On Sat, 8 Nov 2008 18:48:01 -0600, "HLS" <nospam@nospam.nix> wrote:

>
>"Jon G." <jon8338@peoplepc.com> wrote in message
>> He's right. I replaced the transmission fluid and filter in an AMC Hornet
>> I had, and a month later the transmission went bad. It's a little ironic
>> how servicing something actually makes matters worse.
>
>
>A lot of people dont service the transmission until the damage is already
>done.
>
>If changing transmission fluid and filter causes a problem, then your tranny
>was
>hanging by a thread anyway.
>
Yeah, the old "new tranny fluid will dissolve the grunge and FUBAR
your tranny" never made any sense.
If it's running by dint of coagulated grunge, it won't last long
anyway.

>This is one reason I am cautious about buying a used car. A lot of people
>just
>run the wheels off of them, and dont service them, and we inherit their
>sloppiness.
>
Sure, but bad maintenance is usually obvious. If the engine and tranny
are tight, all else is normal, usually inexpensive maintenance.
If the price is too high, you can often get it knocked down by
pointing out something like looseness in the suspension, etc.
I've got a '90 Corsica 2.2 we've been driving around town since I saw
it on the street with a "For Sale" sign over ten years ago.
Been a great second car.
The guy wanted $3k, and it was worth that to me, even though the test
drive showed in needed struts. I didn't even mention the struts,
because the price was a good one.
After the test drive my 15 year old pointed out the only blemish on
the car, a buffable scratch. The guy heard my kid point out the
scratch, and said, "I'll give it to you for $2500."
That $500 more than paid for new struts.
He just wanted to get rid of the car, because his kid had graduated
HS, was off to college, and they just didn't need it anymore.

>The manufacturer specifies the change intervals under different type of
>severity.
>If you dont do the service, then dont bitch when you have a problem.
>
>Oil analysis, and all this other BS, is the refuge of idiots. The
>manufacturer tells
>you up front what to do. If you choose not to do it, TS.

Yep. Cars don't get high cholesterol treatable with Lipitor.

--Vic