Auto trans
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,213
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
Auto trans
I'm looking to buy a '11 with 53k miles on it and I wonder if anyone can give me any pointers on what to look for to make sure that the auto trans is in good shape.
Service records show that it had a fluid change/service at about 35k but nothing else.
Other than sloppy shifts up or down, what to look for?
Service records show that it had a fluid change/service at about 35k but nothing else.
Other than sloppy shifts up or down, what to look for?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,477
Likes: 711
From: Sausalito CA
Not sure there is any guidance... the trans are sturdy and typically work or don't.
The 35K oil change is great, I recall service is 100K usual an 50K severe use.
Perhaps the best "test" is a test drive... rapid acceleration through all gears to redline, strong engine de-acceleration, starts from park on an uphill, reversing.
A visual inspection would be prudent... oil leaks, condition of rubber transmission mounts, condition of shifter cable ends, "tightness" of the axels.
The known issue is not the trans, but the shifter and the lock out pawl, lever position sensors, and shifter cable.
This shifter issue is not easy to predict when failure may occur, other than again inspecting the shifter cable ends, which requires center console removal.
There are many threads on the shifter cable and not being able to shift from into or out of park.
Good luck.
The 35K oil change is great, I recall service is 100K usual an 50K severe use.
Perhaps the best "test" is a test drive... rapid acceleration through all gears to redline, strong engine de-acceleration, starts from park on an uphill, reversing.
A visual inspection would be prudent... oil leaks, condition of rubber transmission mounts, condition of shifter cable ends, "tightness" of the axels.
The known issue is not the trans, but the shifter and the lock out pawl, lever position sensors, and shifter cable.
This shifter issue is not easy to predict when failure may occur, other than again inspecting the shifter cable ends, which requires center console removal.
There are many threads on the shifter cable and not being able to shift from into or out of park.
Good luck.
