Hey all, I have a 2000 sport. Bought it used about 4 years ago with 57,000 miles. The original owner had installed all kinds of after market stuff (shocks, lift-kit blah blah blah) that made all my guy friends ooo and aaah. I bought it cause my previous car had been small and was totaled in my first ever crash, not my fault, and I wanted some thing bigger.

Currently has 133,000 miles.

So, in the last week I have helped replace the water pump, radiator, plugs, wire, belt, and front u-joints. I was planning on changing the transmission fluid but apparently I am one of those uninformed drivers that did not know that the fluid was supposed to be changed every 30,000 miles. Since I have NO idea whether its ever been changed, I was told to just leave it, consider myself on borrowed time. True or false?

And, after I put the jeep in drive, and only going forward from stop there is a small squeal? from up near the back of the engine? Near me? Not the serpentine, just replaced that and a bolt that broke off in a pulley, talk about a SQUEAL! I only hear it right as I hit the gas to go, then it disappears.

I really like that big 'ole black beast, plus no car payment, so I'd like to keep it running as long as possible.

Thanks!

 

Just replace the fluid. It can never hurt and the AW4 tranny is a good one and will last even without regular fluid change.

 

Do a change of the fluid, and change the filter too while your at it. My only advice is don't flush it, just do a fluid swap, then in a couple hundred miles or so swap it again.

 

Personally, I'd drop the pan, change the tranny filter, install a new pan gasket, refill it, drive it 500 miles, drain it (just remove the plug) and refill it again. I also wouldn't take any mechanical advice from someone who said "just leave it"..........just my $0.02 worth.