Parents telling me not to change transmission?
Posted by d8ukrainians@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 40 comments
I recently inherited a 07’ Charger SXT V6, it has nearly 150,000 miles on it. When I change transmission, sometimes I hear a “thud” and while I’m not having issues with it, it’s making me concerned because I read somewhere that could indicate a problem. Also the cars age…
As far as we know the transmission has never been changed, not sure if any oil has ever been added either. My mom said she took her Ford Explorer to a mechanic and he warned her not to flush the transmission, she did it anyway, and some belt broke?
rudbri93@reddit
the transmission fluid should at least be checked. but the thud is more likely something like a engine or transmission mount thats broken.
Lafinfil@reddit
Possibly a U-joint. I’d at least have it checked.
mach198295@reddit
Thud sounds more like a universal joint is failing.
outline8668@reddit
Yep. Or a body/trans/diff mount. Or a really bad CV axle. OP, if you are concerned why not take it to a professional?
d8ukrainians@reddit (OP)
I don’t trust mechanics much because I’m a young woman. And I’m not really concerned about the noise. I’m worried about if I change out the transmission fluid, will I ruin the transmission all together?
xXPussy420Slayer69Xx@reddit
Great instincts. Stay away from mechanics. I’m sure there’s an essential oil or healing crystal that can keep your car running better
d8ukrainians@reddit (OP)
Dude I’m only gonna go to one until I know I have to, I just need to know if it’s safe for me to flush or add transmission fluid with my shitty circumstance
twosuperior@reddit
You have a noise from your car that you didn't have before. Now is the time you have to go to a mechanic. Find out if this noise is even related to the transmission or not before worrying about fluid. This thud could be several things as has been told to you in other comments. It could be a u-joint on the drive shaft, It could be a motor mount, or it could be internal to the transmission.
Not trusting mechanics is one thing putting yourself at risk both financially and safety wise because you won't get a problem dealt with is a whole other issue. Look at reviews and pay attention to the 2-4 star comments those are usually the most relevant. Pick a place and make it your regular place. Build a relationship and the trust will come. Maintaining your car is not optional if you want to own one.
outline8668@reddit
I'm a mechanic by trade and as such I am lost how you being a young woman makes you distrustful of us. Especially considering the mechanic usually never meets the customer and the communication goes through the service advisor. We don't know anything about the person who's car we're working on.
No offense intended but making up in your mind what the problem is despite zero supporting evidence is the absolute worst way to go about troubleshooting. You should be concerned about the noise more than changing transmission fluid. The noise means something is worn out and by operating the vehicle this way it is possible do damage to additional components. I see this happen all the time.
To answer your question about the transmission fluid, of your transmission is in good shape, changing the fluid periodically is good for it. If your transmission is hanging by a thread and ready to shit the bed, changing the fluid tends to speed up its demise.
JOHNNYPPPRO@reddit
Honestly my Mom's car makes this thud feeling all the time when changing gears and it's still running after many years.
murphyp18@reddit
My first thought too
series_hybrid@reddit
I concur.
David_Buzzard@reddit
You’ve got a problem and it doesn’t sound like you can repair it yourself, so you’ll have to find a decent mechanic. I find with older cars, you’re better taking it to smaller garages rather than a dealership or chain franchise garage. Asking around on Facebook for a good mechanic is a good place to start.
Changing the transmission fluid and filter is usually a good thing. Sometimes people get that done when other things on the transmission are failing and blame the inevitable failure on the fluid change.
If it’s clunking on shift changes, but otherwise running fine, it’s probably something like a a worn u-joint rather than the transmission.
Personal_Chicken_598@reddit
I’m gonna assume you mean transmission fluid since nobody who isn’t rich is going to change the entire transmission for an intermittent “thud” with 0 diagnosis. And to be honest that car isn’t even worth a new transmission anyway.
But the reason they say don’t change the fluid is that it will generally have 1 of 2 outcomes if you do it AFTER a problem has presented. 1 it’ll fix the problem or 2 it’ll destroy the transmission completely. The influx of new additives tends to do that.
Now if your doing it as part of a maintenance regimen it’s great definitely a good thing but a transmission fluid change when you have a problem already is a Hail Mary
Pimp_Daddy_Patty@reddit
If a fluid change results in a transmission failure, that thing was already hanging on by a thread.
rklug1521@reddit
Agree with a fluid change. A flush can be bad thought.
Pimp_Daddy_Patty@reddit
That's an old myth.
rklug1521@reddit
FYI, from Acura TDB 16-063:
rklug1521@reddit
Then why does Acura specifically say to drain and fill and not to flush in a TSB for my car?
Personal_Chicken_598@reddit
Yep that’s usually when people notice the transmission problems
Famous-Salary-1847@reddit
Transmissions don’t generally make singular thud noises when they’re going out. It’s usually grinding, crunching, whining, etc. because everything in a transmission is spinning. A transmission that makes one thud when it’s going out is usually going to be one really loud thud followed by not being able to drive the car and possibly a puddle on the ground with some gear parts depending on how big the thud was. What a thud usually indicates is a worn out U-joint or motor mount. Could also be a worn out rear end when the ring gear has worn to the point of having excess backlash. Does the thud occur, say, when you shift into drive after reversing out of a parking spot? If so, I’d say a u-joint. If it makes a thud when you stomp on the gas, I’d gravitate to an engine mount. If you can and feel comfortable doing so, jack the car up and put it on 4 jackstands so the wheels are off the ground and have a buddy shift the car back and forth between reverse and drive while you’re outside the car. It’ll help you pinpoint where exactly the noise is coming from. Just don’t crawl underneath. Wouldn’t want to get hit by a spinning driveshaft or something.
d8ukrainians@reddit (OP)
You got that right about it only making the “thud” noise when shifting into drive, so I’ll be looking into the ujoint.
