Trans Flush almost requires a loan
 

well not quite[laugh] ....... but I got a dealer quote for a transmission fluid flush, filter change, and band adjustment $249.95 :o WOW Im sure if I did the fluid flush and filter change myself Id only spend around $100 but Im not about to go tinkering with the bands. Ive read how to do it several times and I just am not confident enough that I wont mess it up. The truck doesnt like to shift into OD unless I play with the throttle. Hopefully its just needs a new filter or adjustment. The fluid levels look ok.

Tranny flush = waste of money.

anyhow why have the dealer do it?

Doesn't sound like too bad a price, they'll spend around an hour and a half on it. I think that's the way to do it- I don't think there's much point in flushing the trans without doing the rest of the service on it. You can service it without doing the flush but if the fluid's discolored you may as well change it all.

well since it doesnt like shifting to OD I may as well have it all done and pray that it will help it shift into OD smoothly again. Because if it doesnt cure the issue then $249.95 will begin to look like chump change[laugh]

If you pay for my ticket to AK, I will bring my tools and do the job for free....

I miss AK and want to come back again....... (secret reason for offering)

Nice response.

Anyway, I can see an instance where a guy would pay to have his trans serviced, band adjusted and all. The fluid and filter alone (if bought from the dealer) would have run you over $100, not to mention the MESS and hassle. I wouldn't sweat the money, like you said the real big bill is when you have to swap it out for a built one......

The trans flush fill, filter and band adjustment wasn't something I wanted to tackel on a busy weekend so I called the dealer and was quoted $150. I jumped on that. If you have 2 dealers in town try the other for a better price. This was done less than 2 weeks ago so prices are current, at least here in CO.

Good luck.

yeah there are 2 here. I plan on contacting them but just havent gotten around to it.

I don't know if thats the typical "Alaskan markup" or not, but I got that job done at a alocal tranny shop that does really good work (flush, service, adjust bands, and check line pressure) for $175, and I'm in Canada.

I'd say shop around.

I dunno, a thirty year tranny guy told me to NEVER flush a 47re. He said that regular changes and filter replacement is all you need. If you do a search you can pull up a thread that tells you how to remove one of the tranny lines and change ALL the fluid yourself for a fraction of the cost.

I do what Dr. Evil said, I unhook a line and allow the fluid to run out. I believe it is the passenger side line. Just make sure if you do this to make sure that the fluid is topped off, only allow it to run for a couple of seconds before shutting down and refilling. You don't want to run anything dry. I drop the pan, change the filter, then unhook the line and get all the old fluid out. You'll be able to see the color change.

Let me retract my Flush statement, they did not flush the trans fluid, the dealer just dropped the pan, filter and bands for $150. I've heard bad things as well about power flushing just about any auto trans.

On a positive side note though, while installing a new hot line after the trans was serviced, they must have bent the pan while draining it because there is a brand new deeper pan on the 47re now, no charge from the dealer.

Good luck and keep searching.

You are correct, and I should have been a little more clear - I was talking about a POWER flush...

Yup! A week ago, on my '97, I had to replace the hot line due to vibration wearing a pinhole in it. I jacked the front of the truck up so I can get under there sideways and when I pulled the hot line off at the tranny, it started draining... and Draining and DRAINING!!:o .
After getting what was likely over a gallon to a gallon and a half(US) in a a tiny drain pan I *assumed* I got half of what was in the TC.
I dropped the pan to change the filter and it easily went to 3 gals (total) in the big drain pan. Still red-brown but wasn't nice and clear like the new AFT.
I bought a case of ATF-4 and added 1 more to boot. 13 US Qts in a 47RE. I would say I got almost all out without having a drain plug on the TC.
YMMV...
Someone mentioned his 2001 wouldn't drain like crazy when he pulled his hot line. I wonder if the check valve is at the tranny on the '01's -vs- at the cooler like my '97?

That's what I've always thought. Service technician at Honda told me that too for the Honda. Filter and 7 quarts of +4 ran me about $40 if I remember correctly.

A good transmission TOTAL flush is a life saver for a auto, if it's done on a routine basis, if not, say you have over 100,000 miles and haven't done anything to the trans., then I wouldn't do it.

The only one that wouldn't hurt the transmission is the BG flush
http://www.bgprod.com/home.html
this is the only flush I use on my vehicles, even my wifes Honda, it's the best there is, from what I understand about a auto is the fine particles (wear) are floating around and captured inside the trans and if you flush you'll break them loose and destroy the trans, but BG prod will capture the particles and remove them.

I know if you have a truck that is under 36,000 miles and have the flush done and do them on a regular basis, which you should anyway, they'll warranty the trans for 150,000 miles for nothing and that goes for the whole drivetrain if you have that done also, I use their radiator flush also.

ok I just rechecked on this with the dealer and asked what it was without flushing it and they said $159.95. Thats a so so price I guess, still waiting for the other dealer to call back. I think they were just trying to sell me extra services that I dont need. I have not disclosed to them that it shifts late into OD because then they'd try to sell a bunch of other un needed garbage with their doom and gloom worst scenario stories "if" you dont do this or if you dont pay for that the world might blow up type stuff. The only reason Im even having them touch the thing in the first place is to just adjust the bands since #1 a $4000 thing isnt something I want to mess up #2 it would cost me a bunch of money just for an inch pound torque wrench. If it was just draining fluids I could do that much myself. I can always drain the stuff later if I want to for half that price.

I have read about cleaning the electrical connections on the OD unit really helps the shift into gear. I also read on this forum about cleaning/checking all ground connections on the trans and engine, and it cured a hard OD shift. Just fyi.

If you decide to do a fkush, make sure it's done correctly and make SURE they change the filter. All fluid needs to be exchanged. If you have changed your fluid on a regular bacis (20,000-30,000) miles, I still say a flush can do more harm than good. Bottom line, it's your truck. Do whatever makes you feel confident.

Thanks for all those who gave input. Im going to go with a pan drop and filter change to start with. The fluid doesnt look discolored or smell strange so I do agree that flushing it all out would be a waste at this point. If that doesnt help it shift to OD better than I will considering draining it all out. I wouldnt be suprised if that filter has been in there since 2002. Im the second owner and only have a few of the other owners service records.

You can get a torque wrench at Harbor Freight for about $20. I think I got mine on sale for $15 or so. Just in case you ever decide to adjust the bands yourself.

Very true as I own a FT lb torque wrench from Harbor Freight but I wouldn't trust an Inch lb torque wrench from HF. I'm still shopping for one but will more than likely end up at Sears.

Good luck on the trans.