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Driving without adequate ATF.

Soon after I had my last scheduled service (about 1,900miles/3,000KM), which had the ATF replaced on my 2003 Pilot, I noticed a slight change in the way the transmission was behaving and the way the gears were engaging. It was nothing to be alarmed about, just a very slight hesitation(?) here and there, only on gentle acceleration when the RPM was below 2K and the gears were changing say from 2nd to 3rd or 3rd to

4th.

I figured it'd go away, but it never did, so I checked the ATF level today and it was slightly below the LOW mark on the dipstick. I would say about just below the halfway mark between the tip of the stick and the LOW mark.

So, I took it to my servicing dealer and they topped up the ATF for me. The fluid looked just fine and there was no burning smell to it. The transmission seems to be functioning normally now; it seems to have gone back to the way it was before the last schedule service.

I don't think it leaked because I didn't see any signs of leaks on my garage floor at all. I'm thinking the technician just never put enough ATF during the service in the first place.

However, I'm still concerned a bit about whether there could've been any damage at all or that the transmission could've been subjected to abnormally high stress because of the low ATF level and the fact that I've been driving around like that for close to 1,900miles/3,000KM, which could potentially turn into a big problem down the road.

As well, right after the service, we had a very nasty cold spell which had the temperatures drop down to -31F/-35C for well over a week, I believe, and worries me about what inadequate level of lubrication could've done to the transmission.

Would you guys worry at all if something like this happened? Should I even bother to request to the service advisor to make a note of this in my service record or am I just worrying about nothing? Thanks.

Reply to
Steve Lee
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Reply to
Pankoski

++++++++++++++++

Steve,

Yes, you're worrying about nothing, but it's good to ask.

Even if you drove the SUV on an extreme climb, or almost rolled it over on it's side, there's lots of room for error in the level. The tranny will still pump fluid thru itself. If it was touching the stick at all, it was plenty full enough to be safe.

After they refilled it, some air may have 'burped' out as you drove it home. Next person who checks the level finds it down a 'bit'.

'curly'

Reply to
'Curly Q. Links'

I felt that way when JiffyLube changed the filter in my Dodge Durango transmission incorrectly. It took two hours to get the chagne done, with my car occupying one of the two service racks, because they drained my fluid before they realized they didn't have my filter. Then the independent parts house didn't have one either, although they brought something over that wasn't right. Then they had to get authorization to buy a dealer-only part... 2000 Dodge Durango 4WD must be rare.

Finally, it looked like they were all done. I heard the car start. I saw the backup lights come on and go off. I instantly new something was wrong. On fast idle after having cooled down, I didn't see the body lurch at all. A few more backup light on/off cycles, and the engine was shut off.

A few more tries, with different people looking on. Off comes the pan for the third time. Something about the filter was in backwards. Reassembled, everything seemed to be okay. The "best" they could do for my troubles was to give me 10% off the price of the service.

They insisted no damage had been done to the transmission. I pointed out that it had been run for at least a couple of minutes with no fluid. They insisted that it hadn't engaged, so no problem. I had them make note on the receipt that it had been run with no fluid for five minutes.

Of course, now 50,000 miles later, if the transmission fails, they will deny any connection... but who knows. My son has over 300,000 miles on a Chevy automatic transmission. If mine fails at 110,000, is it inferior quality Dodge materials, or a lack of lubrication 80,000 miles ago?

Reply to
dold

Which is why friends don't let friends go to Jiffy Lube.

Reply to
Mike O'Malley

Doggone it. I've been reduced to taking vehicles to the dealer except for those things that are simple enough for me to do, but too dirty, or require special tools. Those I trust to the local wrench. I used to do more, but my list of what I want to do is getting slimmer.

I really wasn't sure how to "neatly" change the fluid in a transmission with no drain plug. I thought that JiffyLube had enough experience and talent to deal with this particular job.

Reply to
dold

=============

Isn't Jiffy Lube the equivalent to Radio Shack?

"You've got Questions, We've got Acne"

'Curly'

===============

Reply to
'Curly Q. Links'

What engine? 4.7L? If its a 4.7L then it might have been remotely possible that they were telling the truth as that is a "new" (well, 5 years old NOW) transmission and parts might not have started showing up on Jiffy Scroob's shelves yet. But if its a 5.2 or 5.9, then it takes exactly the same filter that ALL Chrysler rear-drive transmissions have used since 1966. The thing's so darn common that it normally comes in a box with 2 or 3 different gaskets to fit the different oil pans on the transmissions it has been used in! Should be common as dirt.

Sounds like a completely incompetent shop to me. That said, I can't imagine any real damage done. The clutch plates and bands are all saturated with fluid even when you drain the fluid, and the convertor remains half full.Ever tried to wipe all the transmission fluid off a metal part? Its hard to do DELIBERATELY, and the plates have absorbent friction materials on them to boot. On top of that, they would have refilled the transmission even if the filter was on wrong (can't imagine how to do that either, there's pretty much only one way it fits), meaning that the case itself was full of standing oil and the clutches and band drums were "dipping" in fluid as the engine rotated them. And on top of that, Chrysler rear-drive transmissions are among the toughest made... forget it and enjoy the car.

Reply to
Steve

2000 was the first year for the 4.7. But the tranny job was in 2002 or 2003... I would think there would have been some demand by then. The recommendation is every 30,000 miles. I had a second one done recently by the local tire shop, and they couldn't locate the filter either. They wound up changing the fluid twice because they had already drained before they found out they didn't have the filter...

Odd way to work. I always make sure I have the parts before I start. I also take the filler plug out before the drain plug, ever since my 1967 Datsun Roadster was shipped with an iron plug in an aluminum case... The dealer puts the fluid in through the backup light switch, because the fill plug is impossible to remove.

I had almost forgotten until this second go 'round. I almost bough the filter at a Dodge dealer in the big city before I took it in to the local shop, expecting that they would have trouble. Next time, I will.

Reply to
dold

Wouldn't that mean that 2000 model year trucks reaching 30000 miles in 2002 are among the first ones needing that service?

Why not take the Dodge truck to a Chrysler / Dodge specialist mechanic (dealer or otherwise, depending on which one locally is the best)?

Reply to
Timothy J. Lee

Sometimes its difficult to know what transmission filter goes on what car. I just replaced the filter on my 97 E150 and it was completely different than the replacement I bought. An older Autozone worker discovered that I had a 96 transmission on my 97 vehicle, and explained that oftentimes the first cars made in a new year are really last years model!! So it's possible for an honest mistake. Greg

Reply to
GBannish

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