On a used car with this many miles, you'll also
need to think about replacing the timing belt
around 60K.

Tom Welch

 

Christopher Wong wrote:
> On 2006-07-07, The Gilkies <kbg1@eastlink.ca> wrote:
>
>>hi
>>we are thinking of purchasing a used 2000 accent with 85,000kms(canada)on
>>it.
>>the car is in good shape but i have a question.
>>when i checked the automatic transmission fluid it was brown,not the usual
>>red i am used to seeing in auto trannies.
>>is this the typical color fot auto tranny fluid in a 2000 accent?
>>it did not smell burnt,but i am concerned about the color.
>>a test drive did no show any shifting problems but it did seem to hang in
>>gear befor shifting.
>>no shuddering or slipping that i could detect.
>>thanks
>
>
> The ATF starts off pink or red: the usual color. The Accent's manual states
> that the fluid will turn brown over time and that this is fine. My 2001
> Accent's ATF was also brown before I had it changed recently.

Interesting. The fluid that Chrysler uses stays red for at least 50,000
miles, which is when I change the fluid in my minivans. And these are
heavy vehicles that see pretty heavy use hauling kids and their friends
around. I've not seen fluid turn brown unless the vehicle towed often
or was used in the mountains in really hot weather.

Matt

 

Christopher Wong wrote:
> On 2006-07-07, The Gilkies <kbg1@eastlink.ca> wrote:
>
>>hi
>>we are thinking of purchasing a used 2000 accent with 85,000kms(canada)on
>>it.
>>the car is in good shape but i have a question.
>>when i checked the automatic transmission fluid it was brown,not the usual
>>red i am used to seeing in auto trannies.
>>is this the typical color fot auto tranny fluid in a 2000 accent?
>>it did not smell burnt,but i am concerned about the color.
>>a test drive did no show any shifting problems but it did seem to hang in
>>gear befor shifting.
>>no shuddering or slipping that i could detect.
>>thanks
>
>
> The ATF starts off pink or red: the usual color. The Accent's manual states
> that the fluid will turn brown over time and that this is fine. My 2001
> Accent's ATF was also brown before I had it changed recently.

Interesting. The fluid that Chrysler uses stays red for at least 50,000
miles, which is when I change the fluid in my minivans. And these are
heavy vehicles that see pretty heavy use hauling kids and their friends
around. I've not seen fluid turn brown unless the vehicle towed often
or was used in the mountains in really hot weather.

Matt

 

Christopher Wong wrote:
> On 2006-07-07, The Gilkies <kbg1@eastlink.ca> wrote:
>
>>hi
>>we are thinking of purchasing a used 2000 accent with 85,000kms(canada)on
>>it.
>>the car is in good shape but i have a question.
>>when i checked the automatic transmission fluid it was brown,not the usual
>>red i am used to seeing in auto trannies.
>>is this the typical color fot auto tranny fluid in a 2000 accent?
>>it did not smell burnt,but i am concerned about the color.
>>a test drive did no show any shifting problems but it did seem to hang in
>>gear befor shifting.
>>no shuddering or slipping that i could detect.
>>thanks
>
>
> The ATF starts off pink or red: the usual color. The Accent's manual states
> that the fluid will turn brown over time and that this is fine. My 2001
> Accent's ATF was also brown before I had it changed recently.

Interesting. The fluid that Chrysler uses stays red for at least 50,000
miles, which is when I change the fluid in my minivans. And these are
heavy vehicles that see pretty heavy use hauling kids and their friends
around. I've not seen fluid turn brown unless the vehicle towed often
or was used in the mountains in really hot weather.

