Shouldn't be afraid to buy 6-7 quarts of quality trans fluid, drop the pan, pull the filter and replace with the new Purolator or whatever brand you bought, and reuse the trans pan gasket and button her back up.

You will have replaced about halfof the fluid. If there is sediment or coating in the trans that will slowly start to redissolve with the fresh additives. I'd suggest then dropping and changing fluid again after 6-10K miles again without replacing the filter--unless you felt the old fluid was carrying lots of goop and that may have partially plugged the new filter.

When you drive a couple thousand after changing you'll know if there'* any effect or not. I changed mine at about 85 K three times in a row. That means a very small fraction of the original was left but the shock effect of all new fluid during a flush wasn't there. Just new fluid, then more new fluid, etc., increasing the ability of the fluid to pick up gunk that was in there.

does anyone think it is a bad idea to change the fluid? The thing is it is lasting like it is now and i am in college and dont have money to fix the whole tranny if it does go after a change. Give me some ideas. Also if it is recommened then what filter and what fluid? Thanx guys

I changed mine with 178K on the clock and my tranny isnt dead yet. I am having issues, but not related to changing the fluid.

I agree with imizadol that a filter change with about 6-7 quarts of fluid change should not hurt. It will also give you a chance to see if there is any evidence of carnage in there.

I bought a trans filter kit from Advance and their brand of fluid, though some feel the AZ brand fluid is thicker. The Advance kit includes the rubber pan gasket instead of the cork one (rubber good...cork bad). If your pan still has the OEM gasket, keep that unless it is damaged. It'* the best of the three choices.