AHC Fluid Replacement - Dealer says no?

[tmdvtpike]

So I'm the 2nd owner of a 2005 LX with 115k on the clock. My understanding is the fluid should be replaced every 30,000 miles. Based on the service records (I'm the 2nd owner) the last time the fluid was replaced was at the 60K service. The fluid is a reddish brown color. I'm getting ready for a 1300 mile trip in the next few weeks so I called my local Lexus dealer (Flow in Greensboro, NC) to get a price on having the fluid replaced... the service writer went to speak with his shop foreman who said that they never really advise replacing the fluid and if the height control works, not to mess with it... Do I need to find a new dealership to service my car?

I've done the increment test (high to low) counting the graduation marks on the reservoir to see if the system is busted or not and I counted the correct number of increments so I know everything works fine. I just wanted to have the fluid replaced. I'm thinking maybe I should do it myself or take it to another dealership.

 

[PADDO]

$45 for fluid and half an hour of your time seems a pretty small investment to maintain a very expensive system. I'm a big fan of PM, can't understand why a dealer wouldn't be happy to do the job for $160-$200! With 55k miles since it was last done sounds like a good point to do it again before your trip.

 

[hankinid]

$45 for fluid and half an hour of your time seems a pretty small investment to maintain a very expensive system. I'm a big fan of PM, can't understand why a dealer wouldn't be happy to do the job for $160-$200! With 55k miles since it was last done sounds like a good point to do it again before your trip.

/thread

Steve

 

[neoworm]

Actually I think it's every 60k but in any case you are about due. Follow the service manual. Just take it back to the dealer and tell them to do it. They can recommend whatever they want. I had a dealer recommend that I never flush my brake fluid. I said "Thanks for the advice, do it anyway"

 

[TXLX100]

There are no doubt some boneheads that work at dealers. EDIT: There are also some very knowledgable folks, just depends on who you speak with. If I remember correctly, the only on board fluid that does not have a recommended service interval is power steering fluid. In my opinion, hydraulic fluids should be replaced every 30,000 miles or at least every few years if you don't drive a lot. I think the recommended maintenance schedule agrees with this.

 

[2000UZJ]

My dealership tells me I shouldn't flush my transmission, they adjusted my torsion bars back to stock height without asking me, they charged me for an oil change and didn't change the oil, took a dirty sample of diff fluid from another car and told me it was dirty...this was the day after I changed the diff fluid myself, told me my brakes were in need of replacement and HAD to be done soon, ACC had just done all 4 corners with new rotors a week before that, told me my tires were going to cause the transmission to fail and over stress the differentials, after 70,000 miles I took my chances, informed me the Bilstien shocks were not the right units for my truck, tried to sell me new OEM's for $1500, said my CV joint was leaking and needed an entire front axle to fix, I installed .99C hose clamp.

I have learned never trust dealers, they are scum of the earth. I have only found 2 people that are trust worthy and work at dealerships. One is a MUD member, one is the guy I go through now. However, I stand by the tech during any service and observe.

In the end, do what you want. If they don't want to take your money, give the business to somebody else. I have had the most horrifying experience with dealerships. I would have to say it's my age, and most think I am playing with mommies credit card.

Change the fluid if it looks old, take no word from the dealership until you see new vs old fluid. The dealership probably doesn't want to change the fluid, they don't make that much off the fluid swap, and if something fails and you come back blaming them, it will be several thousand to fix on their end. They are taking liability and a 8 year old truck into factor.

 

[APKhaos]

There's nothing magical about AHC fluid. Its hydraulic fluid, its hydroscopic, and it needs to be changed every so often. Nothing will screw up your ACH faster than fluid with lots of moisture content. Drain, fill with new, bleed, done!
Service writers at dealerships are not technically trained for the most part. They are sales staff, which is to say that if a tech tells them something they have no way of knowing if its good info or total BS. In this case, its the latter.

Now 2000UZJ's dealership just leaped over incompetence and straight to crooked. Those buggers are not to be trusted.

