This is not particular to J-bodies just a general transmission question. My wife towed a trailer in her CRV 8000 at 70mph and didn't take it out of Drive. Apparently this caused the fluid to overheat and it smells burnt and is black. A shop told her that it made her torque converter slip and generate a lot of heat.

I know she did some damage to her transmission as a result.

Just to be good to her transmission I wanted to get it flushed but the shop I went to said they wouldn't do it because it would likely make the transmission fail. I have often heard this before but I wonder is that actually true? The transmission works fine as is. I just want to prevent further damage to it from running burnt fluid, maybe even with some debris in it. One shop said if they did it it would fail a week later, guaranteed!.

At some point she may have to get a transmission rebuild but we are just trying to push it out a while longer.

Even though I was hesitant I added some of the transmission stop slip additive and it really seemed to firm up some of the shifting. That stuff is also supposed to "restore" your old transmission fluid. It hasn't failed since I added that crap so you think its safe enough to do a real flush?

Thanks for any advice

Most shops wont touch it for libility reasons, my including.

A guy brang his Ford truck to us once with like 210,000 and said his trans was slipping and he wanted a flush. We refused it, because if we flush it and a week later it comes back saying hey my trans is junk, he may try to hold us accoutable.

If your fluid is burnt and discolored, the trans is on its way out.




- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new

Most major "chain" auto repair centers will do exactly as Rob described. And, if the fluid is very dark and burnt, SOME damage has occurred. Flushing will help get a little life back into it, but there's no guarantees. Try a local transmission specialist (screw Aamco) to see if they'll flush it for you; might have better luck with that.




1989 Z24 Convertible - Dust Covered
2006 tC - Dust Covered, but driven more