Transmission Service

It is well past the time for my son's Saturn transmission to be serviced.
My Nissan guy used a process that exchanges/replaces over 90% of the fluid,
but the down side is that pan doesn't come off and the filter doesn't get
changed. It is my understanding that conventional transmission fluid
"changes" only replaces approximately 60% of the fluid which is great if we
all did the 25000 mile thing. This Saturn was bought used and the history
is unknown. Which process is best for a Saturn SL1, 1992 vintage and why?
This is an opportunity for me to learn.

Thank you in advance.

In article >,
"Wild Bill" > wrote:

> It is well past the time for my son's Saturn transmission to be serviced.
> My Nissan guy used a process that exchanges/replaces over 90% of the fluid,
> but the down side is that pan doesn't come off and the filter doesn't get
> changed. It is my understanding that conventional transmission fluid
> "changes" only replaces approximately 60% of the fluid which is great if we
> all did the 25000 mile thing. This Saturn was bought used and the history
> is unknown. Which process is best for a Saturn SL1, 1992 vintage and why?
> This is an opportunity for me to learn.

IIRC, the filter on the TAAT, and IMHO one of the few things they did
right on that tranny, is a 'spin on' type like an oil filter.

The change method most everyone uses is to simply drain the oil and
refill. You won't get the converter oil out, though. I don't think
Saturns have converter drain plugs.

One way to get ALL the oil changed, though it's a risky thing to do
(somewhat), is to disconnect the tranny cooler supply line, and let the
transmission (after it's been drained and refilled) pump oil out through
there until it runs red and clean. Then top off to the right level
after rehooking the hose. The risk is twofold - you'll run out of oil
in the pan, plus the bearings/clutches/etc aren't being lubed while this
goes on.

The other way, more expensive, but IMHO safer for the tranny, is to
change the oil, run it a few minutes, then change it again. You won't
get it all out this way, but you'll get more. Costs a lot more, though.

If you do the 25k mile thing, a regular change will suffice.

Check out the condition of the tranny fluid when you first change it -
it can tell you a lot about the past history of the thing.

Thank you for this marvelous information. I am not familiar with some of
the terms or abbreviations you have used. IIRC, TAAT and IMHO are terms I
do not know. May I ask please what these terms are and what they mean?

Thank you in advance.

"Philip Nasadowski" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "Wild Bill" > wrote:
>
> > It is well past the time for my son's Saturn transmission to be
serviced.
> > My Nissan guy used a process that exchanges/replaces over 90% of the
fluid,
> > but the down side is that pan doesn't come off and the filter doesn't
get
> > changed. It is my understanding that conventional transmission fluid
> > "changes" only replaces approximately 60% of the fluid which is great if
we
> > all did the 25000 mile thing. This Saturn was bought used and the
history
> > is unknown. Which process is best for a Saturn SL1, 1992 vintage and
why?
> > This is an opportunity for me to learn.
>
> IIRC, the filter on the TAAT, and IMHO one of the few things they did
> right on that tranny, is a 'spin on' type like an oil filter.
>
> The change method most everyone uses is to simply drain the oil and
> refill. You won't get the converter oil out, though. I don't think
> Saturns have converter drain plugs.
>
> One way to get ALL the oil changed, though it's a risky thing to do
> (somewhat), is to disconnect the tranny cooler supply line, and let the
> transmission (after it's been drained and refilled) pump oil out through
> there until it runs red and clean. Then top off to the right level
> after rehooking the hose. The risk is twofold - you'll run out of oil
> in the pan, plus the bearings/clutches/etc aren't being lubed while this
> goes on.
>
> The other way, more expensive, but IMHO safer for the tranny, is to
> change the oil, run it a few minutes, then change it again. You won't
> get it all out this way, but you'll get more. Costs a lot more, though.
>
> If you do the 25k mile thing, a regular change will suffice.
>
> Check out the condition of the tranny fluid when you first change it -
> it can tell you a lot about the past history of the thing.

Not directed to me, but thought you wanted a response so I hope this is of
help:

IIRC = If I Recall Correctly
IMHO = In My Humble Opinion

Given the context, TAAT may be something to do with the Trans Axle, but
strictly a guess as I don't recall seeing this used previously

By the way, changing the fluid and filter on this unit is easier than doing
an oil change since the spin on filter is easy to access and their is a
drain plug. There is no trans pan per se, to clean since the transmission
bolts together horizontally.

Bob


"Wild Bill" > wrote in message
...
> Thank you for this marvelous information. I am not familiar with some of
> the terms or abbreviations you have used. IIRC, TAAT and IMHO are terms I
> do not know. May I ask please what these terms are and what they mean?
>
> Thank you in advance.

There are a load of these abbreviations. Some are good and others just
suitable for text messaging.

