How hard is it to service a transmission?

[KingDiamond]

No band adjustments on a VR..

And on the post above if there were shavings and chunks in the pan you are going to need a whole new gearbox real soon.

Or trade in for a VT/X :thumbsup:

 

[burnz]

Like whats involved besides just changing the oil and filter? and how hard is it to do? I'm quite mechanically minded and dont mind giving things a go.
Has anyone ever done their own before?

look adjusting bands is a non issue
in a hydro box, trymatic yes
your car a VN=hydro replacement of bands & cluch pack
is pretey strait forward for mech minded however any comtamination will fail the box imediatly
pay particulate attenion to radiator/oil cooler
parts inxs of $550. so get it right the firt time or pay in 30second's time

 

[bec22]

ive got a oil cooler (tranny)
from an old vh v8 i had it should bolt straight up like in the vh
or better yet are their any kits or simple mods to fitting it
as my radiator friend said not to clip it to the radiator
as it can cut the cores over time with rubbing
he said to make a bracket up and hold it away from the radiator

 

[FXST01]

ive got a oil cooler (tranny)
from an old vh v8 i had it should bolt straight up like in the vh
or better yet are their any kits or simple mods to fitting it
as my radiator friend said not to clip it to the radiator
as it can cut the cores over time with rubbing
he said to make a bracket up and hold it away from the radiator

You can fit it straight to the radiator but you will need four flat rubber squares between the cooler and radiator, to stop them rubbing against each other.

 

[jules]

Like whats involved besides just changing the oil and filter? and how hard is it to do? I'm quite mechanically minded and dont mind giving things a go.
Has anyone ever done their own before?

on any modern trans there is nothing to adjust, you just change fluid and filter. anyone who tells you the bands can be adjusted doesn't know what they're talking about. *

*someone will probably find a tranny where you can do this, but i doubt it

 

[DANNY8]

Yeah same when my bro got his VN trans serviced. Just chucked it up on the hoist, remove the pan, change filters, refit pan, refill with tranny fluid, then start ya car up and go through the gears etc etc to get the fluid flowing through it, then check the fluid level again and top up if necessary....job done.

 

[bradcad]

If you want to actually change all of the fluid, just dropping the pan wont do.

The torque convertor holds litres of fluid, and contaminates the stuff you have just put in. Beware this uses a bit of fluid, but it guarantees a good service. Best bet for a home service- before dropping the pan, get to operating temp (although this makes it harder to work on cause it is rather warm) drop one of the tranny lines into a bucket, start the car and run at idle untill she dumps all of the fluid. Refill, dump. Can even repeat if the fluid is real bad looking, but not necessary. Then drop your pan, while your at it consider installing a bung into the pan for next time.

Do this, and the fluid will guaranteed last longer as it is not contaminated as much once it is started. You will use at least 10 litres of fluid, but it guarantees a good change, and she will last a lot longer.

 

[bec22]

sounds like it could be a good idea
does it hurt the box to run it without fluid
(not driving it, just idling in park)
does the oil come out with much force
planing to some trips over xmas and it needs a good service
might do it in the morning
thanx

 

[FXST01]

Pictures of Trans service

1st the tips for doing this job:

1. Don't assume that you can successfully use a smaller engine oil change tray to catch all the fluid, even planning to tilt the tray doesnt work great.
2. Use a bigger tray, i used one of my wife's plastic storage containers that you see in K-Mart. (Mental note, clean container and put back before she finds out).
3. See note 2, use storage container without any holes or cracks in them DOH.
4. Have many rags handy.

Pictures:
1. Pan cleaned up and painted, Plug has been welded to pan for next time. When planning on doing this, trial fit the pan and mark where the plug will on. If you don't have the tools for this job be prepared to be raped over of it by local "tradesman" who'll make the job sound so technical and charge accordingly. (if only i was at dads garage)
2. The filter hole with seal still in it.
3. The filter hole with seal removed (need a sharp scribe to remove seal)
4. Picture of old seal, note the metal reinforcing in seal, this makes it hard to remove without a scribe.
5. How far the filter should hang down if properly installed. 50 mm

 

[bec22]

ok......just did a service on my vr auto:wax:
drained about 6L out and the sump looked clean
no metal shavings or anything:yeah:
the oil looked bad (thin black and smelt bad)
swapped the filter and it looked clean(well not to bad)
the car still slips at the end of each gear when you stand on it and the kick down is slow , better than before, but i want better
the fluild level is right
do i just have to do another service to flush more crap oil out?
how many litres does it hold dry?