jon-d

what is the procedure that works the best for changing out the tranny fluid? looks like I need to drop the pan, which could get messy and then refill from the oil check tube. do they have a reusable gasket or do I need to order a new one with RTV to seal it?

dave1123

You can buy a reusable gasket from the dealer that doesn't need sealer and can be used multiple times. It's a sandwich of neoprene and steel. Mine's been down 3 times and still doesn't leak.

wingless

It would be appropriate to torque both bands per the specification and the procedure during the fluid change because one is only accessed once the pan is removed.

Use the correct fluid, ATF +4, for the change.

dave1123

My advise is don't mess with the bands! My WJ has 194K miles on it and still shifts solid and the bands have never been adjusted. JMHO.

jon-d

I think you are right Dave. I am taking an equipment reliability course (for work) and one of the failure points they talk about is maintenance induced failures from performing PM's. every time a human touches a piece of equipment it increases the probability of a failure when it could have been working perfectly beforehand. which reminds me of something my grandfather once told me, "if it ant broke don't fix it!"

dave1123

Just for your edification, Burt Lance, Jimmy Carter's director of Management and Budget made that quote famous in 1977. It's been around a lot longer than that, however. My grandfather told me he heard it on board ship in WWI! He was a boiler technician on a battleship. Right! He shoveled coal!