Over the weekend I performed my first transmission fluid flush. This was prompted because at low temperatures on the freeway it would take 5-10 minutes for it to finally shift into OD. The relay had already been replaced.

The fluid that came out looked REALLY bad. It was brown and smelt like burnt chocolate. The car claims to only have 80K miles but I've found that the odometer has been messed with (repaired gear?) so I'm not sure how many miles the car has. The fluid looked like it had never been changed!

The whole process was very easy but time consuming. Walmart sells a hand air pump in the auto section with a red 3/8"ID tube that is perfect to fit over the top trans cooler fitting on the radiator. The paint section has 5 quart buckets that are marked for quarts.

I pumped out a quart at a time letting the car idle for ~20 seconds. Then added a quart, etc. The fluid became red after about 7 quarts, I used 9 total.

I also had a dent in the rear fender. I removed the spare tire and insolation to get access to the inside of the sheet metal. With 2 whacks of a 3 lb. hammer and a block of wood it popped out to the original shape! :clap:

I found yet another split vacuum line on the throttle body, I've had to repair almost every line now.

Sounds good. I did my first (on this car) a few months ago. The fluid was dirty but not that bad because I've had it serviced every couple years.

I did two quarts at a time. Pump out two, shut off the engine, put in two, repeat. I bought a case of Castrol ATF and I think I ran all 12 quarts through.

The trick is getting rid of the old fluid. Autozone says used oil only, no ATF. Where do you get rid of the old ATF?

Its currently in milk jugs on my garage floor. In the county next to me they have hazardous waste collection at the fire stations once per month. I have to use my mom's car since its registered in that county and mine isn't. They take paint and antifreeze, also.

I'd ask my local service center if they would accept the waste atf for me, even if at a price. I imagine they sell their waste for recycling like anyone else. (Mine accept it for free). Sadly, you're by no means alone in poor previous servicing etc. Just hope that you're internal; tranny oil filter hasn't decided to collapse or worse-and they do...... I'm sorry to have to suggest that you should have dropped the pan to check/change it as soon as you knew the fluid was very old. I know that you didn't think of it then, but I feel that you should at least be warned of the dangers of NOT doing it now.

BTW:Do NOT use food containers to hold old oils or toxic/corrosive substances. Children can be harmed by consuming them because the recognise the container, not the contents. This idea is just good practise, and at a commercial level, LAW.

hey robert240, try a jiffylube or pepboys/strauss places. they will usually accept it for $10.

OK, I found out my county has a recycle facility open 4 hrs every Saturday. They take just about anything -- paint, fluorescent lights, transmission fluid, TV sets, antifreeze, batteries, you name it. Only $5 for up to 150 pounds. Just pop the trunk and they clean it out while you sit in the car.