kentrichards

Is it possible to flush brake fluid without opening bleeder screws (95 Legacy with ABS)? I asked a shop to flush the brake fluid, but it looks as if the bleeder screws haven't been touched (at least 2 of them I'm positive about - LF and LR. A third - RF - looks like it's highly unlikely that it's been touched). That same shop also told me I need new brake pads (I had just had the brakes done) and didn't put enough ATF in. Thanks, Kent

Apparently I checked the fluid with the engine running the first time (only a tiny dab of fluid on the tippy tip of the diptstick). When I checked it again with the engine off, there was a little fluid there - came up almost up to the "Low-cold" mark. So, it wasn't completely dry. Sorry for the misinformation. So this might increase the chance that the tranny will be ok? Kent

Thanks for the replies so far! Still would love to hear others' opinions and advice, if different. Max (Impreza_WRX_STi): you're saying that after your similar incident you've put ~180,000 miles on the same tranny with no apparent problems? Chip: I'm in the US (California), so I do have access to small claims court. My friend advised that I should demand a new transmission, that there is no question that the shop is liable (even though I drove it dry, it's not my responsibility to verify that the shop did what they said they did. So it's their fault that it was dry when I drove it home). Opinions? Kent

Surely you're about ask: "Why in the hell would you want to do that???" Well, I didn't want to. I brought it home from the shop that supposedly changed the ATF (about a mile of driving), and right near home, it started lurching upon acceleration. So I parked it and opend the door. I heard a new, fast ticking noise from under the car. I opend the hood and the first thing I saw was the ATF dipstick laying on the side of the engine compartment. I went to put it back in the tube, and then heard a new metalic clunking (rythmic) from down near the bottom rear of the engine. So I cut of the engine right away. I pulled out the dipstick to find only a tiny wisp of fluid on the very tip. IIRC, there's supposed to be some fluid on the stick even with the engine off, right? [correction: Apparently I checked the fluid with the engine running the first time. When I checked it again with the engine off, there was a little fluid there. So, it wasn't completely dry] So, is my tranny munched, or will it revive happily when it gets fluid? If it's munched (or its life has been shortened significantly), any suggestions on how I should approach the shop to get them to make reparations -- and what exactly I should ask them to do? By the way, the shop was closed by the time I discovered the problem, and since it's Saturday I won't be able to contact them tomorrow. Before I posted, I searched the board and didn't find it, so sorry if this has been covered The car has 153K miles. It's a '95 Legacy L wagon (2.2L engine). Thank-you, Kent