AT shifting rough

[paf]

My FWD AT is shifting roughly lately, when I let off the gas i feel a bit a forward jolt...
is this bad???

[Legacy777]

How many miles.....did it just start doing it?

have you changed the fluid recently....or even checked the level?

[paf]

level looks ok...
i dont remember when the fluid has been changed
what king of AT fluid should I get

[paf]

oh yeah its about 100 000 miles (160 000KMs)

[Legacy777]

any dextron III tranny fluid will work.

[paf]

is that supposed to fix my problem?`

[Legacy777]

I don't know what the problem is..........however usually the first thing I tell someone that has auto tranny problems that hasn't had the fluid changed in a while is to change the fluid and see what happens.

A buddy with an RS was having tranny problems. We changed the auto trans fluid.....it was brownish yellow......nasty. After changing it, and him freaking out about some stuff it was better.

[frood]

I concur.

I have been having AT problems, so the first thing I did is go to Pep Boys, buy 2 of their 4-quart bottles (~ $8 total) of Generic DEXRON III / Mercon ATF and start to change. I don't really have the stuff necessary for a proper 'flush' SO I did it thusly:

1) Removed the lower trans bolt, drained about 4 quarts of fluid (don't do while hot, or you'll burn yourself trying to get the bolt back in... ) then replace 4 quarts of new fluid.

2) Start car, repeatedly shift through Reverse, N, Drive, N, R etc for about a minute. This should assist in making sure the fluid gets circulated.

3) Turn car off, Drain ANOTHER, say, 3 quarts, then _fill to proper level_ top off with your remaining 4 quart bottle. I say leave that extra quart to play with just in case your fluid was really low.

Now, it's not a complete replacement, BUT you'll have replaced about 75% of total capacity (8.4 QTS) with fresh new fluid that should help your trans stay happy.

(And before anyone says it, yes I understant that the second 3 quart change won't get nearly as much old fluid as the first, that's why I say about 75% and not 88% (7/8). Just think fractional distillation for cars...)

Now if this doesn't fix it, I think we need a more complete description of the problem to go on. =)

[Legacy777]

I personally would not start up the car without any fluid in the pan. That's a good way to burn up the pump, torque converter, and other misc parts that require lubrication by the fluid.