The dealer charges like $100, which sounds about right for the Tranny Fluid change, but is there any DIY way to do this, or is it something a novice like myself should stay away from? I've read online it's a lot cheaper to DIY...

 

Its always cheaper to do it your self. Is this a standard? Im doing one soon on my 5.0 when i get a new shifter, I know for 5.0's you just drain it out and fill it through the shifter hole. I dont think mines ever been changed is this bad?

 

Manual or auto its fairly easy to do.
But on a auto you are gonna want to get a filter kit(comes with a pan gasket and filter)
It's like changing your engine oil. But dealers usualy charge higher cause they will flush the trany as well, which is why they charge high.

 

most times, changing the transmission fluid requires a machine (AUTO TRANS) which costs several thousand dollars. However, it truly flushes the whole system. If you just drop the pan and change the filter, you are only getting about 1/3 to 1/2 the fluid. You dont flush out the cooler, lines, or torque converter.

Just something to keep in mind

 

geez is there some bad information here...

there is a difference between draining/filling and flushing the transmission. flushing is expensive because its fairly comprehensive, and it gets more of the loose crap out of your trans, vb, tc, etc...simply draining it only drains what can leave via gravity, which leaves a great deal of the fluid and most of the dirt in the transmission.

what everyone is talking about you doing yourself is draining and filling. this is better than doing nothing, but compared to a power flush, draining is useless.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself.
For us, it is $125 to back flush the trans and then the fluid. I know Mercon V goes for 5.06/qt and you need twice as much as required. Like for a Ford Expedition we just did, it takes 12 qts of Mercon V, so we need 24qts. The first 12 flush the system out backward, that way you are blowing all that crap back through the filter and into the machine, plus a solvent is added that cleans the system itself. Then the last 12 go in to actually fill your trans back with new clean fluid. that expedition ran a bill of $220. Well worth it in my opinon, since a new trans cost a couple grand to replace. If there is one thing I have learned in this biz, don't skimp on service, it will cost you more in the long run.

 

Yeah they said they run like 10 quarts of something through it...

My car has been shifting a bit harder than usual (automatic), when it shifts yI can feel it a lot more than I think I should be able too. Will the tranny fluid flush help with this, or does shifting hard have nothing to do with this? Also what is the recommended mileage for the change (sorry no Owners Manual around me now and I can't run out to the car)

 

the manual says flush at 30,000 or when it starts shifting rough. had mine done at about 28,000. afterwards it was shifting smoothly again. I think it cost $185.00 at the dealer

 

Well I guess $100 isn't bad at all! :P
I'll have to do it when the Money Mod comes in!
Today I'm getting an Alignment