My tranny is starting to slip, 138,000 miles.

[LaGrasta]

Early in the morning, my first shift usually is met with a "thud". And a few times, reverse seems to spin before actually moving the van.

I dumped SeaFoam TransTune into it yesterday before a 60 mile drive. I'm hoping that cleans up any sludge and I'll flush the tranny and do a filter change hopefully within a week or two. I flushed the trans at 50,000 and 100,000.
Any other ideas to help it last? There is no adjustments is there? How hard is a tranny swap. I think I might want to try it myself if I'm pushed to to replace it.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

If it is starting to slip, you will be in for a rebuild at some point. If it keeps on truckin, plan for the rebuild at your convenience as it'll leave you stranded when don't want it to. For the cost of fluid and a filter, it can't hurt to see if it'll make it last longer. Really, at 138k miles, the tranny doesn't owe you anything.

[astrozam]

A tranny swap isn't particularly difficult,some basic tools a spare set of hands and a decent day should be the ticket (providing it goes smoothly)

A rebuild is not a bad idea if you have the space tools and time/money to rebuild it properly and beef it up at the same time,but not something everyone has the time or place/skills to do.

A professional rebuild will cost over $1500 (in canuckistan) and go up from there,but at least you should have the van back in a few days.

You may squeeze a bit more life out of her,but she is definitly on borrowed time.

[LaGrasta]

thanks for the responses. I'll get it flushed and see where I stand. I won't rebuild it myself, but I think I'll remove and replace it when push comes to shove. By the sound of you guys, I'll be getting shoved sometime in the near future.

[specelec]

I have seen rebuilt tansmissions on ebay where they send you a rebuilt trans ~$900 and you ship old one back to them.

Less down time, savings in the 500-1000 range (sweat equity)

Just a thought.

[LaGrasta]

thanks for the ebay tip. I may not flush mine after all, but rather just a filter change. I keep hearing people say when a tranny is going, flushing it only speeds to the death.

[GnarliSafari]

a lot of tranny shops will also credit you for the old tranny if you want a rebuilt put in, they can sell yours back to the re-builders and it would save you the shipping.

[LaGrasta]

Update: I had family visiting from out of town this past week. I put a little less than 500 miles on the van with no problems what so ever. As for shifting, it seems great. My guess it the TranTune worked. Now I wonder what I should do, flush it out, change the filter, leave it alone. I'm leaning towrad only changing the filter.