Matt

 

On Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:46:36 +0000, The Gilkies wrote:

> hi
> we are thinking of purchasing a used 2000 accent with 85,000kms(canada)on
> it.
> the car is in good shape but i have a question.
> when i checked the automatic transmission fluid it was brown,not the usual
> red i am used to seeing in auto trannies.
> is this the typical color fot auto tranny fluid in a 2000 accent?
> it did not smell burnt,but i am concerned about the color.
> a test drive did no show any shifting problems but it did seem to hang in
> gear befor shifting.
> no shuddering or slipping that i could detect.
> thanks

Hyundai's use "Diamond ATF SP-III" only available at your Hyundai or
Mistsubishi dealer. MY 2002 accent has 110,000 miles. When I change the
ATF "which is red in color" it soon turns to a brown. I believe that what
is happening is that the fluid is becoming burnt and changes color as a
result. Because of this belief I've been changing the fluid quite
often much more frequently than recommended. Also, this last change I've
ordered online an ATF by Amsoil that they recommend for the Hyundai as an
equal to the Diamond ATF SP-III. The Amsoil product is a full synthetic.
My hope is that it will have a much higher tolerance for heat "as
synthetics typically due" and will not burn as readily as the mineral
based product by Hyundai.

 

On Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:46:36 +0000, The Gilkies wrote:

> hi
> we are thinking of purchasing a used 2000 accent with 85,000kms(canada)on
> it.
> the car is in good shape but i have a question.
> when i checked the automatic transmission fluid it was brown,not the usual
> red i am used to seeing in auto trannies.
> is this the typical color fot auto tranny fluid in a 2000 accent?
> it did not smell burnt,but i am concerned about the color.
> a test drive did no show any shifting problems but it did seem to hang in
> gear befor shifting.
> no shuddering or slipping that i could detect.
> thanks

Hyundai's use "Diamond ATF SP-III" only available at your Hyundai or
Mistsubishi dealer. MY 2002 accent has 110,000 miles. When I change the
ATF "which is red in color" it soon turns to a brown. I believe that what
is happening is that the fluid is becoming burnt and changes color as a
result. Because of this belief I've been changing the fluid quite
often much more frequently than recommended. Also, this last change I've
ordered online an ATF by Amsoil that they recommend for the Hyundai as an
equal to the Diamond ATF SP-III. The Amsoil product is a full synthetic.
My hope is that it will have a much higher tolerance for heat "as
synthetics typically due" and will not burn as readily as the mineral
based product by Hyundai.

 

On Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:46:36 +0000, The Gilkies wrote:

> hi
> we are thinking of purchasing a used 2000 accent with 85,000kms(canada)on
> it.
> the car is in good shape but i have a question.
> when i checked the automatic transmission fluid it was brown,not the usual
> red i am used to seeing in auto trannies.
> is this the typical color fot auto tranny fluid in a 2000 accent?
> it did not smell burnt,but i am concerned about the color.
> a test drive did no show any shifting problems but it did seem to hang in
> gear befor shifting.
> no shuddering or slipping that i could detect.
> thanks

Hyundai's use "Diamond ATF SP-III" only available at your Hyundai or
Mistsubishi dealer. MY 2002 accent has 110,000 miles. When I change the
ATF "which is red in color" it soon turns to a brown. I believe that what
is happening is that the fluid is becoming burnt and changes color as a
result. Because of this belief I've been changing the fluid quite
often much more frequently than recommended. Also, this last change I've
ordered online an ATF by Amsoil that they recommend for the Hyundai as an
equal to the Diamond ATF SP-III. The Amsoil product is a full synthetic.
My hope is that it will have a much higher tolerance for heat "as
synthetics typically due" and will not burn as readily as the mineral
based product by Hyundai.

 

"Michael Shaffer" <justsomeguy@home.com> wrote in message
newsan.2006.08.05.11.50.56.191402@home.com...
> On Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:46:36 +0000, The Gilkies wrote:
>
>> hi
>> we are thinking of purchasing a used 2000 accent with 85,000kms(canada)on
>> it.
>> the car is in good shape but i have a question.
>> when i checked the automatic transmission fluid it was brown,not the
>> usual
>> red i am used to seeing in auto trannies.
>> is this the typical color fot auto tranny fluid in a 2000 accent?
>> it did not smell burnt,but i am concerned about the color.
>> a test drive did no show any shifting problems but it did seem to hang in
>> gear befor shifting.
>> no shuddering or slipping that i could detect.
>> thanks
>
> Hyundai's use "Diamond ATF SP-III" only available at your Hyundai or
> Mistsubishi dealer. MY 2002 accent has 110,000 miles. When I change the
> ATF "which is red in color" it soon turns to a brown. I believe that what
> is happening is that the fluid is becoming burnt and changes color as a
> result. Because of this belief I've been changing the fluid quite
> often much more frequently than recommended. Also, this last change I've
> ordered online an ATF by Amsoil that they recommend for the Hyundai as an
> equal to the Diamond ATF SP-III. The Amsoil product is a full synthetic.
> My hope is that it will have a much higher tolerance for heat "as
> synthetics typically due" and will not burn as readily as the mineral
> based product by Hyundai.

