I have a 1999 Suzuki Esteem and the transmission filter is not serviceable. Suzuki says there is a filter but it is not serviceable (to get to the filter the transmission must be removed and the case opened), even though the maintenance schedule says to change fluid and filter every 60,000mi. The transmission has no pan, only a drain plug. To access the filter the transmission must be removed and the case cracked open.
I am hoping that this car can get me and my wife through college. I would like to ask you guys if you would do anything different other than change the fluid with the recommended DexIII. The tranny only holds 5-6 quarts and you get a little less than half of that from the drain plug. It has been my experience that many of these small japanese cars, w/automatics, often experience premature transmission failure.
I have contemplated running a high-end synthetic transmission fluid but I would also like to here a few other opinions. The car has 130,000mi. on it now and the transmission operates flawlessly. I would like to keep it that way as long as possible. If I did switch to a synthetic would I need to flush the lines?
If it helps the car mainly sees 10 or more short 1-2 mile trips daily and it never really warms up. It does see long 300mi. trips 1-2 times monthly as well.
I am hoping that this car can get me and my wife through college. I would like to ask you guys if you would do anything different other than change the fluid with the recommended DexIII. The tranny only holds 5-6 quarts and you get a little less than half of that from the drain plug. It has been my experience that many of these small japanese cars, w/automatics, often experience premature transmission failure.
I have contemplated running a high-end synthetic transmission fluid but I would also like to here a few other opinions. The car has 130,000mi. on it now and the transmission operates flawlessly. I would like to keep it that way as long as possible. If I did switch to a synthetic would I need to flush the lines?
If it helps the car mainly sees 10 or more short 1-2 mile trips daily and it never really warms up. It does see long 300mi. trips 1-2 times monthly as well.