My sister's 99 EX auto is @ 35,000 miles. Other then the obvious (oil/filter/top off others) what would you guys suggest to check out.

She took the car to a mech. and he said he wanted to flush the tranny fluid. He said he had two ways of doing this:
1) short way ---> less expensive ----> not as good of a job (leaves some fluid, not complete flush)
2) long way ---> more labor ----> better way of flushing.

Which should she do?

Also he said he wanted to flush the coolant and he said he'd have to charge her for a new rad. cap. I thought that was BS because I've never heard of doing this. Only time I've ever changed it was when the car caught fire and it burned off .

Is this guy F-ing with my sister?

 

Save yourself some money and do it by yourself. Drain the fluid, refill another 3 quarts. Effectively you'll replace about 50% of fluid. A month later do this same again. Now 75% of fluid will be fresh. Total cost - about $10. Tools needed - funnel and 3/8in ratchet. Time - 5-10 min. I change mine every other oil change.

The long way involves sucking all of the fluid out, and shops charge way too much of it. They still leave about 20% of fluid behind, so for $75-150 you'll essentially accomplish the same thing you can do yourself.

 

Thanks for the info!

Except, I forgot to mention that my sister lives in chicago, I live in Fl. I won't be seeing the car.

So does anyone have a list of possible things to change (or at least look at) at 35k miles?

Thanks!

 

read the owners manual....it should have what to check in there

 

i dont think the coolant really needs to be flushed yet, but why not, it only takes about an 1/2 hour or so to do. just follow the manual and you should have no problems. as far as the cap, i don't know why the hell you would need to replace that, unless hers is damaged somehow..

 

ooops i didnt see this.... well since you don't regularly see her.. the manual say change the coolant every 45,000 miles, in normal or sever driving conditions, so if it was my sis i would wait till i see her and change it for her then.
peace

 

Acutally,the tranny flush is worth it. Its probally called t-tech. It gets hooked up to the tranny fluid lines by the cooling unit. Its essentally a tube w/ a piston in it and interchangable fittings for different cars in a neat-o casing. New fluid above the piston, old fluid pushes the piston upward, and the new fluid is pumped in. It not only flushes the pan but the cooling unit, lines,and case get flushed. Considering the machine holds twice the fluid the car does, it will be very clean. The t-tech places no stress on the tranny and works off of the cars method of moving the fluid. I tested these machines for valvoline and they get a for automatic transmissions. If its not a t-tech, i really cant comment on the machine itself.


[Modified by trustsi, 3:29 AM 10/22/2002]

 

Good info, I'll have to research that.