Okay - a Corolla but we don't know how old. For many years now Toyota has not specified any change interval for their automatic transmission fluid unless the vehicle is used for towing or for carrying roof-top luggage. Even a 1995 Corolla has no transmission fluid change interval.
Your friend should follow the maintenance schedule for that car, and not just in transmission fluid matters either. Be aware that Toyota never calls for a transmission flush, ever.
I have an OLD car and two OLD Jeeps, (car is 1984 and both jeeps are 1977) and I changed Transmission fluid on the jeeps a couple years ago, and the transmission fluid on the 84 Eagle last year.
They do need to have maintenance done on them, changing the transmission filter and all. This removes any metal pieces that wear off.
As Steve said, do NOT flush with flush, as it can dislodge some large pieces and cause real problems. If the transmission is REAL heavy with sludge build up, it might be better to put the pan back on and then take it to a dealer who CAN clean it up.
Year ago, I had an Oldsmobile that would jerk at stop signs, stopping and starting. I had THREE transmission places tell me I needed a new transmission. I took the car to a Oldsmobile dealer, and they dropped the pan, looked at it, and told me it was just sludge build up. cost me 1/6th of what the other places wanted to charge me. And the car ran great after that.
Get the kit which is gasket and filter, and buy some fluid, and go for it.
The good old transmission fluid debate. My take is this, a transmission is not serviced properly, it starts slipping and is going to fail at some point in the next few months. The fluid is change, and then it fails 7 weeks later. The real cause is just normal wear on a 150k mile car combined with lack of proper service.
What people say is the fluid change caused it.
This is like when I go to work in the morning on a cloudy day, I see people carrying umbrellas. It starts raining and I conclude, all those people carrying umbrellas cause rain.
Do a drain and fill. Use the exact spec fluid. In 6 months he can do another drain and fill.
If it has a filter, then they might have to take the transmission pan off.
Definitely change the fluid and filter but do not do a transmission flush because it will stir up a lot of debris and ruin the trans.
A friend of mine drives a car with over 150,000 miles on it. Today it kind of jumped going down a small hill on the high way. Should he have the transmission fluid changed? It is an automatic. He has heard yes and he has heard no. But, the car kind of jumped going down a small hill. He has never felt it before like he did today, and it feels like it wants to stall, until it gets warmed up. He just had the fuel line cleaned a week ago, with an oil change. Would a transmission fluid change be helpful or more harm to the car? No engine light is on yet. He got new spark plugs about 8 months ago. He is getting a new battery, though he knows that has nothing to do with the jump or stalling issue. But, has never gotten a new battery since he owned the car, about 6 years now. If it should need new tranny fluid he is going to do it Friday.
Thanks...
