Lube shop lost my tranny dipstick - what to do next?

[JLDs2003Vibe]

Hey gang, I know I shouldn't trust those 'lube shops' and here's a great example why. I was in hurry a couple weeks back and overdue for an oil change. Went to a local shop to have it changed. Another customer was there with the same first name - he wanted a tranny service/flush, air filter and oil change. They thought my Vibe was his so they did the oil change, air filter and started the tranny service. Long story short when he went to pay the crew figured out the mix up. Idiots. So, they put my old air filter back in and sent me on my way. Driving away I thought I'll never go back there. Well, today I went to clean my MAF Sensor and noticed my tranny dipstick was missing!!!! I've been driving about two weeks with the dipstick out - its been really rainy and so on. I call the shop - do you have my dipstick? The Assistant Manager says if they can't find it in the shop they'll order me a new one. I said I'm concerned I've been driving it like that - who knows what is now in the tranny. He said, oh, we'll do a tranny flush and refill for you. So, my question for the GenViber's is: Do all of you think a flush/fill is sufficient or should I do a complete tranny service (flush, filters, fluid) to make sure everything is OK? My car has about 135k miles on it. I'm guessing it's never had a complete service so it's probably not a bad idea? BTW, I won't have that shop to a full service if I go that route. Any thoughts?

[silverbullet]

LSorry about your luck. I would not recommend allowing them to do a flush if it had never been done and you have that many miles on it. That can cause more problems, I am sure others will explain further. Just drain and fill. Possibly change the filter but that is most likely not necessary. I doubt any thing got in there.

[ColonelPanic]

If they can't check the fluid without screwing that up, I wouldn't want them doing any further monkeying around with the transmission. Don't let them work on it, just make them replace the dipstick. I agree with the drain/fill... Use the proper Toyota T-IV fluid. Since you only get a fraction of the fluid out, I generally drive it a little while and do it again a few miles later. Can't really change the filter in the Vibe, it's just a metal screen inside the tranny.

[Persephone]

Wait, what?! The previous owner of Gambit had his transmission flushed just before they sold him to me. He has 128k miles. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD THING!! DX What does this meean?!

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by Persephone »Wait, what?! The previous owner of Gambit had his transmission flushed just before they sold him to me. He has 128k miles. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD THING!! DX What does this meean?!some say that while a tranny flush does purge the fluid, it can disturb settled crud that would have been better left alone.Some say that a tranny flush is just a gimmick used by service stations to offer a higher profit service.Some say that a tranny flush is the only way to get the accumulated crud out of the tranny and is the preferred/best method for aiding long tranny life. I am lazy and cheap, and can do a drain/refill myself so that's what I would do, but dealerships do trany flushes on cars under warranty, so I assume they think it is ok for the car. If I were you, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Persephone]

Oh, okay. Thank you. The person who owned my car previously was one of South Dakota's state senator's daughters, and she did this like twice while she had it. He was pretty spoiled. lol I hope I can be as good to him as she was.

[JLDs2003Vibe]

Ok, sounds good. Thanks for the feedback! I just talked with their Assistant manager - he said they'll have to special order the new dipstick from Michigan and it's a week out. In the meantime they'll 'plug' it so nothing else gets in there. He again offered a 'flush/fill' when the new parts in but I think I'll just get the new dipstick and do a drain/fill per your suggestions. Who knows what kind of tranny fluid they'd use...

[JLDs2003Vibe]

Finally got the dipstick - the shop 'lost' my contact info. Good thing I called yesterday to check on it. I won't be having them do the flush... Will do it myself.