining it, but I wanted to get some clarification. So all you auto-transmission junkies out there, give me a hand. Thanks guys.

PRO50SC

Yes, the new stuff will mix with the old. The best way to do it is to have it flushed!!! New fluid runs throughout!!! It is a very thorough way of doing it. Can be a little pricey though. It uses Mercon 5, which is what I hope you bought. The way your're doing it, is a waste of your time and money.

ricepatrol

Well this is the way I figured it. If the fluid is black, the filter probably needs changed, meaning the pan must be dropped anyway for a new filter to be installed (she has never had a change, and is running over 100k). Yes I did buy mercon 5. What exactly is involved in it being "flushed", I figured the shop would just end up having to do the same thing. She doesn't have the cashflow to have it done, which is why I'm going to do it for her. Why is it a waste of time and money? We would have to pay for the supplies anyway, and if I do it, no labor. How to I drain the fluid out of the converter?
As for the time thing, it really doesn't sound like it will take long at all, and I don't mind spending time on it.

PRO50SC

You can't drain the converter. Most cars nowadays don't have that feature. Check out this link, it will explain alot
http://www.bgfindashop.com/bgservices/transmission.htm

mcfomco

How many miles are on the car? I have seen a high mileaged vehicle flushed and then wouldnt hardly pull itself. The flush removed all the worn clutch material from the trans and apparently it was the only thing allowing the trans to work. Once it was flushed the trans started slipping bad and had to be rebuilt. Dont get me wrong the flush is a good thing if the trans has been servcied before and the milage isnt really high. But on the other hand if the trans hasnt been serviced before and it has alot of miles might consider just doing the filter and topping it back off with new fluid. Just trying to advise you on this and from creating more problems than you have allready if any.