I haven’t noticed any transmission issues. But it’s alarming to me that 150,000 miles in NO ONE has bothered to take care of it. Different sources and some replies in this thread make it sound like I change it -> I’m maybe fucked. Even though it’s not giving me problems now, it probably will at some point -> still fucked
Ambitious-Intern-928@reddit
Most people never change transmission fluid. I've changed it in my current vehicle since it's the first one I bought new and wanted to take care of it. Mechanics will give wildly different advice, but PLENTY of people have racked up hundreds of thousands of miles on original fluid, some people service their transmissions regularly and they still fail. I wouldn't say the original owner of your car wasn't taking care of it just because they didn't change the transmission fluid. It probably helps, especially if you drive aggressively or tow, but it doesn't cure that wear. Also, the clunk is something more simple than an internal transmission failure.
jonm61@reddit
If it hasn't been serviced already, most shops won't do it after 100k miles, because they don't want the liability of you coming back saying they broke it.
It is far more likely to be a mount, which you should get repaired, as it can lead to the others failing.
Agitated_Ad6162@reddit
Check mounts, bushings, joint for this.
If transmission oil never has been changed..don't touch it just top up fluid
Transmission is like a brain lots of small tubes that can get clogged. When u do a total fluid change on a transmission u run the risk of dislodging gunk and then having it clog one of those important tubes that tell the transmission when to shift.
Educational-Jelly855@reddit
Are you refering to a very slight thump/jolt going from park to reverse or once you start it up and put it in drive? Sometimes you can go years that way and have no problem. As for fluid the idea is that if you take a high mileage automatic thats never had a fluid change and change the fluid it can cause it to not shift as well cause the broken down gunky fluid was helping it operate. But as someone else mentioned it could be a driveshaft issue like a u-joint or something.
AdditionalAd9794@reddit
It's a 20 year old dodge. The cost to buy and replace the transmission is worth more than the vehicle is
Old_Confidence3290@reddit
I doubt the thud is related to the transmission fluid. You should have the noise diagnosed. The real reason the mechanics don't want to change the fluid in older or high mileage cars is because the owner often has noticed it problem. Changing the fluid is not going to fix an existing problem. After the fluid change, the customer cries out that, ever since you changed my transmission fluid, it does, whatever. This happens more than you want to believe.
d8ukrainians@reddit (OP)
Oh I’m not even that worried about the noise.
I’m wanting to do routine transmission fluid maintenance. It hasn’t given me issues yet, though it’s not shifting as smooth as it could be. But some people have pointed out adding new fluid or flushing it can somehow ruin it altogether. And I don’t believe anyone has ever properly flushed it or added oil in YEARS. Like if I go on without doing it -> fucked, do it now? -> maybe still fucked
DefiantLemming@reddit
“I had a bad experience once, therefore…” If you think it’s best to repair/replace the transmission and you consider it a worthwhile investment because you plan to keep the car, then do it. If, after due diligence you decide that it isn’t worth the time, hassle and money to repair, then you consider other options. Good parents raise kids to make the important decisions on their own. It’s your time to shine.
d8ukrainians@reddit (OP)
It’s really tough, I can’t afford to make the wrong call here. I drive 300 miles a week just getting to school, this car is everything to me, man
secondrat@reddit
Transmission fluid is an oil, and just like any oil they get dirty and need to be changed.
I would recommend getting the fluid changed.
But I would also recommend having a trusted shop diagnose the clunk. It’s often something as simple as a motor mount.
DefiantLemming@reddit
This is what it means to take responsibility for yourself. Mom, dad, relatives and friends aren’t always going to be around during the critical moments when you’re forced to make tough decisions. By making this decision on your own, you’ll be taking perhaps the first step in taking control of your life. You’re right if you should worry that you might make the wrong choice. But at least it’s your choice and not someone else’s. Do as you will.
ruddy3499@reddit
You have a carrier bearing in the middle of the driveshaft. A very common failure point. It should be the first thing you check
SquallZ34@reddit
How about you take it to a mechanic for a proper diagnostic? That’s what I would do.
d8ukrainians@reddit (OP)
I think I will, but as a young woman I’m always told that many mechanics are predatory
SquallZ34@reddit
This is true, and has been proven by one of those consumer tv show things.
Go in, say it’s here for oil change only. Decline any upsells, move on with life.
You may or may not need brakes soon.
Option B: have a male friend take the car in.
Amarathe_@reddit
If changing trans fluid kills the trans then it was already dead and the fluid was playing weekend at bernie's.
I recomend a full flush rather than just dropping the pan for a quick change. A very large percentage of your oil is in the torque converter not the pan and a flush is the best way to get as much of the old fluid out as possible
jrileyy229@reddit
I don't think it takes much reading to deduce a thud is not normal.
First step is just to check the fluid. If it looks like it's cooked, I'd absolutely change it... Regardless of who says what risk is or isn't there... It's not doing much of anything at that point anyway.
Changed trans fluid>belt unrelated to the transmission broke. There is no casualty between those two events
RedVikingOg@reddit
Fluid/filter change or flush with proper equipment and fluid won’t hurt anything.