Just curious because the dealer told me I had to take it in for mandatory scheduled service if I want my warranty to be honored. They were babbling about the tranny service needing to be done by the dealership and I thought perhaps they were monitoring driving habits through the black box.
Any word on this?

 

I did read that the 5spd auto has to have its fluid changed every 15k miles like clockwork with ATF+4 or it WILL fark up. Perhaps this is the reason but it was still odd to hear the forceful tone from a dealership regarding service.[sm=dontgetit.gif]

 

The dealer is wrong. My 2004 Durango's manual clearly states transmission fluid changes every 30K for schedule B and 60K for schedule A. That is all that is required to keep under warranty.

However, 15K fluid changes is sound advice for any automatic tranny. Keeping clean fluid is 2nd only to keeping temps down in order to get your tranny to give the longest service possible. 30K intervals is just too long in my opinion. I am not a fan of the newer fluid flush's that many shops and dealers are doing though.

 

Do you think the factory tranny cooler is suffice or would you recommend upgrading? TIA

 

Are you towing anything?
If so how much weight do you pull and how often? In what kind of conditions? Uphill, Downhill, Flat, Summer, Winter?