Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Dealer Automatic Transmision Warning

[BTanzini]

To all you Dodge owners that take your Dodge's to dealers to have transmission serviced.



I called a dealer close to me in Giddings, Tx to make an appointment to have my auto transmission serviced and asked him if they change the filter,adjust the bands and check the pressures and he replied they did,so I made an appointment for Tuesday afternoon.



To make along story short, what the dealers are doing now is a transmission flush in place of changing the filter and adjusting the bands. If I had not talked to the service tech it would have been my fault, but because of my conversation with the tech I made them drop the pan,change the filter, adjust the bands and check the gov-pressure they were not happy but they did it. I asked him how the flush adjust the bands and reminded the shop foreman that Dodge says every 36,000 mi the filter needs to be changed,bands adjusted and pressure checked after I reminded him he shut is mouth and did the work. The tech I talked to was not there,he was in Austin in class.



This morning I called the dealer and talked to the service tech and asked what the problem was, his response was that there are two ways to do trans service,1-flush, cleans the filter and transmission so you do not need to change the filter and I told him B S, thats a good way to kill a trans especially if it is not done once a year, every year.



I said that they where ripping the public off doing what they where for what they charge. Hard to believe, this dealer is 5 Star, I guess Chrysler just hands these ratings out, because they mean nothing anymore. I guess this problem is only one reason as to why there bays are half empty. Live and learn I guise



All of you that are having trans failure,do you really know why?

Is there a way to file a complaint with Chrysler?



Beware And Trust No One. :--)

 

[HoleshotHolset]

The only thing you should ever flush is the cooler lines/coolers... . AFTER you eat a transmission or two. F*rd even recommends that you swap out your transmission cooler after you eat a transmission..... bear in mind that they use smaller cooler lines than the heavy duty Dodges.....



Flushing a transmission with some miles on it will dislodge spent friction material and possibly clog up solenoids and your already wasted filter.



Drop the pan... . change the filter... . check the bands..... and if you'd like - check the pressures.



Matt

 

[y-knot]

Thanks for the post, it's nice to see that someone took the time to make sure they got what they PAID for. I must say I am not at all supprized at your findings. But I am dissappionted, you must be right about the 5-star rating, worthless. I hope all read this post and demand the service they desserve. I think i'd just stay arround and watch them do the work.

 

[Piersol]

5 star dealer?

Have you ever seen a non 5 star dealer? The dealer I take mine to (5 star) could not find the vibration I was telling him about. It turned out to be a bad rear universal joint. I found it after I got it home. He told me it was an out of balance tire. I told him to balance it. His reply was "we don't balance tires here" they also farm out wheel alignments.

 

[Crash_AF]

Re: 5 star dealer?

Originally posted by Piersol

Have you ever seen a non 5 star dealer?

Actually, yes, I have. And it gave better service than the four five star dealerships in a 70 mile radius.



Unfortunately, the dealership got bought out by a large 'uber dealership' chain and its service went downhill rapidly after that. (And they got a five star rating... coincidence? hmmm)



Later,

Joe H

 

[98rammer]

I guess if you've gotten enough material to clog up the transmission filter anyways, it's probably already being repaired.