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My '99's four-speed automatic transmission first showed signs of failure at 207k miles in 2018 (occasionally slipping when hot at slow speeds; sometimes accompanied by a low pitched grinding noise).
Drive Cycle:
• characterized by routine stop-and-go L.A. freeway commuting over many years
Maintenance:
• regular ATF changes at 115k mi. (2007) and 155k mi. (2012).
• three-cycle ATF drain and fills at 170k mi. (2015)
• three-cycle ATF drain and fills at 206k mi. (2018). Note: this was done shortly after the onset of failure symptoms as noted above. I commissioned an ATF analysis by Blackstone (results shown below); at this time I also switched to Castrol Transmax Hi Mile ATF.
I got nearly twenty-thousand additionally trouble-free miles out of it, until the problem resurfaced in 2020 at 226k mi. Given the results of the Blackstone analysis report, this was not a surprise. But this time, the symptoms were much worse. It clunked when pulling into a parking spot; reverse gear momentarily disappeared. I took it to Anders for a diagnosis: he confirmed a mechanical grinding noise in first and reverse gears, with the first gear bearings likely failing. To fix would require replacement of the automatic transmission with a known good used unit, and about $1800 labor for engine/transmission/subframe removal and reinstallation. I decided that it was not economically viable to fix it and sadly parted with the car.
Conjecture:
My thinking is that routine ATF changes were instituted way too late in the life of the car (eight years into ownership), which had been subjected to a stressing use case (L.A. freeway driving, warm to hot climate). By the time I did a proper flush and fill (using three change cycles), the transmission had already begun to incur damage, even though that did not come to light until ~36k mi. later.
Advice:
If records exist, take a look at the A/T maintenance history of your prospective purchase. An expedited ATF analysis as part of your PPI is advisable if the seller will give you the extra time to get it done and turned around.
Coda:
When I purchased my '04 wagon, I did an ATF change cycle shortly afterwards. The 5-speed A/T is reputedly a better unit; hoping for the best. I actually prefer the A/T for commuting, BTW.
->Posting last edited on Tue, 28 Dec 2021 16:44:25.
_______________________________________
'04 9⁵ Aero Sedan (m/t)
'04 9⁵ Aero Wagon (a/t)
---
'99 9⁵ SE (LPT) - donated in '20
Posts in this Thread:
- Transmission advice needed, MacDuff, Tue, 28 Dec 2021 06:57:53
- Re: Transmission advice needed, Boris Bubbanov, Wed, 5 Jan 2022 12:39:52
1 - 2000 9-5 Base and 2008 9-5 Aero, both with Autos, MI-Roger
, Sat, 1 Jan 2022 13:05:45 - My A/T Saga, DnstrDan
, Tue, 28 Dec 2021 16:32:43 <-- Viewing This Message - Re: Transmission advice needed, Jeremy R., Tue, 28 Dec 2021 07:35:42
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