For some reason I failed to service the transmission in my PT Cruiser and it now has 82000 miles on it. I am having no problems but I have been told that if I put a new filter and fluid in it, it will go out quick. Is this true?

If there is an internal problem, it will make it happen sonner than later.

if there's no problems you'll be fine

Change it. Synthetic.

I would not change it.

Goodysgotacuda,
Thanks for your response to my transmission service question. I would like more of your opinion on leaving the old fluid and filter in it. I don't know much about transmissions. The reason I am specifically replying to you is because of your awesome car. When I was a kid my next door neighbor bought one exactly like yours. I loved that car. The black racing stripes were shaped perfect on the bright yellow in my mind. He put crager slots on it and it had black sidepipes. He had a 340 in it and would take it to the "local illegal" racing strip. He always told me that he could take the 350 camaros everytime if the race started with a rolling start. Please tell me more about my transmission service.
Thanks and congratulations on having that bad ass car!
Chuck

Thanks Chuck, my opinion will be right or wrong depending on who you ask. But, I am a believer with not servicing a trans for that long of a period the clutch material that is floating in that fluid is actually helping the clutches hold. Flushing that fluid for fresh, clean fluid could help promote the clutches in the trans slipping, therefore 'causing' it to have problems soon after the fluid change.

Just my opinion! Thanks for the comments on the car.

PT transmissions are not happy with old burnt fluid. I have two of them, an 03 limited and an 05 Gt convert. The 03 got changed at 35,000 and the GT at 72,000 with no trouble from either afterward. I'd recommend going ahead and changing it. These aren't our old 904/727s. Here';s a great place to ask about PTs. http://www.ptcrew.com/?sid=9174b31ec2120977e2c7e5bd98adb784

I have been told the same thing about fluid changes. A tranny guy told me (At the time my vehicle had 160,000 miles on it- much more than yours) that over time varnish and such can build up and actually provide a seal for excessive tolerances. Fresh fluid can wash this away causing problems. Again this is what I was told. Im not a mechanic. My current daily driver has 200,000 miles. The same guy said to not change fluid and filter just keep an eye on the fluid level and be nice to it. I asked about just changing the filter and reusing the fluid but he pointed out there is no real way to catch the used stuff and keep it dirt and gunk free. (No drain plug in pan)

i have been changing mine every year 10k or so miles has 250k now.. cheaper to maintain it.. dan

If you do CHANGE IT DO NOT FLUSH IT!I cannot really emphasis this more, don't care about residual fluid left

Paul,
When you say "don't care about residual fluid left", are you saying to not drain the torque converter and just replace the filter and fill it back up with fresh fluid?

Change it, and run whatever is currently in it=Mopar ATF fluid. I have done this on many high mileage transmissions with no probelms.

Yes just change what in the pan/ filter that conv probably does not have drain anyway. I have seen 7 vehicles trans fail right after a so called flush most with only 30-50K.

Lots of good replies here, If it has no problems now change it I have done the same thing in the past the latest my wifes truck had over 90,000 when it was changed (not flushed) and now it has over 125,000 with no inherent problems. Most of the time someone decides to change thier fluid it is because the trans has started having an issue of some sort, so they change the fluid and this doesn't fix what was wrong it only leads to the trans still having a problem and eventually self destructing while still driving the vehicle waiting on it to fix itself.

Thank you folks very much!

I had a 93 Lebaron cvt. 3.0, though can't remember which trans....anyway I bought the car with 42K on it, drove it without problem to 120K (perhaps the trans was a little 'soft' shifting) I then had the fluid and filter changed....It was NOTICEABLY slipping, I was concerned whether I'd make it home (changed with mopar atf). Next day drove to trans shop...$1600 and drove fine till I sold it with 270K. So just be where, do you have an emergency fund?

line A
Folks , if changing the fluid and filter at 82K causes slipping problems, it was on it's way out anyway, you just sped up the inevitable

Line B - ck the fluid condition before you do anything , if it smells burnt - your to late - see line A