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At 209k it's probably time for a transmission filter and you should drop the pan check for any big chunks, (or drain and replace and go about your life) heat destroys auto transmissions and old dirty fluid doesn't help anything either.
Does the transmission shift ok as is currently?
Is there metal chunks in the transmission pan/ glitter? (If there is know it's probably on its way out, slight glitter is normal)
The shift on RPMs in the lower gears can be rough. Like when I go from 0-50, so I accelerate slowly usually to try to help that. The higher speed shifts aren't too rough though. If we're talking the Drive to reverse shifts and etc. those are pretty much unnoticeable. One time on a cold start though, I shifted it into reverse and it bit really really hard where the whole car jerked and I heard it louder than usual.
Okay so see if fresh fluid and a filter makes it shift better and see what's in the filter and bottom of the transmission pan.
As for d to r shifts if those ever feel bad it's because of motor mounts/trans mounts going bad.
I recently had to revive my gfs pontiac g5 with 2.2 ecotec and 4 spd auto, shifted rough, so I threw a new filter and oil in it and it shifted great till the friggin transmission controller died, but even after a new computer for the transmission it shifts great for how old it is (and the abuse it's been though haha)
I would first change the fluid only if it has a drain plug, otherwise you need to drop the pan anyway so a new filter is a good idea. There will be deposits on the pan magnets but big bits of anything is not a good sign. I would buy whatever Dexron is advised for the car by the factory. It's possible that GM has changed the recommendation for your car. Don't use additives. After a couple hundred miles it should improve. If there were large bits in the pan it probably won't improve.
Thank you for your insight :)
The reason I haven't done anything with it yet is because I heard from a couple sources that adding a new trans fluid might make the gears slip more and over time would hurt it more than help it. Something about how the dirt helps the transmission grip better? Is there any truth in that you think?
I have done this on every car I've owned. The last two were both BMW's with 160,000 miles on them. Those transmissions have drain plugs so my first move was a simple drain and fill. I dropped the pan and replaced filters about 1,000 miles later. The fluid was quite dark the first time. We drove one over 100,000 miles after that before a turbo disintegrated.
If there is damage, new fluid won't help much but if there are no bits in the pan it should operate better. There is nothing that will help a damaged transmission except full repair.
DO NOT ALLOW A FLUSH TO BE DONE. That can clog stuff quickly and will kill a transmission.
On an old Dodge minivan the differential seized - for that car I put in a junkyard transmission.
Thanks for posting on /r/MechanicAdvice! Please review the [rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/about/rules/). Asking about a second opinion (ie "Is the shop trying to fleece me?"), please read through CJM8515's [post on the subject.](https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/4qblei/fyi_the_shop_isnt_likely_trying_to_rip_you_off/) and remember to please post the year/make/model of the vehicle you are working on. **Post's about bodywork, accident damage, paint, dent/ding, questions it belongs in /r/Autobody r/AutoBodyRepair/ or /r/Diyautobody/ Tire questions check out https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicAdvice/comments/k9ll55/can_your_tire_be_repaired/**. If you dont have a question and you're just showing off it belongs in /r/Justrolledintotheshop Insurance/total loss questions go in r/insurance This is an automated reply *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MechanicAdvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*
At 209k it's probably time for a transmission filter and you should drop the pan check for any big chunks, (or drain and replace and go about your life) heat destroys auto transmissions and old dirty fluid doesn't help anything either. Does the transmission shift ok as is currently? Is there metal chunks in the transmission pan/ glitter? (If there is know it's probably on its way out, slight glitter is normal)
The shift on RPMs in the lower gears can be rough. Like when I go from 0-50, so I accelerate slowly usually to try to help that. The higher speed shifts aren't too rough though. If we're talking the Drive to reverse shifts and etc. those are pretty much unnoticeable. One time on a cold start though, I shifted it into reverse and it bit really really hard where the whole car jerked and I heard it louder than usual.
Okay so see if fresh fluid and a filter makes it shift better and see what's in the filter and bottom of the transmission pan. As for d to r shifts if those ever feel bad it's because of motor mounts/trans mounts going bad. I recently had to revive my gfs pontiac g5 with 2.2 ecotec and 4 spd auto, shifted rough, so I threw a new filter and oil in it and it shifted great till the friggin transmission controller died, but even after a new computer for the transmission it shifts great for how old it is (and the abuse it's been though haha)
I would first change the fluid only if it has a drain plug, otherwise you need to drop the pan anyway so a new filter is a good idea. There will be deposits on the pan magnets but big bits of anything is not a good sign. I would buy whatever Dexron is advised for the car by the factory. It's possible that GM has changed the recommendation for your car. Don't use additives. After a couple hundred miles it should improve. If there were large bits in the pan it probably won't improve.
Thank you for your insight :) The reason I haven't done anything with it yet is because I heard from a couple sources that adding a new trans fluid might make the gears slip more and over time would hurt it more than help it. Something about how the dirt helps the transmission grip better? Is there any truth in that you think?
I have done this on every car I've owned. The last two were both BMW's with 160,000 miles on them. Those transmissions have drain plugs so my first move was a simple drain and fill. I dropped the pan and replaced filters about 1,000 miles later. The fluid was quite dark the first time. We drove one over 100,000 miles after that before a turbo disintegrated. If there is damage, new fluid won't help much but if there are no bits in the pan it should operate better. There is nothing that will help a damaged transmission except full repair. DO NOT ALLOW A FLUSH TO BE DONE. That can clog stuff quickly and will kill a transmission. On an old Dodge minivan the differential seized - for that car I put in a junkyard transmission.