It was the middle of winter, single digit temps, and I didn't have a place to work on it. Doing it myself, outside.... just wasn't an option.... if I had a place to deal with it at the time, I most certainly would have.....

Have you gotten rid of the check valve in the trans cooler line?

 

Nope. What's it do.

Im kinda scared to mess with the trans because Its the original and still shifts well, so im really scared to go and mess with it.

 

Up in front, about a foot or less back from where the trans line hits the lower fitting in the radiator, is the check valve. They like to clog up, and prevent ANY flow at all... so, your trans heats up, and basically smokes itself. There is a DIY in the faq section to get rid of it. And it's a quick and easy job.

 

Looks like one of those relatively free ones.

How cautious would you be to drop the trans pan and change stuff? I don't know if I wanna risk it

 

If it hasn't been done for a while, or, if you don't KNOW when the last time it was done..... changing the fluid and filter isn't a bad plan. If it shifts nicely, and isn't giving you any trouble, leave the bands alone.

 

Hmm I know it hasn't been done in forever

I'm just hesitant to mess with something that's not broken. Especially considering how fragile these trannys are.

Wierd, Chrysler did really good on some stuff but horrible on other stuff

 

Just changing the fluid in the pan and the filter aren't going to cause any problems, in fact it may save your transmission's life. Where it gets supposedly risky is when you start flushing/reverse flushing the transmission fluid system with a BG pump and carry away all the friction material, etc.

I never knew about the check valve issue. I'll have to look into this.

 

Stop opening the door for me to take things out of context!!!!

 

Wasn't that part of my job description?

 

Got the pan and pump off. There is junk everywhere and anywhere there can be junk. Clumps of old gasket and stuff.

On the pickup tube, how can I take the metal plate off f the pick up tube without destroying it. Or does a new pump come with a pick up tube