Hello,

I recently purchased a 2003 3.2TL with 180k miles. Having just bought it, any suggestions for things I should get checked/replaced right off the bat?

The transmission definetly isn't in as bad shape as many others I've been reading/seeing on YouTube and here, but it's definetly not perfect.

When I drive in D5, I definetly get a bit of shaking/rough shifts from 2-3-4 gears. I also occasionally get a nasty grinding/crunching sound while accelerating in the 30 to 45 MPH range in highway traffic. I pretty consistently get these issues while driving D5. Strangely, I've noticed I feel almost none of these issues when I drive in D4. Don't feel rough shifts or anything. Any explanations for this?

Suggestions I should do to service my transmission? Worried about a fluid change since the fluid is not terrible but not great shape. I know that if changing the fluid causes the transmission to go bad, it was probably already screwed to begin with, but I really cannot afford a new transmission and just need another 5k miles or so on the car. Maybe I should just change 2 quarts?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks a lot!

 

Its a gamble either way, I'd lean toward a full 3x3 ATF replacement and hope for the best. That said, I do believe a new transmission is in your near future.

 

Had this same issue with mine a while ago. D4 disables torque converter lockup which is what's causing your shudder. I would drive around town in D4 then go to D5 on the highway above 65mph and I drove like that for almost a year without issue but finally go tired of it and swapped an AV6 into it.

I agree with horseshoez, you can try a 3X3 and it'll buy you some time(maybe) but the internal damage is done.

 

Thanks for the reply.

I stil don't feel the shuddering is too bad so hopefully my transmission isn't in too bad shape?

Definetly don't feel any slipping issues like I've been seeing in videos on YouTube.

Would D4 give worse gas mileage than D5?

And is doing a 3x3 risky given I have a high mileage transmission? I'd rather drive with bad fluid and get 5k more miles than do a 3x3 and then need to get a new transmission, even if long term damage is worse. I would junk the car if it came to needing a new transmission. No way financially its worth it, right?

 

• Driving around a city in D4 will not really change your fuel economy, however, if driving down the highway your mileage will definitely suffer.
• It is unlikely doing a 3x3 will cause any damage or accelerate the internal wear; if anything, you may get a few more miles out of it.

 

 

" I also get a nasty grinding/crunching sound ", In my opinion, a grinding/crunching sound, when shifting gears, would be an indication of a serious internal issue. If you should decide to do a drain and refill, be sure to check the MAGNET, located on the inside end of the transmission drain plug, for metal chips/shavings. Minute metal particles, on the magnet, are normal. Metal shavings or chips, are not. If metal shavings, or small chunks of metal are present on the magnet, I would be reluctant to drive the car at all, as a complete transmission failure, could occur at any time!

 

I wouldn't be "reluctant" to drive it, but I would be prepared for a transmission failure and avoid any long trips. If it's going to fail, it's going to fail. Just be ready to have someone pick you up and/or have the car transported during any trip you take.

That said, it is also likely that you'll have some indication it is getting worse. It's unlikely that the transmission will be fine one minute and fail the next.