Whats the real deal about sealed auto transmissions that does not need a fluid change. My soon to be wife has a 1997 VW jetta with a sealed auto transmission with 65K miles on it. I would like to change out the fluid but VW wants a chit load of money to do it. Is it possible to get many miles on an auto transmission thats driven pretty hard at least to my standards eventhough you see people getting 200-300K out of transmissions that are taken care of eventhough they are driven pretty hard?
Please put me at ease
- Thread starter ARB1977
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What do you mean by "sealed" transmission? Do you mean that there's no pan bolted on the bottom? I've never seen this before, although it sounds like a VW thing to do.
Right. These transmissions are completely assembled while submerged in transmission fluid. There is no filler whole, no pan, no drain plug. There is no way to remove the old fluid, no way to check the fluid level, and no way to add fluid. It's a totally closed system and it's sealed for life.
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On a serious note, I believe "sealed" simply means there is not a traditional dipstick from which to check the fluid level.
To properly change the ATF on a VW 01M automatic transmission, you will need VAG-COM software & a Bentley Publishers service manual.
You can get the VAG-COM from Ross-Tech.com & the cheapest place to buy the Bentley book is from Amazon.com. I got the Bentley manual for my GTI for $70 & change.
Oh well i thought these were sapposed to be reliable cars but i guess they are throw away cars IMP. It seems like people are getting about 100K when they experience problems. Thanks guys.
yeah my wifes malibu is a sealed transmission. had a wierd sound and the tech said its normal. and just put in saturn ATF and it should make it go away. I asked him are yo usure your a tech? he said yes why? I said because malibu has a sealed transmission in it. so how was I suppose to get the fluid in there. he went oh yeah. makes me wonder about them people lol.
Well, the fluid is good for the life of the transmission....
I don't know about that model VW, but new ones have a automatic transmission with a drain plug and a standpipe fill. All are accessible from underneath the car, and it has to be raised level. I'd do a fluid renewal at 40,000 miles. Either the dealer fluid or Redline D4 can be used.
How can a transmission be sealed? It has to have a fill, a vent, and likely a drain; it doesn't need a dipstick. Is it sealed like a manual transmission with screw plugs in the fill and drain holes?
Ken
I don't know about that model VW, but new ones have a automatic transmission with a drain plug and a standpipe fill. All are accessible from underneath the car, and it has to be raised level. I'd do a fluid renewal at 40,000 miles. Either the dealer fluid or Redline D4 can be used.
How can a transmission be sealed? It has to have a fill, a vent, and likely a drain; it doesn't need a dipstick. Is it sealed like a manual transmission with screw plugs in the fill and drain holes?
Ken
TRDUSA2002,
This sealed for life is a lot of Balogna, and it is just an attempt by manufacturers to seemingly have lower lifecycle costs (something that Consumer Reports uses). I am sure you can get that old fluid cycled out with some fresh fluid!
This sealed for life is a lot of Balogna, and it is just an attempt by manufacturers to seemingly have lower lifecycle costs (something that Consumer Reports uses). I am sure you can get that old fluid cycled out with some fresh fluid!
I fully agree. Any manufacturer claiming of a service-free automatic transmission is full of it.
One way to service a "sealed" transmission is to install a flush machine in-between the transmission cooler circuit at the radiator. You can change out all the fluid the transmission pumps through the system with a mchine run off your car battery.
This is the easiest way I know to change out transmission fluid without cracking any seals.
Somewhere there is a fill hole. I have a program that tells me where they are on cars that make it to Europe. One of the shops I sell to has a pump with a hose on the end for draining differentials and transmissions that have no drain hole. They frequently take a 3/8 inch square "male" wrench, like the end of a rachet extension.
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