Howdy!
After a few days of hesitation, reading all those spooky AOD fluid change myths I've decided (since there is no burning smell) that I actually can't do much worse.
IMHO If AOD is at it's tiptoes to blow or mechanical damage already done, it will blow either way....
So, I dropped the pan and filter, spun TC and drain the black stuff out of them for 24 hours. Was not looking like red trans oil, but more like used engine oil. Black as a black hole. In pan I also found a plastic plug, so I may assume (If the PO's didn't do what I will , read later in the text) that AOD has 140k km (87.5k miles) with factory oil.
It is not so messy job, but if You use a manual syphon pump before taking pan off. You don't have to pump all out, just enough it won't pour on Your face when You unbolt screws.
Guys, You should warn people that actually the hardest part and 1/2 of the labor time was used by driving the ******* AOD pan out of the ******* PITA trans mount crossmember. Clearance is very tight and pulling the pan down is actually PITA but WAY EASIER than installing back up with the rubber gasket on top just waiting to move :-(
I managed to keep the gasket in place placing all pan bolts to their place thru rubber gasket.
Don't know if I have something done/bolted wrong on this car trans mount but this part was a major issue for me with AOD fluid change.
Anecdote:
I did not follow recommendations from here (to pour 4 + crank few secs + 4 + run engine + 4 qt's), which cost me ~0.2qt of ATF fluid. Instead of that smart head poured 5 litres, cranked 5-6 seconds and within pouring another ~2 litres I got overflow under the AOD.
Quickly started the engine and topped up. So, in future I WILL FOLLOW recommendations from experienced STANGNET crew!!!!!
It was not too much that went out, but made me angry I did not follow good advices from here.
Cranked the car, run thru all gears few times. AOD shifts a bit easier I think, quite noticeable in shifting to reverse. Now I can just hope it wont slip or other spooky stuff from intro stories
Test drive still to be done, as I left the car raised to change differential fluid also.... maybe I will try to carefully pull O2 sensors out (don't have a proper tool, but I have 2 brand new Bosch O2's)....
EDIT: ohh, I put the plastic part back in pan as on picture, just to keep authenticity and original state of the car
After a few days of hesitation, reading all those spooky AOD fluid change myths I've decided (since there is no burning smell) that I actually can't do much worse.
IMHO If AOD is at it's tiptoes to blow or mechanical damage already done, it will blow either way....
So, I dropped the pan and filter, spun TC and drain the black stuff out of them for 24 hours. Was not looking like red trans oil, but more like used engine oil. Black as a black hole. In pan I also found a plastic plug, so I may assume (If the PO's didn't do what I will , read later in the text) that AOD has 140k km (87.5k miles) with factory oil.
It is not so messy job, but if You use a manual syphon pump before taking pan off. You don't have to pump all out, just enough it won't pour on Your face when You unbolt screws.
Guys, You should warn people that actually the hardest part and 1/2 of the labor time was used by driving the ******* AOD pan out of the ******* PITA trans mount crossmember. Clearance is very tight and pulling the pan down is actually PITA but WAY EASIER than installing back up with the rubber gasket on top just waiting to move :-(
I managed to keep the gasket in place placing all pan bolts to their place thru rubber gasket.
Don't know if I have something done/bolted wrong on this car trans mount but this part was a major issue for me with AOD fluid change.
Anecdote:
I did not follow recommendations from here (to pour 4 + crank few secs + 4 + run engine + 4 qt's), which cost me ~0.2qt of ATF fluid. Instead of that smart head poured 5 litres, cranked 5-6 seconds and within pouring another ~2 litres I got overflow under the AOD.
Quickly started the engine and topped up. So, in future I WILL FOLLOW recommendations from experienced STANGNET crew!!!!!
It was not too much that went out, but made me angry I did not follow good advices from here.
Cranked the car, run thru all gears few times. AOD shifts a bit easier I think, quite noticeable in shifting to reverse. Now I can just hope it wont slip or other spooky stuff from intro stories
Test drive still to be done, as I left the car raised to change differential fluid also.... maybe I will try to carefully pull O2 sensors out (don't have a proper tool, but I have 2 brand new Bosch O2's)....
EDIT: ohh, I put the plastic part back in pan as on picture, just to keep authenticity and original state of the car
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