Hi All,
I'm just wondering if anybody has experience changing the transmission fluid on a dakota R/T. My truck is a '99. I would like to know if it is difficult to do on this truck.
Thanks, Travis

 

Recently I was servcing my 97 Dakota (replaced brakes) and I asked the mechanik about changing trans fluid too ..He told me there are two ways of doing that ...The old-fashioned way is when you just remove the drain pan (there is no drain plug for transmission), pour the fluid into a container large enough, because it's really pouring, not draining, then change a filter, put everything back on place, add 3 1/2 quarts of new fluid, then put the truck on parking brake, run the engine and run the transmission through each position. Then check the fluid level and add if necessary. That's all. But in this way transmission still retains some quantity of old fluid mixed with new one. Another method they use is power washing when the fluid is pumped into the tranny under pressure and actually washes out all old fluid (and some quantity of new one) ...That seems to be more effective but it will cost $190 ....So I'm thinking ...

 

This is not a Dakota R/T, but the tranny is the same: http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/trans.php

If you loosen the bolts holding the valve body in place, and let the tranny drain for an hour, you can drain an extra 2 to 3 quarts of ATF. There are dangers of "powerflushing" addressed here. http://www.amsoil.com/lit/filter_man_council01.pdf


Bill,

 

Also-power flushing does nothing about the paper media filter still in the pan and what about cleaning off the magnet and checking possible signs of problems like abnormal metal.