Google for 'internet acronyms' and you will find this one or similar:
http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/acronyms.php

bbiab,
Oppie


"Wild Bill" > wrote in message
...
> Thank you for this marvelous information. I am not familiar with some of
> the terms or abbreviations you have used. IIRC, TAAT and IMHO are terms I
> do not know. May I ask please what these terms are and what they mean?
>
> Thank you in advance.

Oppie wrote:

> There are a load of these abbreviations. Some are good and others just
> suitable for text messaging.
>
> Google for 'internet acronyms' and you will find this one or similar:
> http://www.sharpened.net/glossary/acronyms.php

or www.acronymfinder.com

However, I still have no idea what 'TAAT' is, probably something to do
with the (Automatic) Transmission, but not 'Technical Acquisition
Assistance Team'. Three acronyms in short succession like that (in the
parent) made my head spin, and I've spent many an hour in IRC channels.

-rj
98SL2

TAAT is what the model of the tranny is called. It's referred to as
"The Saturn TAAT transmission" in a lot of stuff.

It's unique to Saturn, and, AFAIK, it's the ONLY GM automatic that's non
planetary. I don't know why they did it the way they did, but they did.
It's a lot like a Honda transmission, BTW.

Philip Nasadowski wrote:
>
> One way to get ALL the oil changed, though it's a risky thing to do
> (somewhat), is to disconnect the tranny cooler supply line, and let the
> transmission (after it's been drained and refilled) pump oil out through
> there until it runs red and clean. Then top off to the right level
> after rehooking the hose. The risk is twofold - you'll run out of oil
> in the pan, plus the bearings/clutches/etc aren't being lubed while this
> goes on.

Why could you not take a bucket filled with new trans fluid and stick
the trans cooler outlet hose into that while you are draining fluid
out of the cooler inlet house (still attached to the trans of course)?
That way you should be able to maintain your fluid level in the trans
while the fluid circulates/drains using the trans pump. You could
probably even keep the cooler in series to flush it as well. This was
discussed on the camry newsgroup a few weeks back and this suggestion
came up. Not sure if anyone has tried it yet, but I can't see why it
would not work as long as you are careful to maintain prime on the
hoses. One further suggestion to this was to buy some short lengths
of transparent poly hose to use instead of the trans cooler hoses
themselves to give a better visual indication while you are doing this
procedure.

davemac

"Wild Bill" > wrote in message >...
> It is well past the time for my son's Saturn transmission to be serviced.
> My Nissan guy used a process that exchanges/replaces over 90% of the fluid,
> but the down side is that pan doesn't come off and the filter doesn't get
> changed.

The Saturn automatic doesn't have a pan with filter... the filter is
separate and spins on. There's sort-of a pan on top of the transmission
but you don't pull that for an ATF change.

> It is my understanding that conventional transmission fluid
> "changes" only replaces approximately 60% of the fluid which is great if we
> all did the 25000 mile thing. This Saturn was bought used and the history
> is unknown. Which process is best for a Saturn SL1, 1992 vintage and why?
> This is an opportunity for me to learn.

If you really want to flush, just repeat the 60% change several times.
(Driving in between to circulate everything, of course.)
ATF is fairly cheap, and with the Saturn automatic it's so easy just
to pull the drain plug.

60% probably isn't too far off - the manual says that it's 3.5 quarts
for a change, and I'm guessing that it's 5.5 or so overall. If I jack up
the corner of the car away from the drain plug, *and* spin off the filter
and drain it too, then I can get 4.5 quarts out in a change, which is
close to 80%.

Tim.

"Tim Shoppa" > wrote in message
om...
> "Wild Bill" > wrote in message
>...
> > It is well past the time for my son's Saturn transmission to be
serviced.
> > My Nissan guy used a process that exchanges/replaces over 90% of the
fluid,
> > but the down side is that pan doesn't come off and the filter doesn't
get
> > changed.
>
> The Saturn automatic doesn't have a pan with filter... the filter is
> separate and spins on. There's sort-of a pan on top of the transmission
> but you don't pull that for an ATF change.
>
> > It is my understanding that conventional transmission fluid
> > "changes" only replaces approximately 60% of the fluid which is great if
we
> > all did the 25000 mile thing. This Saturn was bought used and the
history
> > is unknown. Which process is best for a Saturn SL1, 1992 vintage and
why?
> > This is an opportunity for me to learn.
>
> If you really want to flush, just repeat the 60% change several times.
> (Driving in between to circulate everything, of course.)
> ATF is fairly cheap, and with the Saturn automatic it's so easy just
> to pull the drain plug.
>
> 60% probably isn't too far off - the manual says that it's 3.5 quarts
> for a change, and I'm guessing that it's 5.5 or so overall. If I jack up
> the corner of the car away from the drain plug, *and* spin off the filter
> and drain it too, then I can get 4.5 quarts out in a change, which is
> close to 80%.
>
> Tim.

Sounds like a plan, but how do you dispose of all the T-fluid?

Ron Herfurth
94 SL-1 100,300 miles