Just had my tranny flushed at the dealer and the tech and service writer both told me that they never drop the pan. They simply hook up the cooler lines to a flush machine and presto, new tranny fluid gets circulated into the tranny. I asked the tech about the fairly large magnet that's in the pan and he gave a "deer in the headlights look" for a couple of seconds then said they don't worry about it.

I also asked about adjusting the bands and changing the filter. The service writer told me that neither one longer needs to be done with the 48RE.

Am I getting big timed, again by a dealer?

Jamie

 

Good question, because I'm about to have mine done (15,000 miles) next week by my dealer. I was even going to tell them to be careful of the sensor in the governer port if they had to drop the pan.

 

Tech and service advisor were 100% correct.Handled HUNDEREDS the very same way.Ban adjust is a urban myth from the dinosaur era of old 727s etc.Filters are good foor many thousands of miles.Usually recomended changing them if worked hard at 60k or light usage and cars/minvans at 90k.Flush system best thiing for trans life since sliced bread

 

Thanks Hounddong, it helps to hear it from people who know, that aren't taking your money!!

Jamie

 

I too have a question about the flush of the auto tranny. What all is involved? Is there some top secret thing that they do? If you were to drop the pan and clean it out and blow out the lines with compressed air will that work and do the same thing?

Thanks for any insite,

Puller

 

I just did mine last weekend and let me tell you I am glad I dropped the pan, there was a bunch of real fine dark stuff attached to the magnet and also in the bottom of the pan which I assume being metal. The color of the tranny fluid was dark in comparison to the new fluid I put in...now that I look back I wish I drained the TC (if thats possible) and got the balance of the fluid out. Anyways, the filter may or may not have been good but I would assume that it may have had a substantial amount of the metal particles in it but I replaced it anyways and added the Mag-Hytec deep pan for extra fluid capacity and cooling.

Anyone know if this is normal to have that much in the pan (probably about 1/4 cup)? I have done other trucks before and a small amount of junk is normal but I had like twice as much compared to others. The tranny shifts fine no problems since I have had it now nearing 16K miles.

 

HdPower, When I dropped my pan for the first time at 32K, my magnet looked like a chocolate doughnut!!! I was very shocked at how much junk was on it. TC is a sealed unit that shares ATF with the tranny. The transfere case has two hex plugs one low the other high facing the rear of the truck access those to service. takes a little over 2 quarts. DO NOT touch the large bolt directly on the bottom of the T/F case. It is not a drain plug. This is straight from the horses mouth, (Dodge diesel mechanic).


Also if your doing a pan drop and refill your not even getting half the the total fluid that's in the system. I serviced mine twice with a pan drop and refill and did my own filter change. When I got the flush I watched as my old fluid goes through the glass window as its changing out the fluid. It was very dark. When the tech stops the process the fluid in the window is a bright transparent red, showing clean fluid throughout the tranny. He let me stand and watch.
I had only gone about 15k b/w my last service and the flush.

My tranny shifts worlds better than before.

hope all this helps.

Jamie

 

You can change pretty much all the fluid and change the filter in your driveway. I just took the pan off and then loosened the VB up and let it sag a little and let it drip for about an hour. The filter is a snap to change. My tranny holds 12 quarts and I put 11 back in. If I had let it drain longer I probably would have put 12 in. I know on the 47re's that adjusting the bands is not an urban myth. A lot of people do them and it helps them.

 

Thanks Jamie appreciate the help, I might be in line to get the tranny flush on the next go round...i'm just glad that I am not the only one with chocolate doughnuts in the pan lol.

 

I was surprised at the amount of metal powder on mine. Then again it hadn't been cleaned in 70 some odd 1000 miles and it's been beat on pretty hard so that's to be expected. Just glad it wasn't any big chunks. The filter was pretty nasty looking to. It hadn't been changed either.

 

I usually drop the pan the first service and then flush after that. Kickdown band is adjusted from the outside anyways. Only l/r band requires the pan to be dropped.

 

In a perfect world, a transmission service consists of both, a service (pan off) and a flush. I have seen more than one trans. stop moving the vehicle due to only a clogged filter. This can happen at the 100,000 mile mark, or sooner. I believe, as a technician, that the filter and the band adjustment is the most important part of the service, and generally I flush them only if the fluid is discolored.

 

In 25 plus years in the auto repair end the only clogged filters I've seen the units were toast already.Some metal and particles in the pan is normal.Its not going anywhere.The 47re no ban adjust ever helped them or any other late model Chrysler trans.The GOOD trans techs will tell you the same thing.They don't adjust theirs eaither.There is no real way to check them and the only adjust they get is in a overhaul.Then again the only ones I've ever seen that needed adjust were already toasted bad enough the units had obvious problems from the get go.We handeled 60 to 80 or so D.C.vehicles a day on the average with two flush machines that were used a LOT.In four years we saw the failure rate of our regular customers including delivery and work vehicles dropped immencelyand most of those got filter changes at 90k.The comebck ratio on LEAKS with pans not resealing went away.We flushed mail jeeps and heavy work vehicles every 15k.Every one else every 30k.I've got a Mercury Marquis with almost 60k and same filter.Its got amsoil atf in it and flushed at 30k.It will get a filter and flush at 90k.The 1998 1500 slt I have has 67k on it and it got a filter at 60k only because the cork gasket was seeping all over.It got the NEW rubber/steel gasket to cure that.It got flushed at 30k and again with a filter and Amsoil at at 60k.Thats it for several years to come.

 

Dealer did the first filter change at 30k. no flush just new filter and fluid. I did the 2nd job at 60k . new filter an fluid. I took the truck to Cottman transmission for 3rd job. (close to 90k) They pulled the pan and filter ,then hooked up pump from underneath to get a complete flush. That is the route I will be going from here on.

 

Good to know, Houndog, thanks.