1st Gen Durango 1998 - 2003 Durango's

tranny fluid changes

Old Sep 10, 2008 | 11:18 AM
  #1  
03DurangoR/T's Avatar
03DurangoR/T
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From:
Default tranny fluid changes

how important and what kind of problems may apply without one? also what are the symptoms that could possibly occur when you need one?
 
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2008 | 05:08 PM
  #2  
DRO318's Avatar
DRO318
Captain
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 579
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, Tx
Default

It is very important if you want to keep driving your "D". the book say change oil and filter every 37k. Hard shifting is one of the symptoms.
 
Reply
Old Sep 10, 2008 | 07:46 PM
  #3  
n8ech's Avatar
n8ech
Record Breaker
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,222
Likes: 1
From: Ohio
Default

03:

As DRO states the factory book calls for a drain and refill with new filter every 30k. This interval is lowered to 15k if you tow a lot.

Some folks are of the opinion that no service should be done until it breaks, which MAY never happen.

IMO, a filter /fluid change overy so often is good insurance against problems with $2500-3000 transmission.

Even if you do the service, it may still blow up. There are no guarantees.

One more thought. The tranny flushes are not known to add to tranny life. They should be avoided in the case of our Durango units.

You will know though that you did the best you could.

Don
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 08:54 AM
  #4  
Kensai's Avatar
Kensai
Champion
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,707
Likes: 4
From: Dallas, Tx
Default

+1 for n8ech.

My tranny went out at 79k. I don't tow, but did the 15k fluid changes just because I know these oem tranny's are not solid based on everyone's past input. So I eventually became another broken tranny victim when my Durango is still relatively new and low miles. Dealer wanted $2900 for replacement with 3/36 warranty, but I don't want to come back to them for another replacement after the 3/36 runs out. So decided to pay fastman to have my tranny custom built and bullet proofed and hopefully outlast my Durango! Still came out cheaper than having the dealer replace it with oem.
 
Reply
Old Sep 11, 2008 | 01:13 PM
  #5  
hydrashocker's Avatar
hydrashocker
Hall Of Fame
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 14,228
Likes: 19
From: Riverton, UT
Default

Well of course the custom tranys will beat the life out of a regular one....He He He...

Trans flushes are good and bad. Good because they blow new fluid through the trans and break up any crap. Bad because half the time the shops use the wrong fluid (cheap fluid) to do it with. This can raise hell on them. You are better to just do a filter and fluid change to make sure that the right fluid is used and don't forget to watch them cause they lie.

In addition, when taking your truck into a Jiffy Lube or something like this to get it done they use multi vehical use fluid which is not recommended for all Chrysler.
 
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2008 | 09:36 AM
  #6  
Kensai's Avatar
Kensai
Champion
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,707
Likes: 4
From: Dallas, Tx
Default

for dodge, you have to use either ATF+3 or +4 tranny fluids depending on your year model. But heard that any owners that started out with ATF+3 can go to +4. But +4 users cannot go backwards.
 
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:03 PM.