[cobra7]

Am I correct in that to change the fluid in the AW4 tranny of a 2000 XJ, you have to remove the pan and also change the filter mounted on the valve body?

Dealer told me that I shouldn't remove the pan cause there's a drain plug and it's just a drain and fill operation. I think they might have been assuming that it's a Chrysler tranny, though. I don't see a drain plug on my tranny anywhere and Haynes says to remove the pan to drain the ATF. Dealer also said that the stuff used to seal the pan back up is $125 per tube. Haynes says it's just a gasket and filter that is needed.

Who do I believe? What's the correct answer?

[Grumman]

125.00 per tube . that dealer is blowin BS. black RTV doesnt cost that much.

[AZ Jeff]

The AW-4 has a drain plug, unlike most other auto trans. This makes draining and refilling just the pan fluid a snap.

The filter in most auto trans is merely a fine screen mesh. It's not a filter like the one in the engine oil system, or the fuel system filters. Thus, replacement of that filter is not critical, unless the trans has been mistreated, and the pan contains all kinds of gunk and foreign matter.

Unless you are unsure of the condition of your trans, I would not drop the pan to change the fluid, and would just pull the plug. Now if the trans is suspect in any way, then dropping the pan, cleaning or replacing the screen filter, and refilling thereafter might make some sense.

[cobra7]

I don't think the dealer was saying that ultra black RTV cost $125. They were saying that there was some other special stuff that was used that cost $125.

So, if I do want to drop the pan and replace the filter, can I just use the gasket/filter kit that I got at Pep Boys, or do I need to put anything else on the gasket to seal it up, like RTV for example?

Thanks!

[Grumman]

Originally Posted by cobra7

I don't think the dealer was saying that ultra black RTV cost $125. They were saying that there was some other special stuff that was used that cost $125.

So, if I do want to drop the pan and replace the filter, can I just use the gasket/filter kit that I got at Pep Boys, or do I need to put anything else on the gasket to seal it up, like RTV for example?

Thanks!

Dont see why not.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?categorycode=3289&mfrcode=PTX&m frpartnumber=22072 suggested uses

used it before on transmission and oil pan seals/gaskets with no problem

[cobra7]

Cool, yeah that's exactly the stuff I got yesterday. So I'll just put a layer of that stuff on the pan, then put the rubber gasket on top of it, then push onto the tranny.

I'll give this a shot. Thanks!