Shantheman

Hey everyone! New to the forum. Picked up an 06 GX470 with 180k. It's in great shape inside and out.

My question: The transmission. I'm betting it's never been serviced. (I know there's no such thing as lifetime fluids) I am getting the ever so occasional slight 'shudder' between 20-30mph, intermittently. If I lift off, it goes away. Or if I get into the throttle more, it goes away. I did the ignition coils, plugs, MAF, and cleaned throttle body to rule those out. From reading other threads, it appears it's transmission related.

Should I take it to the dealer to do the trans service? I know these transmissions are robust. Or should I do gradual drain and fills, which is not as easy given no easy fill tube. Should I do nothing?

I have a 3 month warranty on powertrain from the car lot I bought it. I'm thinking if a dealer flush causes issues, I guess now is the time while it's still covered.

Have any of you changed original fluid at high miles and haven't had issues?

Davenlei

iTrader: (1)

A flush is never a good idea. Drain and fills are the method recommended with these transmissions.

IanB2

Drain & fills are the way with these trucks, you may want to drop the pan and clean the filter on the 1st one.

They are a PITA to service due to no trans dipstick tube, but it's doable. Techstream is nice to be able to monitor trans temp and put the trans into service mode, but again, it's doable without.

Shantheman

Thanks for input.
I decided NOT to do the flush at the dealer, and do a drain/fill on my own. The fluid was OLD, dark brown and had viscosity of water it seemed like.
I drained the pan, (got 6.5qts out instead of the 4qts out that others have reported getting) and then I disconnected the lines on the front secondary cooler and that's where I added fluid and started the engine to pump old stuff out.
I went thru 14qts before I started seeing cleaner fluid coming out.
I didn't want to jump pins on my OBDII connector, so I'm at the dealer and they're charging me $25 to hook it up and do the fluid level check.

Here's a question: Are these transmissions pretty tough? I'm hoping I can make it well past the current 181k on this trans.

Davenlei

iTrader: (1)

I have 202K miles on mine and have done the drain and fill on two separate occasions (if I recall at around 85K miles and at 160k miles) doing a drain and fill only twice at each occasion so not a full fluid exchange. Trans seems good to me still. No slipping or shuddering or any oddities. Still feels as smooth as butter.

When I used to take it to the dealer (when it was still under warranty) the tech on more than one occasion told me to never sell the GX because it has an over-engineered drivetrain and will last a very, very long time if maintained right.

Shantheman

Sitting at the dealer now, and they managed to crush my air springs when they set it down from the lift. They had it running while on the lift, so not sure if the air springs overinflated and separated?

Either way, now I’m sitting here waiting for them to tell me how this is gonna get fixed. I drove in with them working just fine!!!

IanB2

Air suspension is supposed to set to "off" if it's lifted off the ground and the ignition is switched to on where the compressor will run. Dealership of all people should know this...good luck.

Shantheman

well isn’t that interesting. They sure didn’t tell me that. But they must know, because they’re buying new air springs and installing them on Monday. I’m sure glad I pushed when they started to suggest the springs were bad before I came in.

IanB2

There's a warning sticker on the driver's side center console I believe that speaks to this.

Shantheman

Ok, dealer put new air springs on the back, rides buttery smooth again. Sheesh. Glad to have my ride back.
Thanks everyone for the input.