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Took my 2004 Armada in for an oil change and was advised that the transmission fluid was dirty and it should be changed. Found a place that would do it for less money, than that shop, and had them flush the old oil out and replace with new oil. Now a month later I need to replace the transmission![mad] Found out, from three different sources, that if the fluid is dirty, on a vehicle with high mileage, to never replace it. The cost of following bad advice will be $3,910.71!
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There is some inherently incorrect statements there. You should change your tranny fluid (and filter, if equipped) by dropping the pan and draining it. NEVER, EVER should you allow a "fast-lube" type shop to "powerflush" or "back flush" your tranny fluid using one of their fancy machines. The back flushing and/or powerflushing does more harm by re-suspending the particles in the filter and/or fluid and forcing the "crap' into the relatively small holes/passages in the transmission. I've never lost a tranny simply because it was "older or had high miles" by changing the fluid like it was meant to be changed by dropping the pan and cleaning it out. Oh, and on my older F250, you have to remember to drain the torque converter too. Both are quite easy to do if you watch a YouTube videos, etc. I'm sorry it happened Kent. Trannys are expensive and if you do some checking on line you can find out all this info I said above.
By the way, I got a new "spider & poles" for that ice tent and its been working perfectly for the boys.
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[quote BearLakeFishGuy]
By the way, I got a new "spider & poles" for that ice tent and its been working perfectly for the boys.
[/quote]
Happy to hear that it is being put to good use.
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I got a 2004 Chevy Trailblazer with 170k miles on it, I make sure to change the tranny fluid in 50k intervals I use Synthetic Amsoil but Ive heard of guys changing out there fluid every 30k miles.
All oils including synthetics will lose there viscosity and stop lubricating causing heat and grinding.
Who ever told not to change you tranny fluid due to high mileage was incorrect old tranny fluid will cause your tranny to fail.
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[quote sinergy]
Who ever told not to change you tranny fluid due to high mileage was incorrect old tranny fluid will cause your tranny to fail.
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I purchased this vehicle used and apparently the owner(s) before me didn't regularly service the transmission. I was told by two different transmission shops (unfortunately, after it was too late) if a transmission hasn't been regularly serviced and the oil is dirty DO NOT CHANGE IT. All I know is that it was running great and immediately after changing the fluid it started having issues.
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Oh man, that is no good. The obvious has already been stated. I have a built Allison in the Duramax and I change the fluid and filter every 30k. It's just routine.
The built Suncoast transmission I have was guaranteed unlimited HP for three years and I dropped $4,500 on it. Yikes...
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Well, the frustration continues. Pick the Armada up on Friday, just before closing time. Kory and I were headed to Pineview for a day of ice fishing this morning. Driving along on Harrison when the following lights suddenly turn on: VDC Off, SLIP, Check Eng Soon". Kory reads the owner's manual and it says that one way to turn off the VDC Off light is to turn off the ignition and restart the engine. At the stop light at Harrison and 28th street, I turn off the engine and it won't restart. Push the car off on to 28th street and call AAA. Tow it to Tunex and the electronics has so many issues that they can't even diagnose it, but believe it is definitely related to the installation of the transmission. Taking it back (either driven or towed) to the transmission shop on Monday. Argh!
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Sorry to here your expensive story Kent - I am not familiar with the Armada so I can't offer any advise except the tranny shop should stand behind their repair.
Here are a couple web sites that might give you some info:
www.clubarmada.com
http://www.nissanproblems.com/Armada/
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When it rains it pours, thats why I hate Auto Trans and will never have one as a tow vehicle. Hard to find a good place to have them repaired, so I just won't bother[mad].
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Thanks Craig.
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Sorry to here about your bad luck lately Kent,
BLfishguy is pretty much right. Your tranny fluid will smell burnt if there is something going on with it. Check the dip stick and rub the fluid between your fingers and feel for grit and then smell your fingers. That will tell you a lot. You should get a deeper tranny pan that will give you more fluid and better cooling. Sense you tow a boat a lot it would be worth it.
For that second issue you had try looking at your battery connections, when it says D.C. Off check the battery and check all the fuses. Those other errors would be because of no power to those sensors.
Hope things work out for you.
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Man when it rains it pours.
Hopefully you are around the bend and things start going better soon.
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Live to hunt----- Hunt to live.
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Kent I am so sorry for your frustrations and bad luck. my friend Jeff and I were looking forward to meeting up with you and Kory at Pineview that day. I hope the shop stands by their work and that you are not our too much more money. We will ahve to plan another outing some time soon.
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If your trans fluid is too black and burnt, it should not be changed. There is a well known issue with Nissan transmissions and water contamination from faulty radiator/cooler. If the trans shop did not recommend changing them, they did not do you any favors.
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Don't be too quick to dismiss an auto. The transmissions that are out now are incredible! From the factory they need a little tweaking because of excessive HP gains from guys like me but they are SOLID!
The guys that work at the dealerships usually do work on the side with aftermarket parts that are much better than stock.
Kent-Sometimes if weren't for bad luck we wouldn't have any luck at all.
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Yes, I totally understand that aftermarket tweaking is a game changer but you have to consider that when you buy a new 4x4, with an auto trans, you generally pay extra for it, then to do the tweaking, that adds more $$ to that price. Where as you can buy a new 4x4 with a manual trans, the price is cheaper from the start, no tweaking is necessary and if you ever have to change a clutch you are talking about hundreds of dollars vs thousands of $$ difference in price. I know most people don't do this but IMO, if you are going to have a Tow vehicle with a auto trans, the first thing you should do is beef it up or you can wait until the trans goes out and then when its rebuilt, beef it up then. Bottom line, auto trans are more expensive than a manual trans and for me at least it's just not worth the extra $$, just so I don't have to shift a transmission, at least for a tow vehicle.
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This afternoon, they finally figured out what the problem is (at least I hope they have found the problem). Some wiring into the electronic controls has shorted out and if they have to purchase a whole new unit (they are trying to find just the needed parts, but Nissan only sells the entire unit) I will be out at least another $600 (because he says it was nothing that they did). Sure will be nice to get it back (whenever they get the parts in) and get back out on the ice.
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Got a call about an hour ago and it is fixed! [  ] They found the needed part, at a junkyard, and spliced it in. Life is good -- again.
Update - they only passed through to me the $105 for the tow (because it wasn't their fault that I had issues with the vehicle) and an additional $20, and nothing for the 3+ hours they spent diagnosing and fixing it, which I consider to be extremely fair.
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Awesome news Kent, lets just hope this the last issue you have with it for a while.
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Kent,
That's the pits about your vehicle. I just want to suggest that you go to an auto parts store and get a Hayden transmission cooler and get it installed. Towing does put a lot of load on a transmission especially when pulling uphill. Any time the converter lockup clutch has to kick out, the converter generates a LOT of heat and the only salvation is the trans cooler. The original equipment is most likely a little heat exchanger in the bottom tank on your radiator and just isn't adequate for towing much of a load.
Tom
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