transmission fluid change

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by illusion123a, Apr 16, 2007.

  1. illusion123a

    illusion123a Guest

    How often do i need to have my transmission fluid changed on my 2002
    accent? I got it done around 40k and now I am at 75k... do I really need
    to do this? or was the dealership ripping me off? I have had all other
    maintaince (60k did NOT include the transmission flush)
     
    illusion123a, Apr 16, 2007
    #1
  2. IMO, the only reason to do it is if the warranty says it needs to be done.
    How does the fluid look? If it is dark, smells burnt, then yes, it should be
    changed and you should try to find the reason it is in bad condition. It
    does not have to be done by the dealer, in any case. Save the receipts.

    Personally, I don't change fluid at all. The one car I did change the fluid
    is the only car that ever had transmission problems. Others still
    functioned normally and the fluid was clean at 150,000+ miles. Engine oil
    is contaminated from the exhaust gasses, blowby and such, but the
    transmission is a relatively closed environment that can stay clean for
    years and many miles.
     
    Edwin Pawlowski, Apr 16, 2007
    #2
  3. illusion123a

    Mike Marlow Guest

    Who would know if the dealer "ripped you off"? What did they charge you?
    What reason did they give you for offering to change it? Did you agree to
    have them change it? Have you read your owner's manual?
     
    Mike Marlow, Apr 16, 2007
    #3
  4. illusion123a

    hyundaitech Guest

    The maintenance interval for replacement is 105,000 miles. Inspection is
    required at 30,000 miles, and replacement is only needed at that time if
    warranted by the fluid condition. Wherever you have the servicing done,
    be absolutely certain that only SPIII fluid is used.
     
    hyundaitech, Apr 16, 2007
    #4
  5. illusion123a

    Matt Whiting Guest

    I agree with you that the environment inside an automatic is MUCH nicer
    than that inside the engine, but automatic transmissions still have many
    wear parts, in particular the clutch packs. These wear particles have
    to go somewhere and that somewhere is the oil and filter. I've always
    changed my fluid and filter at about 50,000 mile intervals and I've
    never yet had an automatic transmission fail, including a Chrysler
    minivan that had 178,000 miles on it. And these minivans (1996
    Plymouth) supposedly had an especially trouble-prone transmission. I
    personally think much of the trouble was driver abuse combined with
    improper (wrong fluid type) or nonexistent maintenance.

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Apr 16, 2007
    #5
  6. My gf has a 2002 Hyundai Elantra, that imho is nothing but a piece of crap..
    at 63k the motor went in it, she went to hyundai dealer and they told her
    that the motor wasnt covered under the 100k warranty cause its a wearable
    item.. $800 later for a used motor and install, recieved a card in the mail
    from hyundai dealer saying that they thought it was time for the 105k
    transmission filter change and fluid change.. me being mechanically inclined
    and having access to a garage i bought the filter and the sp3 fluid and
    proceeded back to the garage to do the drain/fill the filter they gave me
    was of the spin on type, couldnt figure out where the filter went, this was
    on a friday, monday morning went back to the dealer they asked for the vin i
    gave it, they said oh this car doesnt have the spin on filter, they sent a
    mechanic out to verify, they told me it has an internal filter that the only
    way to change would be to split the case and it doesnt need to be changed
    because it is a 'disposable' transmission.. i figured if she has a
    disposable transmission than it doesnt need the fluid changed if there isnt
    a filter to change. .they gave me a quote of around $3800 for the disposable
    transmission.. wtf is up with that? ?
     
    Roy Blenkhorn, Apr 23, 2007
    #6

  7. I never heard of such a thing. Did you pursue it with Hyundai or another
    dealer? Wear items are things like brakes, wiper blades. light bulbs.
    Timing belt is a wear item and should be changed at 60k miles. If that is
    the situation and the belt was not changed, they are correct.
     
    Edwin Pawlowski, Apr 24, 2007
    #7
  8. illusion123a

    Mike Marlow Guest

    That's the problem with posts like the OP's Edwin. Grossly oversimplified
    statements like "the motor is a wear item" mean nothing. But then again,
    the tactic of grossly misrepresenting something is common among those who
    wish to piss in their own pants about things and blame those around them for
    having noticed the wet spot.
     
    Mike Marlow, Apr 25, 2007
    #8
  9. I find your story quite interesting. My local Hyundai dealer states a
    filter change at 100k miles with a fluid flush every 30k miles. We
    live in Arizona (dusty conditions) and all my vehicles are serviced
    the same way (oil-3k, tranny flush 30k, K&N filters, etc.)

    As far as the engine, they should've pro-rated it, as long as she was
    the original owner. The clutch was going on my 02 Sonata and the pro-
    rated (wearable item) price was $600. Hyundai had a $3500 owner
    loyalty rebate, traded it in on a 06 LX. My dealer stands behind my
    cars. Even had a dentless paint removal guy remove a dent (paint shop
    wanted $600, their body guy- $100) and they said no charge, removed
    only 99% of the ding.

    Steve
     
    Steve Richards, Apr 26, 2007
    #9
  10. illusion123a

    Matt Whiting Guest

    I find your story interesting as well. I don't see the logic of
    changing the fluid and not the filter and I definitely don't see the
    logic of using K&N filters in dusty conditions!

    Matt
     
    Matt Whiting, Apr 26, 2007
    #10
  11. illusion123a

    Bob Guest

    Dentless Paint Removal... Errrr.. I mean Paintless Dent Removal is the way
    to go. I had a Town and Country that had a garbage can get blown into it
    during a windstorm. I got two quotes of over $650 from body shops before I
    traded it. I called the local PDR guy, and he did a great job. $200. 2nd
    row, pix #3 and 4 - light blue T&C.
    http://www.colorswilmington.com/photogallery.html He did the work in an
    hour in the parking lot where I work. The dealer I traded to has you sign
    off whether the vehicle has ever had paintwork - another way of asking if
    it's been in an accident. Of course, being no paint was used, I could
    honestly say no... Of course, a trash can, or a shopping cart putting a
    divot in a door - no matter how bad - doesn't even begin to create the same
    kind of issues any collision would.
     
    Bob, Apr 26, 2007
    #11
  12. Sorry for the delay in responding to you Edwin. At the time I was driving a
    tow truck, on my shift I got a phone call from my gf she was broke down at
    the firestation parking lot, I went over and popped the hood she said it
    just quit, figured it was anything but the motor being gone. Everything
    looked fine under the hood, spun over very fast.. Hooked onto it with the
    tow truck towed it directly to the Hyundai dealer.. they tore the valve
    cover off and on inspection the key that holds the timing chain gear onto
    the read cam shaft had sheared off which had caused only the front cam the
    one attached to timing belt to spin and not the rear very fast.. but they
    wouldnt cover this.. the next closest hyundai dealer is 100mi away. my boss
    wasnt gonna go for a free tow there :)

    The thing is, Steve, if your using a K&N filter thats great for you, this
    hyundai does not have a filter that can be 'user' changed. they told me the
    case has to be split to change the filter that is in this car .. its a 2002
    Hyundai Elantra 2.0 3spd with OD automatic. that is then when they said its
    a disposable tranny
     
    Roy Blenkhorn, Apr 26, 2007
    #12
  13. Certainly sounds like a part that should be covered. I never heard of
    declaring an engine a 'wear part' , especially a key. like that. Timing
    belt, air and oil filters, spark plugs, are wear parts.
     
    Edwin Pawlowski, Apr 26, 2007
    #13
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