 

[cruiser03]

My dealership tells me I shouldn't flush my transmission, they adjusted my torsion bars back to stock height without asking me, they charged me for an oil change and didn't change the oil, took a dirty sample of diff fluid from another car and told me it was dirty...this was the day after I changed the diff fluid myself, told me my brakes were in need of replacement and HAD to be done soon, ACC had just done all 4 corners with new rotors a week before that, told me my tires were going to cause the transmission to fail and over stress the differentials, after 70,000 miles I took my chances, informed me the Bilstien shocks were not the right units for my truck, tried to sell me new OEM's for $1500, said my CV joint was leaking and needed an entire front axle to fix, I installed .99C hose clamp.

I have learned never trust dealers, they are scum of the earth. I have only found 2 people that are trust worthy and work at dealerships. One is a MUD member, one is the guy I go through now. However, I stand by the tech during any service and observe.

In the end, do what you want. If they don't want to take your money, give the business to somebody else. I have had the most horrifying experience with dealerships. I would have to say it's my age, and most think I am playing with mommies credit card.

Change the fluid if it looks old, take no word from the dealership until you see new vs old fluid. The dealership probably doesn't want to change the fluid, they don't make that much off the fluid swap, and if something fails and you come back blaming them, it will be several thousand to fix on their end. They are taking liability and a 8 year old truck into factor.

You should not replace transmission fluid, however you should perform a drain and fill, usually getting around 4 quarts out. Then drive 30k miles and drain and fill again. This increases the amount of detergent in the fluid and inhibits small particles from sticking to the insides of the transmission. In addition slowly increasing the detergent level will begin to remove any deposits that might be there. The reason you do not want to replace your fluid all at once is that a fresh detergent level will possibly quickly release stuck on deposit which can then circulate freely and get stuck in the small parts. Dealers correctly just won't touch transmission fluid replacement since they have had so many issues 2 months after doing so. A drain and fill is all you need. Smell a new bottle of ATF, then smell your dip stick, the sharp smell is the detergent.

 

[SWUtah]

Guess I'm screwed. I had Slee exchange the WS fluid in my LX 10 months and 10k miles ago .

 

[BullElk]

I must be just lucky but I haven't changed or drained tranny fluid in my 100 LX in probably 8 years and 200k miles. Never changed AHC fluid or brake fluid.

On my LX450, I haven't changed tranny fluid in 360k miles.

I do check the fluids regularly (OCD) and they stay clean, at the proper level and smell normal. I will plan to let it be until I see a reason to change or drain.

 

[TXLX100]

^Lucky. Fluids should be changed at the recommended intervals. This idea of "not touching a fluid if it's working".... I've never seen a failure in a modern car from changing fluid. Would anyone not change their engine oil if their car is running fine, of course not. I've actually seen cars with transmissions acting funky benefit from a trans pan dropped, new filter & fluid.

Let's not get crazy here, change fluids / drain & refill every 30k miles and that's the minimum.

 

[BullElk]

"This idea of "not touching a fluid if it's working"....

Not "Not working".....I said clean, smells good and stays at proper level.

Engine oil is totally different. It doesn't do any of the three. So it gets changed properly.

I have 403k miles on my 80 now. Never had tranny work done or problems occur. Although it may buy the farm tomorrow.

 

[SWUtah]

I talked to a transmission consultant once that said if trans fluid does not overheat or get moisture contaminated it should work forever. Looks like you are a example.

 

[cruiser03]

Heat is the major contributor to hydraulic fluid using the detergent. If you operate in the north and do not tow, it can last forever. Also we are talking about fleet averages not any type of guarantee. Some small percentage of transmissions fail with very good maintenance. Some small percentage run forever with rough service and no oil change. We change the ATF oil to lower the chance of a failure but can never be certain with any amount of maintenance or lack of.

 

[SWUtah]

Like I said I had the drain and fill pan exchange done to mine and then I had Slee do the complete WS fluid exchange done about 10 months and 10k miles ago. I now only drive about 6k a year so by the time it needs another exchange I will be to old to drive