Author Topic: Recent visit to car dealer for maintenance  (Read 2238 times)

hope2retire

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
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  • Location: NJ
Recent visit to car dealer for maintenance
« on: September 29, 2016, 07:57:04 PM »
Recently wife took the car to the dealer for regular oil change. They found that there is oil leak in R/S transmission axle seal which was covered under the 5yr/60k power train transmission and added it in the recommendations. They also added transmission fluid service to be $120+tax which I did not notice. So i asked her to take it the following day as it was covered in the warranty. So the following day they asked my wife for the $120 tranmission fluid service. she called me and i asked her to decline it for now (as mileage was only 28k, thought of doing it after 30k) and i spoke to the mechanic and asked him if i can do it later he said sure. Since, i did not know anything about this fix, i asked if they will top of the oil as some of it had leaked. He said Yes.
I was curious and searched on youtube after the fix and noticed that one has to drain the full oil before replacing the seal.

So here are my questions
1. Do they drain the transmission oil completely and fix the seal?
2. Do they actually collect the oil in a pan and put the same oil back since i declined coverage and top off with new oil.(will the oil not be contaminated from repeated use of the pan from other cars etc)  or will they just replace it with new oil anyway and wanted to just bill for it as a separate service.
3. Do the right and left axle has different oil ports to drain?
4. how to test if the oil has indeed been changed.

I ask this because, i dont want to change the oil at 30k if it had already been changed during this fix. Any thoughts will be appreciated.

Thanks
H2R
« Last Edit: September 29, 2016, 08:20:58 PM by hope2retire »

TheThirstyStag

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Re: Recent visit to car dealer for maintenance
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2016, 11:47:28 AM »
Direct answers to your questions:

1) Yes, the transmission fluid should be drained completely (really just below axle level), otherwise it will spill out of the hole in which the axle normally fits in. 
2) Yes.  They would collect it in a pan and, in your case since you declined new fluid, re-fill it.  In your case it's a no-brainer to change the fluid, but why not just buy it yourself and have them re-fill with your stuff instead of theirs? 
3) No.  It should either be 1 plug (like you would see with an oil pan), or they have to drop the pan itself if there is no drain plug (messy job.  Ask me how I know)
4) Check the dipstick.  If it's bright red, it's likely new fluid.

I hope that helps.

hope2retire

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
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  • Posts: 90
  • Location: NJ
Re: Recent visit to car dealer for maintenance
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2016, 05:15:32 PM »
Direct answers to your questions:

1) Yes, the transmission fluid should be drained completely (really just below axle level), otherwise it will spill out of the hole in which the axle normally fits in. 
2) Yes.  They would collect it in a pan and, in your case since you declined new fluid, re-fill it.  In your case it's a no-brainer to change the fluid, but why not just buy it yourself and have them re-fill with your stuff instead of theirs? 
3) No.  It should either be 1 plug (like you would see with an oil pan), or they have to drop the pan itself if there is no drain plug (messy job.  Ask me how I know)
4) Check the dipstick.  If it's bright red, it's likely new fluid.

I hope that helps.

Thanks ThirstyStag for the detailed reply. Hahah i can imagine the messy job....It did not strike me to get the oil and giving it to the mechanic to replace. Nice Idea!!!. I will try that next time to reduce the bill. i will check the oil tomorrow and see as you suggested. if it is not red, will change it when i hit the 30k milestone. Thanks again for the reply.

H2R