[Zatrekaz]

My car is sitting right at 74,000 miles and I was thinking the other day that I have never touched the transmission fluid since I got it at 32,000 miles. What would be the proper thing to do at this point? I noticed that the car has been shifting kinda rough.

Would it good to flush it and put all new fluid in there? If so, what is the proper way/steps to do that? What kind of transmission fluid would you suggest?

2003 Auto

[RFM 40th V6]

You're over due for a trans flush and a trans filter change.

Drop the pan and replace the filter. Be careful though, it can get messy. When you change the filter make sure that the seal from the old filter neck doesn't stay in the port for the filter.

You should use Mercon V Trans fluid unless you want to go with something ridiculous like Royal Purple. Although, at nearly 9 bucks a quart I wouldn't want that stuff. I think the trans takes 13-14 quarts.

[casper gt]

loosen the pan & drain the fluid, remove the plug in the bottom of the bellhousing & rotate the engine untill the converter drain is visable & drain the converter. remove the pan & filter (the gasket is reusable so don't trash it)clean out the inside of the pan & install new filter (Ford only) put the pan back on & put the converter drain plug back in, refill & enjoy. should take about 1 hour including jacking the car up. as to fluid I use & recomend valvoline non-synthetic.

[Zatrekaz]

Alright, I will look in the book I have some some detailed step by step as well. I was always told that changing the transmission fluid was a bad idea after a certin mileage. I am completely new to anything dealing with the transmission so I am deff gonna read up alot before I attempt this.

While we are on the topic, what other tune up suggestions would you give for 74,000 miles? I just changed the Oil/Filter at 73,000 and the spark plugs/wires were changed around 50,000 miles. Tires/Rims are brand new, and springs/shocks/struts are brand new as well.

[Stang187]

Originally Posted by RFM 40th V6 You're over due for a trans flush and a trans filter change. Drop the pan and replace the filter. Be careful though, it can get messy. When you change the filter make sure that the seal from the old filter neck doesn't stay in the port for the filter. You should use Mercon V Trans fluid unless you want to go with something ridiculous like Royal Purple. Although, at nearly 9 bucks a quart I wouldn't want that stuff. I think the trans takes 13-14 quarts.

yes the trans holds 14 but you dont need that much if your only doing a drain/refill. You only need 6 quarts for that.

14 quarts if your doing a rebuild.

[Zatrekaz]

Book says to add 4 quarts of automatic transmission fluid through the filler tube.

After removing the bolts the book says to "carefully pry the transmission pan loose with a screwdriver..". It also says not to damage the transmission gasket surfaces. What is that?

If I am not mistake, it is simple as removing the rear pan bolts to let it drain, then removing the other bolts, prying the pan loose, removing the old filter, installing new gasket, reinstalling filter, reinstalling pan, adding fluid?

Sounds like a oil change, just a transmission fluid change? Was worried about doing this myself but with some jacks and such it does not seem to bad.

[RFM 40th V6]

Oh sorry, I was thinking about when I replaced my torque converter. Yeah you shouldn't need that much if you're just draining and replacing the filter.

By the way, the 4R70W has a reusable pan gasket, don't throw it away. When you drop the pan just give it a light tug with your fingers and it should come down, on one side.

If you have to use a screw driver wrap it in a cloth to prevent digging into the aluminum or the pan gasket. Thats what it means by gasket surface.

[Zatrekaz]

Would it hurt to replace it anyway? I have never priced this stuff. What would you say 4-5 quarts of fluid, a fliter, and gasket would run me?

Also, is it as simple as the steps I listed up there? If so, I will do this soon

[Stang187]

should cost you around 35-50 bucks or so.

I had a shop do mine the first time so I'd know what to do myself cause I was scared to touch a tranny and screw it up somehow. Basically its like doing a differential change but replacing a filter in the process.

[stephen]

Originally Posted by casper gt loosen the pan & drain the fluid, remove the plug in the bottom of the bellhousing & rotate the engine untill the converter drain is visable & drain the converter. remove the pan & filter (the gasket is reusable so don't trash it)clean out the inside of the pan & install new filter (Ford only) put the pan back on & put the converter drain plug back in, refill & enjoy. should take about 1 hour including jacking the car up. as to fluid I use & recomend valvoline non-synthetic.

This is the right way to do it, i.e. drain the converter as well as the pan. I would use Mercon fluid from the Ford dealer. You will need 10-12 qts of fluid if you also drain the converter.