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Metal shards on dip stick!


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ZuuL
User

Jun 21, 2010, 1:46 AM

Post #1 of 7 (3620 views)
Metal shards on dip stick! Sign In

Hello ,i have a 98 Plymouth Breeze automatic trans with 150,000 miles and i was wondering if it's a good idea to change my own transmission fluid. I checked the dip and it showed a little metal ,i haven't put more than 5,000 miles on the car myself but im thinking that i should change the fluid now because i don't know if the last owner did anything.

One mechanic that did my engine oil told me that's a bad idea and wouldn't make a difference if and charged allot for trans fluid change anyways.

Id like some opinions on this ,i think if i had to i could do it my self ,i have the tools and can follow directions.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 21, 2010, 6:22 AM

Post #2 of 7 (3614 views)
Re: Metal shards on dip stick! Sign In

Does't sound good. Shards on the dipstick! Yikes. I'd change it anyway which IMO will help some or finish it off,

T



Sidom
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Jun 21, 2010, 8:28 PM

Post #3 of 7 (3606 views)
Re: Metal shards on dip stick! Sign In

Just because a maintenance service is expensive to do, isn't a reason not to do it.....

With transmissions, if they haven't been serviced regularly and go a long time with out changing the fluid or filter, when they do get serviced, this can cause them to go out in fairly short amount of time. For this reason a lot shops won't service them and is probably why your guy passed on the service...

If you want to service it, it's not hard, remove the pan, clean it, change the filter, reinstall the pan and add the correct ATF. If the pan has silicone and no gasket, plan on the tranny going out...... Those come from the factory with silicone & no gasket. Almost everyone uses gaskets when servicing them. Silicone with no gasket would mean this has probably never been serviced. While its no guarantee the trans would go out.....If it didn't go out, it would be bordlining the miracle area.........


zmame
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zmame profile image

Jun 22, 2010, 6:08 AM

Post #4 of 7 (3595 views)
Re: Metal shards on dip stick! Sign In

  
If it hasn't been changed in 150,000 miles could cause some problems. From what I understand if you wait that long all contaminates and dirt form around seals and when you flush the tranny removes all that dirt and good chance could cause seal leaks.

Flushing your transmission would be a better idea then dropping the pan if your going to do it. That way you flushing cooler, torque converter and all the contaminates out. Just make sure they check & clean the magnet see if its a chia-pet or not.

Is it also possible you didn't mistake metal for tiny air bubbles? take some of the fluid from the stick and put it on your finger and hold it in the light if there is metal should be shiny little bits.


(This post was edited by zmame on Jun 22, 2010, 6:09 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 22, 2010, 7:37 AM

Post #5 of 7 (3589 views)
Re: Metal shards on dip stick! Sign In

Z ">> magnet see if its a chia-pet <<"



LMAO! Best description of what you don't want to find in there I've heard - too funny,

Tom



ZuuL
User

Jun 22, 2010, 9:24 PM

Post #6 of 7 (3576 views)
Re: Metal shards on dip stick! Sign In


In Reply To

If it hasn't been changed in 150,000 miles could cause some problems. From what I understand if you wait that long all contaminates and dirt form around seals and when you flush the tranny removes all that dirt and good chance could cause seal leaks.

Flushing your transmission would be a better idea then dropping the pan if your going to do it. That way you flushing cooler, torque converter and all the contaminates out. Just make sure they check & clean the magnet see if its a chia-pet or not.

Is it also possible you didn't mistake metal for tiny air bubbles? take some of the fluid from the stick and put it on your finger and hold it in the light if there is metal should be shiny little bits.


OK ,i looked at it again and strangely all i found was little black stuff at the most. It wasn't hard it just smears off my finger. I don't know i'm pretty sure one day i took the dip out and seen chards , i might have been on psychotropic mushrooms but you could be right about the bubbles ,i checked it about 30 times and didn't see anything this time?
Should i drive the car and then check it again?
I don't get any problems with the trans ,it works never gave me any problem yet.

Flushing it doesn't sound like a bad option because i have no idea of this cars history.


(This post was edited by ZuuL on Jun 22, 2010, 9:25 PM)


zmame
Veteran / Moderator
zmame profile image

Jun 22, 2010, 11:19 PM

Post #7 of 7 (3570 views)
Re: Metal shards on dip stick! Sign In

 
Well, rule of thumb if it's not broke don't fix it. If your trans was so full of metal floating around that would be picked up by filter or magnet then I think you would notice some drive-ability issues.






 
 
 






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