I just got a AW4 filter/screen and seal kit yesterday and planned on doing it today but then i read online maybe i shouldnt because it could cause the tranny to slip because of the sediment in the thicker oil adding friction. Of course these conversations were about xj with 150k and not sure if it had ever been serviced

Alittle background on my XJ is its a 2000 with 90k and i got it at 88k and the kid i bought it off of got it at 72k but he was not sure what had ever been serviced before he bought. The tranny fluid is brown, not black but differently not fresh

So what do you guys think, should I...
1. just drain it and fill it
2. drop the pan and change the screen and clean the pan out
3. or hell even just change the screen and leave the old crap in the pan and fill her up with fresh

I just dont want my tranny to go **** up just yet. Thanks for the Advice

 

Drop the pan, change filter clean pan and magnet. replace pan and fill

 

Ive changed tranny fluid on them with as many as 275k miles on the original fluid with no ill effects.
Usually its the places that try to do a tranny flush on them that stir all the particles around and end up screwing up.
I would do a simple drain and refill on it.... I usually do mine twice if its one I dont know the vehicle history on. Drain and refill and drive a few weeks and drain and refill again.

 

I was very glad to see this thread. I just got a 2001 Cherokee w/ 130,000 miles on it. The tranny fluid is more brownish than reddish, but does not smell burned. Not sure when or if it was changed. I have heard the opinions about if it has that many miles and it's not been changed (worse case), then leave it alone because changing the fluid might result in tranny damage. Of course, I don't want tranny damage! In answer to this thread's original poster, there were two opposing answers. So, which is the right answer? It makes sense that just draining and putting in new fluid makes sense that no damage will result. It also makes sense that flushing it could dislodge sludge or other gunk, and that will do damage. But before I do anything, I really want to know what is the right thing to do. Thanks.

 

what came first the chicken or the egg?

Change the fluid, or don't change the fluid?

Never gonna get a straight, everyone has their own opinions

 

Change that fluid and the filter! Change it! Change it!
Im at 474000+km on my AW4. Did I say Change it!
All the talk someone is giving you about fluid thickness is BS.
Change the fluid and the filter, wipe your pan out clean, remove and grit from your pan magnet, use a fresh gasket, don't overtighten the pan.
The toughest part of the change will be your dipstick tube seperation required when removing the pan. You will see a joint about a foot up the tube. If it wont come apart you can heat it. You can undo the bolt at the bracket about another foot higher, access can be a PITA. You can use a compact pipe cutter and cut the tube, use good quality hose and clamps to rejoin.
But DO change the fluid and filter. Your trans will treat you right.

 

Yea change that fluid, mine shifted fine but I wanted to make sure the fluid was good, ( mine started to smell a bit) now it shifts like new. I had mine flushed out and no problems. I've got 170+K on it.

 

Thats a new one.

 

its a toyota truck transmission. Not a dodge or light duty ford trans. it will take a little lack of maintenance abuse. I don't worry with the aw4, when a customer comes into my friends aamco shop with aw4 the only thing that goes bad are the shift solenoids not often though. He laughs at the number of 99-2005 ford exploders that come in. You know its bad when they hired a guy that does servo bore mods for those cases alone, he travels to all the stores in the chicagoland area. The absolute worst are the 5 different dodge transmissions that make there way in throughout the week. COME ON JEEP BRING BACK THE XJ PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would like to buy a new car!