Getting the right transaxle fluid put in

Dec 15, 2006 4 Replies

Hello,



I asked this over on the Mitsubishi group, but didn't get a very big response. I have an 03 Mitsubishi Outlander. I recently got the transmission flushed at 30k. When I went in, the recommended fluid that showed on their computer was Diamond SP III, which is what the manual calls for. I asked the guy if that was in fact what he would use, and he told me yes. Then as I'm getting the car, I see his guy putting an additive in. Turns out he just used a more standard fluid, and then put in the additive to get it to the right spec. I don't trust this... Especially since the guy came running out at the last minute and popped the hood to add more of the additive. I have no idea if they even got the ratio right. I use to do this stuff myself, but I am currently not in a position to be working on cars very much. I could possibly do something myself if it doesn't involve having the car jacked up. I'm interested to hear what my best option is for getting the stuff they put in totally flushed out, and the SP III put in. I'm leery about going to the dealer, because I know they'll want some outrageous amount of money, and they also log everything you do... I don't want to deal with an argument about this voiding the warrantee or something someday. I'm not going to bother going back to the original place, because they don't have the right fluid anyway. It's amazing that simply changing a fluid can be such a pain now days.



Thanks for any help,



If it was my vehicle, I would 'not' drive it until the proper fluid was put in. It should be towed back to the place or towed to a dealer to have the job done right.

It takes 'very' little time to cook a tranny using the wrong fluid mix.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail >

When I went in, *********

Did a dealership do this? OR a Jiffy Lube? I would demand an explanation and, as Mike says, not drive the car until I was sure it is right

Yes, this was Jiffy Lube. I should know better, but I've actually had basic stuff done there for a number of years, and in the past they were fine, as long as you just keep on top of what they do. I've never had them blatantly lie to me before though. And this is on the heels of a major TV news piece that was done on them in my same area, where they caught I believe 6 out of 10 outlets cheating people. How stupid can you be to still be lying to customers in the same city after all that. I've written a letter to corporate, for what good it will do. Anyay... I took it to the dealer and had them do it the right way with the right fluid. They gave me a price break. It might be me, but it does feel like the shifts are just a tiny bit better than with the stuff the other guys put in. I think there's a good chance it could have taken life off the trani over time. $7 a bottle for the Mitsubishi stuff, but that's better than $2000.

Im pretty openminded, but have to say that this chain has been the butt of bad comments on the web. Probably depends on where you are..

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