AUTOBOX FLUID CHANGE

[ELZE]

Hi

I was at my usual repair garage the other day when I asked him if he could do a fluid and filter change to my auto box. He said he could do a 'suck out' but no filter as it is complicated?

He gave me a number of another guy and when I rang him he said much the same mentioning that he would have to remove plugs and stuff to get at filter??

How hard can it be to change a bongo filter and fluid on an auto?

Has anyone here had this done? Let's hope I have not got to go to Mazda a stealership

[mikeonb4c]

Hi

I was at my usual repair garage the other day when I asked him if he could do a fluid and filter change to my auto box. He said he could do a 'suck out' but no filter as it is complicated?

He gave me a number of another guy and when I rang him he said much the same mentioning that he would have to remove plugs and stuff to get at filter??

How hard can it be to change a bongo filter and fluid on an auto?

Has anyone here had this done? Let's hope I have not got to go to Mazda a stealership

Several have done it. Not hard. Search old threads or members area factsheets for guidance. Need to be sure no possibility of dust getting in while gearbox cover removed, and you need to fit a new gasket. But the 'filter' is more of a magnet than anything I think, which says something about autoboxes! Anway, its not hard to clean out crud etc from it and gearbox cover I gather. Hopefully someone who has done the job will be along to comment.

I wonder why local garages so reluctant/ignorant - maybe they think anything to do with an autobox is territory they don't want to go near?

Oh and you can keep your drive less messy by sucking out as much ATF as possible from the dipstick hole using a Pela pump before cracking the cover off. Warm engine first to make ATF more runny and easy to suck up.

[Muzorewa]

There is a filter but as Mike says you need to remove the gearbox sump to get to it. If you're careful you can save the gasket. As the fluid level is above the sump line, use a Pela or similar to get most of it out first.

You can't get all the oil out, a lot will still be in the torque converter so you'll only really be renewing about half of it. If the fluid is in poor condition, change it again a week or two later once it's mixed with the new stuff.

There are some photos amongst this lot - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=66761

[wonkanoby]

as said you unbolt filter...note bolts as are different sizes and wash it in petrol

wash out sump and magnet as well

[mikeWalsall]

Some auto boxes have drain plugs .. some do not .. (My V6 has one)

Obviously easier to drain the sump if you have .. if not you can suck the fluid out with an electric pump or a manually operated Pela pump .. or remove most of the sump bolts and drain as much as you can from one corner before ... dropping the lot into a large container ..

The valve block debris filter is held on with several different length bolts as in Simons picture ..

http://igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/view ... =1&t=69801

[Northern Bongolow]

you can cheat and empty all but just under a half ltr in about 30 secs by pulling off the lower of the 2 pipes from the gearbox to the cooler, then switch the engine on, aim the removed pipe into a container that will hold about seven litrs then range through the gearbox several times while your foot is on the brake. then crack off the sump, this avoids spilling any.

[ELZE]

Guys

Once again thanks for all the good comments. It seems that this is a DIY job then but unfortunately I was trying to avoid that for several good reasons, time, oil on the drive, too old & rickety to be rolling around under a van etc. However with the information I can now look further for a garage willing to tackle it. Might even ask Mazda for a laugh?

don't worry I will up my dose of heart tablets before I go for the shock

Cheers

[mikeWalsall]

I generally do my own maintenance .. I am the same .. have heart tablets / nitro spray .. Oh and in the 'zipper' club' (a triple by pass about five years back) ..

About ten years back I had just bought an Omega 2.5 (BMW) TD .. my Mrs had just that week come out of hospital so took it it our local auto box place for a fluid change ..

The guy let me watch while he worked .. sump off .. valve block / filter off .. everything scrupulously cleaned / re assembled .. brake / clutch bands nipped up .. filled up with Dexron .. road test .. charge £60 (cash) ..

When I had the Bongo I popped in again for a quote for a similar job ........ £160 plus VAT @20% ..

So ... I did it myself .. my V6 Bongo sump off fluid change .. (just didn't do the 'nip up')!!