Hi!

I just bought a 2004 Dakota 3.7 V6 2wd with 150K miles on the clock. I do not have any maintance history but would like to tune it up to keep it running good. 1st thing I want to do is change the transmission fluid and filter but can't find a thread on how to do it, is there one somewhere?

Also is it a good idea to change the transmission fluid and filter with this kind of mileage or just let it go. It works fine now but don't want to do any harm to it.

Jake

 

Personally I wouldn't touch it unless it smells burnt. Make sure the fluid level is good and motor on. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

It ain't broke but I would like to keep it going as long as possible (I am big on preventive maintance) and some fresh fluid and filter sounds like a good idea. I was just going to drop and fill not a machine flush but don't want to open a can of worms and have it do more damage than good.

 

My truck had rightvat 200k when I decided to drop the pan and change the filters. 2 days s later I lost overdrive and 2nd gear.

 

That really stinks. Curious what fluid did you use? Was that the first time you changed the fluid?

 

OEM fluid and filters and yes.

 

Yea that does really stink. I always try to change my ATF fluids in my cars every 30k miles but that works fine if you start changing the fluids while it still has low miles but since I just got my truck with 150k miles it might harm it like it did to you.

Did you have any issues at all or bad signs before you change the filter and fluid or what made you want to change it at that point?

 

My issue is it would drop out of OD after it got warm. I figured, wth, I'll go ahead and change the filters and fluid. It just made it worse I guess due to the new fluid loosening up accumulated gunk inside the transmission. Cost me @$200 for the rebuild.

 

at 200k? the manual in mine shows it needs to be changed at least every 100k, so you probably lost a bunch of clutch material in the change at 200k