I have a 2000 Mazda Protoge ES, automatic transmission, with only 45K miles. I'm not having any transmission problems. The local oil change chain has commented several times that my transmission fluid is dirty, and should be changed. They recommend the flush. I called two big local Mazda dealers. The first doesn't even own a flush machine and charges $50 for a fluid change. The second has the flush machine and would charge about $200 for the change- of note, this second dealership is extremely honest, and they were basically trying to convince me that I didn't really need the fluid changed, and warned me about the possibility of the transmission suddenly giving problems after a fluid change.
So what's the deal? I get different messages from different dealers. Mazda doesn't even recommend a transmission fluid change in its maintenence schedule. Is the flush better, or is the pan removal/filter change/partial fluid change better? Does either have an increased risk of post-fluid change problems?
Thanks in advance. (pls respond to the board, not to my email)