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I have a 2004 Toyota Corolla, automatic transmission with approx. 37,000 miles. At our last oil change done at a local Meineke, we were told our transmission fluid was dirty and that we should get our transmission flushed. We didn't have the money and said no. Yesterday, we had the car serviced (we were about 3,000-4,000 miles overdue) and again the mechanic said the same thing. He went as far as saying our fluid was so dirty that there may be a serious transmission problem and said it could be a manufacturer's defect. Up until going to this Meineke, we had always maintained/serviced our car at Toyota but we moved last summer and decided to go to Meineke instead as it was closer.
I called Toyota this morning to check about defects and they said based on my VIN, that there were no defects, recalls, etc. for my car.
We have 2 payments left on our car and next month will be the 5-year anniversary so we have to get the car in IMMEDIATELY to meet the powertrain 5 year/60,000 warranty.
Has anyone had anything like this happen? Do you recommend flushing? Could we have a "lemon" transmission?
I have never heard of Toyatas having tranny problems - or at least it's not a common problem. Not like some of the Chrysler products... And at 37,000 miles? I highly doubt it.
Check your tranny fluid. Pull the dipstick and look. How is the level? Is it where it says it should be.
And what color is the tranny fluid? Is it a nice bright pink/red? Or is it brownish & dirty?
What does the dipstick smell like, down where the fluid is? Tranny fluid doesn't smell "good", but does it smell burnt?
Is your transmission operating as it should? Shifting smoothly?
I highly suspect that your local Meineke shop is one of those all-too-common shops where they lie like heck, scare the crap out of you, and get you to consent to all kinds of unnecessary things - all of which come at a high price. They want you to let them do a tranny flush, which will cost you about $75. And if they do that, they'll find other problems with the car. It's how they play the game.
Look at your maintenance manual and it will tell you the required maintenace requirements.That said that is the REQUIRED maintenance for you warranty. That being said iialways have the transmission fluid changed much sooner than requireed especailly with alot of city driving.My wife has a toyota and I would review the manual becuase its time as I remmeber for a raditor flush/refill and the brake fluid to be drained and new fluid also.Toyota as I remmebr doesn;t have a transmision change but i recommend it.
I have never heard of Toyatas having tranny problems - or at least it's not a common problem. Not like some of the Chrysler products... And at 37,000 miles? I highly doubt it.
Check your tranny fluid. Pull the dipstick and look. How is the level? Is it where it says it should be.
And what color is the tranny fluid? Is it a nice bright pink/red? Or is it brownish & dirty?
What does the dipstick smell like, down where the fluid is? Tranny fluid doesn't smell "good", but does it smell burnt?
Is your transmission operating as it should? Shifting smoothly?
I highly suspect that your local Meineke shop is one of those all-too-common shops where they lie like heck, scare the crap out of you, and get you to consent to all kinds of unnecessary things - all of which come at a high price. They want you to let them do a tranny flush, which will cost you about $75. And if they do that, they'll find other problems with the car. It's how they play the game.
My husband took the car in so I wasn't there. I don't think he smelled the fluid, but the mechanic did show him the fluid and my husband said it did look dirty. Also, my husband feels the transmission is a bit "sluggish" so being the car ignoramous that I am, I don't know whata that means.
Look at your maintenance manual and it will tell you the required maintenace requirements.That said that is the REQUIRED maintenance for you warranty. That being said iialways have the transmission fluid changed much sooner than requireed especailly with alot of city driving.My wife has a toyota and I would review the manual becuase its time as I remmeber for a raditor flush/refill and the brake fluid to be drained and new fluid also.Toyota as I remmebr doesn;t have a transmision change but i recommend it.
Not to sound stupid, but I know absolutely nothing about cars . When you say to have the transmission fluid changed, is that different than flushing the fluid?
I would recommend changing the fluid every 30k. Personally I'd go to the dealer for that service. Just my $0.02. You'll want to get a flush and filter (if your tranny has one) change. Probably cost around $150 or so.
Each transmission is different. For example on my car if I drain out the transmission via the drain plug I only get 1/3 of the fluid vs. when I do a flush. Some cars might be able to drain the entire oil quantity with that plug. A "flush" should get rid of all the old fluid and replace it with new fluid.
