Given the mileage on my 2002 Alero (approx 162.

ALLEROGUY

MEMBER
2002 OLDSMOBILE ALERO
162,000 MILES

Given the mileage on my 2002 Alero (approx 162,000) I'm concerned about what maintenance should be done to prevent a potential automatic transmission failure. I purchased the car six years ago from the federal government with about 50,000 miles on it. No work has been done on the transmission since I've owned the car. The transmission has not had any symptoms of failure other than there is a little more resistance when I shift up or down and it seems to stick a bit.

I don't have a lot of money for unnecessary maintenance work but if it will prevent a transmission failure I'll do it.

I drive the car easy and don't try to accelerate quickly. Generally when I'm at a long traffic light I'll shift it into neutral. When driving on streets or uphill I'll often downshift one level. Not sure if these are good ideas.

6 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Have you ever changed the transmission fluid in all the time you have had the car?How about the spark plugs? Have you changed the oil regularly?

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Thursday, January 24th, 2013 AT 9:05 AM

ALLEROGUY

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5 POSTS

Sorry for the delayed response. I was out of town for awhile in a remote area where internet access was sparse.

I have never changed the transmission fluid in the car.

Two days ago, I was at the auto shop I always go to and they did a "30 point inspection". They said I have 50% left on the front and rear brakes. I had to replace the "serpentine belt" which had cracks. Also had the fuel filter replaced.

They recommended that I do a complete flush of the transmission and coolant with "chemicals". They also said that the rack and pinion was leaking (i knew it was) and that it would have to be replaced. Also the ends of the tie rods had a lot of wear. And wear related to the engine mounts were cause some vibration.

I told the shop that I could only afford a little bit at a time so sometime in March I am going to have a full flush of the transmission fluid with chemicals. I might also be able to afford the coolant flush. The rack and pinion will have to wait, so I have to add steering fluid periodically.

I'm wondering if there is anything other than the flush that I need to do in order to protect the transmission? Are there rubber seals or gaskets that need to be or should be replaced?

Thanks,

Jay Mack

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Sunday, February 17th, 2013 AT 12:03 AM

SATURNTECH9

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Just have the fluid and filter changed don't have the transmission flushed.I don't believe in transmission flushes could make the transmission have problems it never had before. By moving debris inside the transmission.

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Sunday, February 17th, 2013 AT 6:03 AM

ALLEROGUY

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Ok, just wondering, if the transmission is never flushed, how can it get cleaned? Isn't there a danger of transmission failure due to fluid contamination or overheating from debris build up?

Just before my last response, the shop that I always go to wanted to do a transmission flush with "chemicals" (I think they use Wynn's), and also a coolant flush with "chemicals". They say the chemicals will dissolve the debris. I didn't have the money then but I could now. They wanted $200 for the flush with chemicals.

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Monday, February 25th, 2013 AT 9:42 PM

ALLEROGUY

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Also when you say have the "fluid and filter changed" are you referring to the fluid and filter on the transmission? Or the engine (oil)? Speaking of oil, I usually change the oil at about 4000 miles with Mobile full synthetic high mileage oil. Its more expensive but I feel its worth it.