Well, unfortunately, your belief that "...what is happening is that the
fluid is becoming burnt..." would be wrong. ATF in its natural, uncolored
state looks very much like thin motor oil. ATF SP-III, and for that matter
Chrysler ATF+4 are already synthetic based fluids. Both of them have just
enough dye in them to allow them to be identified for what they are. The
color of the dye does nothing.

Now, unless the "sort of brown" fluid smells burnt, it's not. If it smells
burnt, it's not the fluid's fault, it's a tranny problem, and no matter what
you put in there, there's still a tranny problem. Also, you've got an amount
of old fluid left in the tranny roughly the same as what you are replacing,
so brown + pink = lighter brown.

For the OP... brownish fluid means nothing for THAT type of fluid. "Hanging
in gear" would be considered a shifting problem, which might mean problems.
Do the smart thing - always a smart thing. Pay a mechanic that regularly
works on those vehicles - maybe even a transmission shop that comes right
out and says they use the genuine fluids for Honda, Chrysler, and Hyundai,
etc rather than the magic mix - to look at it.

 

"Michael Shaffer" <justsomeguy@home.com> wrote in message
newsan.2006.08.05.11.50.56.191402@home.com...
> On Fri, 07 Jul 2006 23:46:36 +0000, The Gilkies wrote:
>
>> hi
>> we are thinking of purchasing a used 2000 accent with 85,000kms(canada)on
>> it.
>> the car is in good shape but i have a question.
>> when i checked the automatic transmission fluid it was brown,not the
>> usual
>> red i am used to seeing in auto trannies.
>> is this the typical color fot auto tranny fluid in a 2000 accent?
>> it did not smell burnt,but i am concerned about the color.
>> a test drive did no show any shifting problems but it did seem to hang in
>> gear befor shifting.
>> no shuddering or slipping that i could detect.
>> thanks
>
> Hyundai's use "Diamond ATF SP-III" only available at your Hyundai or
> Mistsubishi dealer. MY 2002 accent has 110,000 miles. When I change the
> ATF "which is red in color" it soon turns to a brown. I believe that what
> is happening is that the fluid is becoming burnt and changes color as a
> result. Because of this belief I've been changing the fluid quite
> often much more frequently than recommended. Also, this last change I've
> ordered online an ATF by Amsoil that they recommend for the Hyundai as an
> equal to the Diamond ATF SP-III. The Amsoil product is a full synthetic.
> My hope is that it will have a much higher tolerance for heat "as
> synthetics typically due" and will not burn as readily as the mineral
> based product by Hyundai.

Well, unfortunately, your belief that "...what is happening is that the
fluid is becoming burnt..." would be wrong. ATF in its natural, uncolored
state looks very much like thin motor oil. ATF SP-III, and for that matter
Chrysler ATF+4 are already synthetic based fluids. Both of them have just
enough dye in them to allow them to be identified for what they are. The
color of the dye does nothing.

Now, unless the "sort of brown" fluid smells burnt, it's not. If it smells
burnt, it's not the fluid's fault, it's a tranny problem, and no matter what
you put in there, there's still a tranny problem. Also, you've got an amount
of old fluid left in the tranny roughly the same as what you are replacing,
so brown + pink = lighter brown.

For the OP... brownish fluid means nothing for THAT type of fluid. "Hanging
in gear" would be considered a shifting problem, which might mean problems.
Do the smart thing - always a smart thing. Pay a mechanic that regularly
works on those vehicles - maybe even a transmission shop that comes right
out and says they use the genuine fluids for Honda, Chrysler, and Hyundai,
etc rather than the magic mix - to look at it.