Dirty fluid in of itself isn't "bad", it's just reached its useful life. Continuing to operate with "dirty" fluid will in the long run hurt the transmission. Basically what happens is as the fluid gets heated up it turns to a dark brown color and starts to smell burnt. That is the sign that the fluid has lost its lubrication and heat dissipation qualities.
Chain muffler and tire stores are notorious for recommending all sorts of flushes and nostrums, that you "desperately need TODAY!". It's 99% BS. Unless you have been driving the car as if it were a taxi or a cop car, it may be about due for a transmission fluid change but that's about it.
You should go to the dealer *if* they have a good service dept. which some do and some don't. Best of all find yourself a good independent shop, in NC you will find plenty of "good ol' boys" who are good mechanics and are proud of their work.
As a former mechanic do believe they meant drained/changed and not flushed. You never FLUSH out an automatic tranny. The person was probably a young kid (not a mechanic).
Not sure about Japanese cars but American cars will have a tranny change kit that consisted of the gaskt and a filter/screen.
Automatic tranny fluid is highly refined oil and thin to function thru the intricate small parts.
As a poster said...the correct color is RED and if BROWN is BURNT and needs to be changed.
Had a friend who was told that his tranny fluid needed changing when it was a standard trans that used 90wt grease. When I confronted the kid he stuttered a second and went on to someting else.
Yes...they do scam to the unknowledged person if they can.
Whenever I'm at a parts place and they try to tell me something when I know they are wrong...I tell them that I'm a retired mechanic of 28 yrs and they will clam up.
Have the pan drained... pulled... and the screen (if any) replaced.
Not sure about todays cars but the old norm was 30,000 miles on American Automatic trannys.
As a former mechanic do believe they meant drained/changed and not flushed. You never FLUSH out an automatic tranny. The person was probably a young kid (not a mechanic).
Not sure about Japanese cars but American cars will have a tranny change kit that consisted of the gaskt and a filter/screen.
Automatic tranny fluid is highly refined oil and thin to function thru the intricate small parts.
As a poster said...the correct color is RED and if BROWN is BURNT and needs to be changed.
Had a friend who was told that his tranny fluid needed changing when it was a standard trans that used 90wt grease. When I confronted the kid he stuttered a second and went on to someting else.
Yes...they do scam to the unknowledged person if they can.
Whenever I'm at a parts place and they try to tell me something when I know they are wrong...I tell them that I'm a retired mechanic of 28 yrs and they will clam up.
Have the pan drained... pulled... and the screen (if any) replaced.
Not sure about todays cars but the old norm was 30,000 miles on American Automatic trannys.
Steve
I think that's the best advice. It may not desperately need to be done, but it should be done anyway and certainly isn't going to hurt anything.
As a former mechanic do believe they meant drained/changed and not flushed. You never FLUSH out an automatic tranny. The person was probably a young kid (not a mechanic).
Not sure about Japanese cars but American cars will have a tranny change kit that consisted of the gaskt and a filter/screen.
Automatic tranny fluid is highly refined oil and thin to function thru the intricate small parts.
As a poster said...the correct color is RED and if BROWN is BURNT and needs to be changed.
Had a friend who was told that his tranny fluid needed changing when it was a standard trans that used 90wt grease. When I confronted the kid he stuttered a second and went on to someting else.
Yes...they do scam to the unknowledged person if they can.
Whenever I'm at a parts place and they try to tell me something when I know they are wrong...I tell them that I'm a retired mechanic of 28 yrs and they will clam up.
Have the pan drained... pulled... and the screen (if any) replaced.
Not sure about todays cars but the old norm was 30,000 miles on American Automatic trannys.
Steve
Actually they do now have a flush and drian that is done by a machine that gets rid of all the old and repalces it with all new. Same as the radiator flush. If you just drain ;then you need to do it more often as it doesn't get rid of all the old fluid. Most transmission shops and dealers how have the flush machines.
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. When you say to have the transmission fluid changed, is that different than flushing the fluid?
