Won't go when cold

Forkian

Forkian

Member
My sister has a '03 Cavalier that barely moves when cold. It has over 150,000 miles. Is it worth getting a transmission flush for about $200 or is this thing done?
 
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kom526

kom526

They call me ... Sarcasmo
If a transmission flush is the only thing it needs, then drop the $200. Pretty simple economics.
 
RPMDAD

RPMDAD

Well-Known Member
By cold, do you mean the outside air temp, or when you forst start the car up anytime and it's not warmed up. I have a 2004 cavalier, and haven't had any problems. Much lower mileage on it though.
 
GWguy

GWguy

*
Forkian said:
My sister has a '03 Cavalier that barley moves when cold. It has over 150,000 miles. Is it worth getting a transmission flush for about $200 or is this thing done?
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Has the obvious been done? Check the fluid level?

Probably needs a fluid change and adjustment.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
Never flush a trans with that many miles, unless you know %100 that it's a flush that only plugs into the transmissions lines and lets the trans draw the new fluid in, and dont let them use detergents. Older transmissions, there are too many ancient evils to be disturbed otherwise. Any "power flush" on an older trans is almost a sure bet to destroy that trans in less than a week.
 
Hank

Hank

my war
glhs837 said:
Never flush a trans with that many miles, unless you know %100 that it's a flush that only plugs into the transmissions lines and lets the trans draw the new fluid in, and dont let them use detergents. Older transmissions, there are too many ancient evils to be disturbed otherwise. Any "power flush" on an older trans is almost a sure bet to destroy that trans in less than a week.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat:
 
Forkian

Forkian

Member
I have heard that before and I now have changed my mind against the power flush. This car doesn't have a dipstick, so I think I will just take it to a GM dealer and see what they have to say.
 
Forkian

Forkian

Member
RPMDAD said:
By cold, do you mean the outside air temp, or when you forst start the car up anytime and it's not warmed up. I have a 2004 cavalier, and haven't had any problems. Much lower mileage on it though.
Click to expand...

By cold, I mean the last 2 days. So, both.
 
RPMDAD

RPMDAD

Well-Known Member
Forkian said:
I have heard that before and I now have changed my mind against the power flush. This car doesn't have a dipstick, so I think I will just take it to a GM dealer and see what they have to say.
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This is true, one of the dumbest things i have ever seen no dipstick for ATF. Couldn't believe it when i first got the car. Sadly i inherited this car from my sister who passed away. We use it as a secondary vehicle. Think it still has less than 50K on it.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
RPMDAD said:
This is true, one of the dumbest things i have ever seen no dipstick for ATF. Couldn't believe it when i first got the car. Sadly i inherited this car from my sister who passed away. We use it as a secondary vehicle. Think it still has less than 50K on it.
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My Charger came with a "sealed" dipstick tube. Fabricated my own dipstick :) See, Mercedes transmissions, the fluid level check requires that you know the trans temp, and check fluid level against a chart, but I have a tool for that temp reading.
 
GURPS

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
a guy in my office had a Suzuki that had no want to check or change the fluid

it was a $ 500 service JOB at the stealership
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
GURPS said:
a guy in my office had a Suzuki that had no want to check or change the fluid

it was a $ 500 service JOB at the stealership
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Again, auto or stick? Some folks dont realize that manuals rarely have dipsticks, instead, you pop the fill plug out and check with your finger that the fluid is up to the bottom of that hole, like you would check a differential.
 
S

sportsfan

Member
im willing to say that its probably one of those people that just starts their car up and goes...without letting the car warm up
 
RPMDAD

RPMDAD

Well-Known Member
glhs837 said:
Again, auto or stick? Some folks dont realize that manuals rarely have dipsticks, instead, you pop the fill plug out and check with your finger that the fluid is up to the bottom of that hole, like you would check a differential.
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gl, the cavalier i inherited is an automatic. Have had very many and still do have manual transmission vehicles since 1975. I am not sure about Forkians Cavalier. The Cav is the first auto trans car i have ever owned without a dipstick.
 
glhs837

glhs837

Power with Control
RPMDAD said:
gl, the cavalier i inherited is an automatic. Have had very many and still do have manual transmission vehicles since 1975. I am not sure about Forkians Cavalier. The Cav is the first auto trans car i have ever owned without a dipstick.
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No offense intended, we always check that the power switch is to the ON position before replacing power supplies. From what I see, and of course model yewars vary, the one I see online is sort of like my Charger, where you have to know the trans temp (which of course most folks wont be equipped to do) then check it sort of like a manual or a differential. Pop out fill plug, if it doesnt leak out, add just enough that it does, then pop the plug back in.
 
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