2003 Saturn Vue Replacing the transmission

JANHARIU

MEMBER
2003 SATURN VUE
4 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
89,000 MILES

I recently had my origional transmission on my '03 Vue AWD replaced with a factory replacement transmission and the aftermarket garage did not replace some coolant hoses that I understand are specified in the dealer's manual to be replaced with this replacement transmission due to re-engineering as well as did not flush the system (fluid was black). Can you tell me if the Saturn repair manual instructs that 2 transmission coolant hoses also be replaced when replacing the transmission with the re-engineered model for '03 and that flushing the system needs to be done when completing the job in order for the new transmission to function properly? My issue is that only one month and 2000 miles later, the replacement transmission failed and the dealer I took it to at that time tells me it is because the first garage did not replace those hoses as stated in the repair manual and the new transmission and old hoses did not work properly together. Is this true? Thank you.

5 Replies

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

It is recomended to flush out the trany cooler and replace the cooler lines as debri can get trapped in the lines. Now is this what cause you new transmission to go bad don't know it could if there was debri in the lines it could also have been the wrong fluid put in it too. You can not use the Dextron III it uses the new dextron. So I hope this answers your question. Thanks and have a great day.

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Monday, January 5th, 2009 AT 12:25 PM

JANHARIU

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Thank you. The dealer made no mention of the wrong fluid being present when they diagnosed the failure so this would lead me to believe the stongest argument for failure remains that the system was not flushed (since they found the fluid to be black) and the lines were not changed. Yes, you answered my question. Thank you and have a nice day yourself.

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Monday, January 5th, 2009 AT 1:03 PM

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

The wrong fluid would not be known with out a fluid test be either way that is what I would assume. Thanks

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Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 AT 10:02 AM

JANHARIU

MEMBER
4 POSTS

They state the replacement transmisssion "came" with the fluid and they used what was sent with it. So it was "certainly correct" from the dealer. I believe our biggest issue herre is getting them to admit they did not flush they system after replacing the tranmission and it is clear the did not replace the coolant lines, since the originonal hoses are intact and that is what caused the failure. They are denying that they did not flush the system and that their labor was complete and they had nothing to do with the failure, while the dealer is telling us that the system appears it was not flushed and that the hoses were not changed and that appears to be the cause of failure.

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Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 AT 10:10 AM

RACEFAN966